Para uma compreensão dos sites de redes sociais

«While we use the term "social network site" to describe this phenomenon, the term "social networking sites" also appears in public discourse, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. We chose not to employ the term "networking" for two reasons: emphasis and scope. "Networking" emphasizes relationship initiation, often between strangers. While networking is possible on these sites, it is not the primary practice on many of them, nor is it what differentiates them from other forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC) [Computer Mediated Communication].

What makes social network sites unique is not that they allow individuals to meet strangers, but rather that they enable users to articulate and make visible their social networks. This can result in connections between individuals that would not otherwise be made, but that is often not the goal, and these meetings are frequently between "latent ties" (Haythornthwaite, 2005) who share some offline connection. On many of the large SNSs [social network sites], participants are not necessarily "networking" or looking to meet new people; instead, they are primarily communicating with people who are already a part of their extended social network. To emphasize this articulated social network as a critical organizing feature of these sites, we label them "social network sites."

While SNSs have implemented a wide variety of technical features, their backbone consists of visible profiles that display an articulated list of Friends¹ who are also users of the system. Profiles are unique pages where one can "type oneself into being" (Sundén, 2003, p. 3). After joining an SNS, an individual is asked to fill out forms containing a series of questions. The profile is generated using the answers to these questions, which typically include descriptors such as age, location, interests, and an "about me" section. Most sites also encourage users to upload a profile photo. Some sites allow users to enhance their profiles by adding multimedia content or modifying their profile’s look and feel. Others, such as Facebook, allow users to add modules ("Applications") that enhance their profile.» (boyd e Ellison, 2007: 2)

Rogério Santos: «Uma rede social é formada na internet com dispositivos de troca e partilha de mensagens e ficheiros, chats, grupos de discussão, blogues, música, álbuns fotográficos e vídeos e interactividade nos telemóveis, que ligam amigos e amigos de amigos. Angaria amigos físicos e virtuais, reunidos por um tema, agregando novos utilizadores por convite, e decalca a relação como se fossem convites para participar numa festa ou grupo. Exponencia o lado lúdico, com actualização como se fosse um noticiário de amigos – festas, férias, fotografias, ponto de encontro virtual. (...) Conforme as mesmas investigadoras (Boyd e Ellison, 2007), define-se a rede social como um serviço de internet que permite aos indivíduos: 1) construir um perfil público dentro de um sistema definido, 2) articulando outros utilizadores com quem estabelecem ligações, 3) atravessando a sua lista de ligações com outros utlizadores dentro do sistema. O que torna distinta a rede social, continuam Boyd e Ellison, não é tanto fazer contactos com desconhecidos mas articular e tornar visível as redes sociais a que um utilizador pertence. Em muitas das redes sociais, concluem os dois investigadores, a rede social serve principalmente para comunicar com as pessoas que já pertencem a essa rede.»