This article attempts to explore and identify some of the social externalities of Social Networking Sites (SNS) and how these sites are influencing the dynamics of social networking and everyday communication practices. To date, research about the social implications of SNS in the European context is limited. Appropriating insights from various researchers and theorists, the first part of this work extracts the characteristics of SNS, followed by an analysis of the major social implications relevant for the study of SNS. While the main data gathering is based on desk research, the major issues and conclusions have been validated during an expert workshop which took place at the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) in February 2008 and through validation interviews with experts in the field.

CACHIA Romina; 

2008-09-23

Fundación Telefónica

JRC46003

0213-084x,   

http://www.campusred.net/TELOS/articulocuaderno.asp?idarticulo=4&rev=76,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC46003,