Welcome to Online social networking. Home and work life today for many of us involves harried schedules, information overload and a lack of what we as humans tend to crave most: interaction with other humans. Our insatiable appetite for all things electronic, from cell phones and portable music players to home shopping via television and the internet, brings the world to us instantly and conveniently, but can also contribute to a sense of isolation. To overcome it, we can turn again to electronics for a way to stay in touch with friends, business associates and loved ones through online social networking.

Social networking websites offer a sense of community—a place where you can connect with others who share your interests, passions or goals. In this quick lesson, you'll get information and definitions on social networking, find out how to use these sites and discover why the sites are popular now and will be well into the future.

This quick lesson is designed for consumers and home office workers who want to connect with others on social networking websites.

Discovering the pros of social networking websites

One of the main reasons that online social networking is so popular (versus in-person networking) is that you don't have to leave your home or office to do it. There are other benefits to online social networking, too—you can carefully cultivate and polish your online presence to present the best possible you.

Regarding online dating services, for example—instead of you trying to determine whether someone is a potential match for your needs, many online social networking sites use your information to make the match for you.

What can you accomplish through online social networking?

Your online profile lets other members of the network know who you are, where you are, what your interests are and why you are on the site. Online social networking works because it helps you stay plugged in with others who share your areas of interest, whether they live in your neighborhood or halfway around the world. People have found new and former friends, personal partners, jobs and more just by being on the right online social network.

In the next section, you'll look at specific social networking websites, such as MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn and other popular online communities.