by Greg Schwartz

Created on: August 18, 2009   Last Updated: September 27, 2009

With more people constantly gaining access to the Internet and spending more time online, it's no wonder social networking sites are exploding in popularity. There are many of these websites, some that cater to specific groups and others that exist for anyone to join. Here are some of the more popular social networking sites:

* MySpace
Once upon a time, MySpace was the undisputed king of online social networking. The site currently boasts over 70 million users in the United States alone, and anyone can set up their own page for free. You can make friends, share information in your profile, and comment on other people's pages. You can also listen to music and play games on MySpace. Bands and entertainers often use MySpace to promote their work and gain a following.

* Facebook
Facebook was started at Harvard, expanded to other universities, and eventually became open to the public. It is now the most popular social networking site in the world. Like with MySpace, Facebook users can set up their own free profile pages, maintain a list of friends, and post messages on their friends' pages. They can also display updates about their status, as well as post pictures, take competitive quizzes, and use various other online applications. With Facebook, people can join a network based on their location, interests, or professions. Facebook is free to use, and users can choose to keep their information private or to share it with friends.

MySpace and Facebook are by far the two most popular social networking sites. However, Some other sites that are popular are:

* Twitter
Twitter is a different sort of social networking site. Membership is free, and users can post updates (up to 140 characters long) as often as they like. You can "follow" other users, and get their updates sent to your email or mobile device. Twitter is still growing, and several "Twitterzines" have started up, posting short stories and poetry 140 characters or shorter.

* Classmates.com
Classmates.com is primarily a social network for schoolmates and colleagues. You can connect with people who graduated high school or college with you, or who served with you in the military. This site is a great way to find old school friends and to keep up on high school or college reunion news. Basic membership is free, but you have to pay to use many of the site's features, such as sending emails.

* Ning
Ning is a sort of social network generator. Using Ning, you can create your own social network. The site currently hosts over 1.3 million networks, such as HoopCoach.org (where basketball coaches can find jobs and compare plays) and the Dark Fiction Guild (a social network for writers of dark fiction).

There are many other social networking sites across the Internet. Many are tailored toward specific groups, such as Vets Network ("A social network for those who serve!"), DiveBuddy.com (for scuba divers), and Chess Network.

More people join social networking sites every day. If you're looking to connect with old friends, find long-lost lovers, or meet people who share your same interests, it's a good bet you can find them on one of these sites.

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