This article is called The Social Networking Industry Analyzed via the Value Framework. It is from VMS3.info.

“Human networking has been around since the dawn of civilization, but new technology promises to bring it into the Internet age. New companies are quickly forming around the idea that networks can be created, traversed, searched, and analyzed for the benefit of social and business users. The new breed of companies may help you find the right Saturday night date or a trusted partner for your next business venture. ”

“The Interactive Social Networking Industry comprises companies seeking to navigate, analyze, or display social connections of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. The more advanced features allow weak links and friend-of-a-friend links to be exploited for social or business networking purposes. A user may use these applications to find contacts, or to understand what relationships exist.

This analysis examines nine firms in the industry, exploring their similarities and differences. Each firm brings a new perspective or feature to the mix. The users, members, and customers decide which are valuable and which are not. ”