Social networking on mobile phones has evolved over the years. It began during the late 90s with basic chatting and texting services and has evolved over the years with the introduction of mobile cameras and 3G services. Now social networking has become a part of our daily lives with the introduction of technologies like web 2.0 and other mobile applications.
Social Network Sites:
Social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter have launched applications for mobile phones to enable users to get instant updates directly to their handsets. They have also created mobile websites compatible with the browsers of mobile phones. There are also social networking platforms such as Instagram and Foursquare that are specially made for mobile phones. Security features have increased with the increasing advancements in mobile social networking to ensure the privacy and security of private data.
Mobile Internet:
Mobile internet has revolutionised social networking. They allow people to share their experiences and media in real time which was non-existent before. GPS enabled handsets and camera phones have made it easier for people to share their own media. People use ‘check-in’ to let others know where they are or they share pictures of their holidays and their experiences instantaneously. Before this people updated their profiles after they returned home from a holidays, now, they can share their experiences in real time. Skype has launched a mobile app which allows users to make video calls.
Apps:
Social networking applications allow people to connect with other like-minded people and join communities through their mobile phones. This allows people to connect with people from all over the world and share their experiences. People can organise online hang outs, group chat or events through their mobiles apps such as Whats App, Yahoo Messenger, Google Plus etc. People also use mobile phones to update their blogs and reply to the comments they receive.
Dating services through mobile platforms have gained popularity. They are usually an extension of online dating sites and have been introduced to increase convenience for users. These services allow people to create their profile and meet people online.
The instant messaging applications such as whatsapp and Viber are slowly replacing conventional texting. These applications are a great improvement over traditional texting. They offer features such as group chat and media sharing. Now people can instantly send their media to a specific person or a group of people. These applications are cheaper than the conventional texting, too.
Gaming Apps:
Social gaming such as Simcity, FarmVille, You Don’t Know Jack, Marvel, Joyride, and The Friend Game are immensely popular on mobile platform, also. Mobile gaming has gained much popularity because of the increased Internet speed, improved graphics and performance of phones. These games connect different players who like to play a common game and it also provides a feature of chat where people can chat with each other while playing.
Conclusions:
Developments in technology have enabled people to remain accessible 24/7. Communication is possible in real time. The increasing popularity of mobile social networking has led to the introduction and constant upgrading of applications. The use of mobile social networking is going to increase as more people buy smartphones and this in turn will lead to constant innovation in the mobile industry.