The focus of this category is on software designed to operate a social network, like Facebook or MySpace, although not necessarily on so large a level.
Although online forums are social networks, forum scripts are listed in a separate category. Social networks themselves are not listed in this category either, as they would be found in the Social Media category or one of its subcategories.
The resources listed in this category are to software and scripts that can be used to power a social network. Rather than participating in Facebook or one of the existing online communities, some people want to start their own, and that's what this category is about.
The software referenced here is not necessarily intended to produce a social network exactly like Facebook or one of the others, but to serve the same or a similar purpose.
An online community can be large or small, broadly based or centered around a particular cause, issue, activity, or geographical area. Anyone who wants a Facebook account is welcome to join that social network, and some of the software listed here could be used to create an alternative network based on a similar business model, but a social network might also be restricted to members of a local book club, church, or school. A network might also be targeted to members of a particular religion, political party, profession, age bracket, or even to people who share an interest in a sport or activity.
Most people are not going to have what it takes to go head to head with Facebook, in competition for a general audience. Indeed, Facebook itself began as a social network for students of Harvard College, then expanded to other universities, and then to high schools, before opening itself to the general public in 2004.
To attract members and keep them coming back, a social network should have a clear purpose in their lives, and in order for it to survive long-term, it should have a means of support. Before starting a new social network, three questions should be asked: What type of community do I want to build? Why am I building it? Who am I building it for?
The answers to these questions might change as the years go by, and that's a good thing because successful communities should keep pace with the changing needs of their members and owners. Change may be stressful, but it's often a good thing.
These questions should be answered before you even go out looking for software because the answers might help you determine which platform is going to work best for you.
As might be expected, not all social network software is created equal, although common features are those that you would see in Facebook or other social networking sites. Of course, the software will support memberships and user profiles, and most of them will include options for groups, private messages, and the ability to share photos and videos. Although some use different names for it, the idea of having a friends list is common. Many of them support the embedding of video, which does not first have to be uploaded to Youtube, and discussion forums are commonly seen.
Other member features may, or may not, include activity feeds, facilities for inviting friends, notifications, chat, member-defined calendars or activities, user blogs, polls, and quizzes. Some of them allow members to vote or to vouch for other members, which may be used for promotions or rewards, depending on the options chosen by the administrator.
On the administrative end, many of these applications are theme-based or template-based, and administrators are usually able to tweak these themes or otherwise control the look and feel of the social networking site. Various statistics and report functions are likely to be available to the administrators and, optionally, to members as well.
Of course, administrators will have control over various membership options. Membership might be by invitation only or by open registration, with security measures built-in. Most of these applications will give administrators optional control over most aspects of the social networking site, including the ability to remove members' posts or blog entries, approving or revoking memberships, and so on.
Gamification features are included in some of the listed programs, ranging from the inclusion of online games to various ways of encouraging and rewarding activity on the site through the issuance of activity points, e-gifts, privileges, and promotions, which may be tied to participation in site activities or to votes awarded by other members.
Several of the software packages listed here will optionally support multiple languages.
Most of the programs offer support for the monetization of the social network, which may include membership subscriptions, payment for extra privileges or members-only areas of the site, as well as for ad campaigns. If so, then a payment gateway will be included.
Recommended Resources
Offered through AlstraSoft, a web development, and software company specializing in web design and software programming, E-friends is an online social networking software designed to allow users to start their own Facebook-like website. An online demo site is available from the user and administrative perspectives, along with an overview of the software, a full list of its features, product requirements, and pricing, which is for a lifetime license, including the source code.
http://www.alstrasoft.com/efriends.htm
Maintained by the Freenet Project and licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Freenet is a peer-to-peer platform for censorship-resistant communication, using a decentralized distributed data store to retain and deliver information, and featuring a suite of free software for publishing and communicating on the Internet without censorship. The philosophy behind the project is stated, and full documentation is available online, including installation instructions.
https://freenetproject.org/
Suitable for the Intranet as well as the Internet, the software is used by organizations, government entities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, middle-market corporations, and professional associations to create a professional social and collaboration network. Brochures for each of the industries that the application was developed for may be downloaded from the site, along with case-studies from several of its clients, demos, and subscription pricing plans.
https://www.groupsite.com/
The social network application was designed to allow clients to brand, customize, and engage their communities, offering members a dedicated networking space there they can share knowledge and experiences, keeping in contact with the program and one another. Its features in data management, content management, event management, communications, collaborations, membership management, groups, and networking are highlighted, and a demo may be requested.
https://hivebrite.com/
Hosted by SCORE Chicago, the site serves as a guide and informational source for those interested in starting a social network site. A categorized guide to necessary and suggested steps are presented, along with a description of social network business models, the advantages of niche networks, social network business plan templates and samples, a list of available software for powering a social network site, financing information, and social network engagement techniques.
https://howtostartasocialnetwork.com/
With headquarters in Australia and the United States, netVillage is a provider of social networking software for creating, hosting, and managing community-enabled websites. Offered as a commercial, off-the-shelf package rather than by subscription, a hosting plan is available. Promising an easy installation, instructions are given, along with a list of features, e-commerce options, security features, and integrated services are detailed, and a live demo site may be viewed.
http://www.netvillage.com/
In business since 2005, ONEsite offers a variety of single sign-on and social login software for websites, including Community Software, a social networking application for building enterprise community websites, which may be created as a standalone site or as an add-on to an existing site. The full-features social network software is highlighted here, with a list of its features, the core of which is its community users (members) and groups. Its two pricing plans are compared side-by-side.
https://onesite.com/
OSSN is a PHP-based social networking software designed for the creation of a social networking site that can be used in private Intranets, the public Intranet, or open networks. The core packages and bundled components are available as open-source software. Front-end and back-end demos are available, and its features, requirements, and a list of hosting companies specializing in OSSN hosting are posted, along with documentation and a member area, where additional support is available.
https://www.opensource-socialnetwork.org/
Available through a one-time fee, with three versions (Lite, Pro, Ultimate) to choose from, each of which is compared side-by-side, with a list of features, limitations, and prices, the application is designed to serve as a social network. A full list of features is set forth, and two installation options are available, including package licensure, server software setup, installation, initial configuration, access to support facilities, and one month of hosting.
https://www.phpfox.com/
White-labeled, customizable, and with open and unencrypted code, phpSocial is designed to create an inexpensive Facebook-like social network, which can be operated on all types of servers. The technologies employed, requirements, and setup instructions are presented, with an overview of its design options, features, monetization, and available plugins. User and Admin demos are available online, and galleries of themes, plugins, and languages are included.
https://phpsocial.com/
Founded in 2007, SocialEngine is a white-label of social network software for businesses. Its chief products include SocialEngine PHP, which offers an unbranded network that includes several customizable features, such as monetization, member profiles, activity feeds, content management, private messaging, and social network structure. While SE PHP is purchasable, SocialEngine Unite is available through a SaaS subscription model. Both products are extensible.
https://www.socialengine.com/
