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theories of social networks

Today, social networks are everywhere. With all sorts of abuse. But really, you know the sociological theories on social networks? Because before their declination electronic social networks are primarily a phenomenon that sociologists have been studying for many years.
I propose you a quick reminder (or discovery) of these theoretical foundations. The first theory is that the small world

of Stanley Milgram . Milgram is enough known for its experience in submission to authority (reprise in the film
I. .. like Icarus

), but he also did an experiment to illustrate the idea of six degrees of separation

. In summary, he asked people who were strangers to transmit documents via only by their relationships. His conclusion is that there
than 6

relationships between two people. This has been revised slightly upwards to the generalization to the whole world, but it is certainly one of the arguments of social networks on the internet (especially professional): the world is at your fingertips because the world is small . However, this is not the most interesting theory. The other theory is less obvious but still much higher for Viadeo, LinkedIn, and other 6nergies ... Is that of

strength of weak ties
developed by Mark Granovetter. He believes we can classify the relationships between individuals in two categories:

strong ties: family, friends, colleagues relatives ...

weak ties: relationships work more distant neighbors, everyone knows that without a regular relationship.

Up there, nothing really revolutionary. Where it gets interesting is that it has been observed by several experiments

weak ties are most effective to get a job . He explains this by two factors:

a factor "
cultural
"

: weak ties feel less compelled

respond to the request of the individual. This implies that what they propose is more qualitative.


a factor " structural " : people linked by strong ties tend also relations between them, which creates a bubble, isolated. This therefore restricts the chances of obtaining new information, because there is less open to the Breakers. On the contrary, weak ties have their own spheres of knowledge with which it is less likely that connections exist otherwise. Conclusion: It is important to nurture its weak links. I'll spare you the theory of structural holes (a study around the phrase the friends of my friends are friends ) and many books that have much less impact on the electronic versions of social networks .
I find that knowing these theories, we see things from another angle. But the more frustrating it was when Alain Lefebvre
(thanks to that I really understood the value of social réseux) told me: The theory is very important. Once thou hast understood, put it aside, it does not work. Because most people do not know or do not understand.
I found it a bit annoying. Through its experience with

6nergies
• , it also appears that almost unequivocally urge people not their real network in social networking, but build a new network, virtual. When I have time, I think I'd like to study this e-sociology
, relationships and interactions between users with a sociological perspective. And a project more ...
PS: I just realize that Wikipedia has an interesting page (and more complete than this post) on social networks

.