Social networking websites allow users to connect and communicate with others through online profiles and share content. Some popular early sites included Classmates.com in 1995 and SixDegrees.com in 1997, while modern sites like Friendster, Myspace, and Facebook launched between 2002-2004. These sites operate through user-generated content and profiles linked through shared connections or interests. While social networking provides benefits like wider sharing of information and easier global communication, there are also criticisms around privacy, security, fake identities, and how the sites impact social interactions.

1. Social Networking Websites