social networking

noun

: the creation and maintenance of personal and business relationships especially online

Examples of social networking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The company transformed social networking from a college-campus product into one of the dominant businesses of the internet age. Truebridge Capital, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Microblogging and social networking platforms like Tumblr and MySpace became hotbeds for advice on disordered eating. Jordyn Tovey, The Conversation, 22 May 2026 Meta had prevailed over the existential challenge to its business that could have forced the tech giant to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp after a judge ruled that the company does not hold a monopoly in social networking. Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026 Overview Social news sites generally incorporate social networking features, such as the ability to create personal profiles, designate friends, follow others’ activities, and/or facilitate one-on-one interaction. Steve Paulussen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for social networking

Word History

First Known Use

1998, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social networking was in 1998

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Cite this Entry

“Social networking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20networking. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

social networking

noun
: the creation and maintenance of personal and business relationships especially online
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