---
title: "Social Networking Websites"
description: "Online social networking is both about connecting to others through publicily displayed networks and about creating self-expressive content."
date: "2006-06-22"
authors:
  - name: "Amanda Lenhart"
    job_title: "Former Director of Teens and Technology Research at the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/amanda-lenhart/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2006/06/22/social-networking-websites/"
categories:
  - "Social Media"
tags:
  - "Social Networking"
---

# Social Networking Websites

Online social networking is both about connecting to others through publicily displayed networks and about creating self-expressive content. Teenagers are in a particular moment in their lives where both of these things are extremely important -- creating new friend groups and shifting primary personal relationships from parents to friends, as well as exploring and developing a personal identity. Much of the popularity of social networks with young people springs from how adeptly the websites meet these needs.