social network

noun

1
: a network of individuals (such as friends, acquaintances, and coworkers) connected by interpersonal relationships
2
: an online service or site through which people create and maintain interpersonal relationships
And millions of people have become comfortable using smart-phones to share information about themselves, via mobile apps that access social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.The Economist

Examples of social network in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Traditional social networks offer a pathway to connecting with other humans. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 This push for young users was not deterred even after a coalition of state attorneys general launched a probe scrutinizing the impact of the company’s social networks on young people’s mental health. Naomi Nix, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023 Modern social networks are not a single product but a giant bundle of features, and the next generation of tools might be all about unbundling. David Pierce, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2023 In normal times, immigrants gravitate to neighborhoods where countrymen have set up social networks, and they are gradually absorbed into the city. Olivia Bensimon Todd Heisler, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023 Superconductors unexpectedly became a viral topic on social networks over the summer when a different group of scientists, in South Korea, also claimed to have discovered a room-temperature superconductor, named LK-99. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 While videos and images of victims were soon going viral on major social networks, the most extreme content can all be traced back to Telegram. Darren Loucaides, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023 What is certain is the power of the song and its meaning, which has generated a great deal of debate on social networks. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2023 By rolling out these updates now, YouTube is possibly trying to protect itself after dozens of states filed a lawsuit against fellow social network Meta last week for contributing to a youth mental health crisis. Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'social network.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of social network was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near social network

Cite this Entry

“Social network.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20network. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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