I would submit that the term "social network" has lost almost all distinctive value.
Github isn't a social network in the way that traditional online social networks have been viewed – it isn't just about "connecting" and communicating the way that friendster, facebook and twitter all are.
Instead, it's an online code repository that has social features – in other words, it's the next step in making our online selves a more effective extension of our off-line selves, doing work, building things, but doing it in the context of a social group – just like we do in the off-line world, more often than not.
This is an example of a niche concept becoming widespread enough that it almost becomes table stakes rather than a notable feature.
That's still pretty cool – but again, I think it means that the term "social network" is losing its distinctiveness.
> That's still pretty cool – but again, I think it means that the term "social network" is losing its distinctiveness.
Good. The term should lose its distinctiveness. Currently, ``social'' closely relates to friendliness or geniality, but its Lockean definition pertains to ``society as a natural condition of human life.'' Although ``societal networking'' may be the more appropriate term in certain contexts (e.g., those outside the scope of friendly or genial conversation), ``social networking'' nevertheless remains correct. The exceptionally broad definition of the word ``social'' effectively portends ambiguity when discussing social networking, so a presumption of distinctiveness isn't warranted.
Github isn't a social network in the way that traditional online social networks have been viewed – it isn't just about "connecting" and communicating the way that friendster, facebook and twitter all are.
Instead, it's an online code repository that has social features – in other words, it's the next step in making our online selves a more effective extension of our off-line selves, doing work, building things, but doing it in the context of a social group – just like we do in the off-line world, more often than not.
This is an example of a niche concept becoming widespread enough that it almost becomes table stakes rather than a notable feature.
That's still pretty cool – but again, I think it means that the term "social network" is losing its distinctiveness.