Of all the trends that have emerged over the last few years, social networking is one of the most popular. Almost everyone has access to the internet and is a member of one or two social networks. Sites such as MySpace and Facebook are pop culture phenomenons, being referenced in music, books and movies. In this article, you will learn more about the top social networking sites, and what they have to offer.

MySpace is one of the pioneering social networking sites. On MySpace, you can meet friends online and make new connections. It used to be popular among teenagers, but as of late, it's more of a place to find new bands and for musicians to showcase their music. Most of the younger people who made MySpace so popular have sinced moved over to Facebook, but MySpace is still a good place to catch up with those you've lost touch with, find great new music, and meet people.

With over 350 million members and counting, Facebook is a force to be reckoned with. If you're online, you need to be on Facebook- otherwise, you're really missing out on a great social networking opportunity. From its humble beginnings, it has become a way for people to build an online persona. The main advantage that Facebook has over other social networking sites is the level of privacy it provides, along with its clean user interface. If you like taking quizzes, using apps and playing games, then Facebook is the site for you.

While not a true social networking site, Twitter deserves a place on this list simply because it's so popular. It has over fifty million "tweeters", and it's one of the fastest-growing sites on the entire Internet. Twitter is based on the premise that anything we share can be shared in 140 characters or less. On Twitter, you can follow a member's tweets, staying up-to-date on what they're up to. Twitter is a great place to go in order to keep up with friends and current events.

Another popular social networking site is LinkedIn. Unlike the first two sites we mentioned, LinkedIn is devoted to professional and business networking. Its interface is more businesslike, and it has tools available to help you connect with other business professionals and to build a resume. LinkedIn has more than forty million members, and it's a "must see" for any kind of professional.

Bebo was popular among high-schoolers until it was acquired by AOL and opened to all people. As is the case with MySpace, the community has thinned somewhat due to the popularity of Facebook. However, it's still worth a look, with its clean interface and its multiple ways to interact with other Bebo members.

Social networking was once thought to be a fad, but the immense popularity of sites like Facebook and Twitter prove that it has staying power. Social networking is a great way to discover new music, find old friends, search for new ones, and to grow your business- and from the looks of it, it's here to stay.