Private vs. Public Social Networks – What Makes Them Different?

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A private social network is an interesting new development that is providing users with better control opportunities. Traditional social networks have been blamed several times for jeopardizing the online privacy of their members. This is how the private social network came into existence.

A public social networking website is open for membership to everybody. Though the members have some control over the privacy settings, there is still a lot of personal information that remains available for public viewing.

Even if a privacy social media app gets installed, there is still no guarantee that sensitive data is 100 percent protected. A number of social networks have been blamed for leaking user information to advertisers and other third parties without getting the consent of members.

All of these characteristics and developments have decreased the popularity of the open social network, especially among people who are trying to establish a certain online image for themselves. Lacking full control over content leads to problems, especially if people are interested in creating a highly professional image and who use social media apps for business purposes.

The private social network is a wonderful alternative to the traditional websites.

A private social network is a limited access community. Only a small group of people get the right to join and these people have full control over content and the information that they share with others.

Needless to say, a private social network enables higher level of control and customization. Personal information is protected and the social network is used solely for a particular purpose – communication with coworkers, the exchange of ideas or the practice of a hobby or a particular interest.

Many companies are relying on private social networks for business communication. The volume of content in this kind of social network is much smaller and it is strictly specialized. There is no risk of having personal photos leaked to the entire world simply because the purpose of the private social network is very different.

The one problem that comes with private social media is higher fees. Such communities are typically costlier to develop or there could be a membership fee that everybody has to pay. The higher level of security, however, makes the investment worth it for the majority of the members.

When choosing a social network, a person will first have to define objectives. If social networking is casual and used as a method of communicating with the world and getting to know new people, the open social network is a good selection.

If privacy and specialized communication are of key importance, the private social network is a better selection. It gives full control over content, specialization and communication with a selected pool of members.

The social networking market is becoming truly diversified to address the needs of all users. Private social networking is a hot new trend that is here to stay and to keep growing.