Social Networking Software is a platform that allows individuals and organizations to create and engage in online communities. These platforms include features like group levels, which categorize users into different tiers, and memberships, which offer access to certain features. Access control, vie privée[1], and permissions are also crucial, helping to manage who can see and interact with content. The software can often be integrated with other platforms, such as PayPal[2] for membership fees, and customized with plugins, widgets, themes, and modules. Some common platforms for this software are PHP, MySQL, Node.js, WordPress, and Joomla. Licensing and pricing can vary, with some being free and others requiring payment or adherence to certain licenses like GPL 3.0 or LGPL 2.1. Additional features may include multimedia support, video calls, support for XMPP networks, and built-in LDAP and Active Directory.
Social networking software provides the technological basis for community driven content sharing and social networking.
See also Comparison of software and protocols for distributed social networking, especially for open-source software. Comparison of microblogging and similar services may also be relevant.