Late last year Hitwise reported that social networking internet traffic surpassed email service internet traffic in the UK. This trend was also noted in Asia.

This is a signifier of a shift in the role of online social networks, and ordinary people are increasingly finding utility in social networks. This all makes sense when you realise that human beings already doing social networking in real life. The online versions merely enable broader connections than are possible in real life not using technology.

In real world social networks it is hard to stay in contact with people who have moved away from your location. But online social networks enable us to stay connected with people who are not physically proximate. What are businesses going to do about this?