with all this internet connectedness, I've met a few different people online (either through facebook, twitter or geni) who share my not-very-common last name, and we've tried to determine if we're related by relating some of the oldest relatives we know who share the surname, but usually we don't find any overlap. As a genealogical novice, what should my next steps be in trying to find out if we're actually distantly related or if some clerk at Ellis Island just liked to give a bunch of French/German immigrants the same last name? [more inside]
posted by jrishel on May 1, 2009 - 16 answers

Social networking for research collaboration? [more inside]
posted by blueyellow on Jan 29, 2008 - 10 answers

Global social networking: I've assembled this list of the most popular social networking websites in the US, France, Germany, China, India, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Users of these sites: please help me make sure it's accurate! [more inside]
posted by lhall on Nov 30, 2007 - 14 answers

I need to find scholarly articles for a podcast assignment. My topic is online social networking. Advice? [more inside]
posted by pontouf on Apr 20, 2007 - 10 answers