Facilitating social networking in inner-city neighborhoods

Interaction and engagement, usually voluntary, are driven by social needs, personal interests, mutual support, and intrinsic motivation. Social networks exhibit swarming, transitory, and informal qualities. Further, in social networks based on geographic proximity, online interaction takes place in a shared locale where users can see and meet each other in real life if they wish. Commercially successful systems designed to facilitate and support social networking in inner-city neighborhoods represent an opportunity to bridge a gap in the market. For example, with a new kind of cross-platform instant-messenger tool, users can easily maintain social ties with their local friends and peers-anywhere, anytime.