A social network, as Jim Rutt would describe it, is a web of interconnected individuals or entities that share information, ideas, and resources through various relational ties. These ties can be familial, professional, or based on shared interests and activities. Rutt would emphasize how these networks facilitate the flow of knowledge and support, playing a critical role in both personal and community development. By leveraging modern technology, social networks have expanded far beyond physical boundaries, enabling a global exchange of culture and innovation. In essence, a social network is a dynamic interplay of relationships that shape the social, economic, and cultural fabric of society.

See also: social media, social capital, collective intelligence, network effect