Social networks also existed before the arrival of Internet , but they lacked the scope , flexibility, size, speed , personality and community that Internet brought along. Amazon.com online store was one of the first to begin encouraging consumers to read and write opinions about the products . This h as grown into the so-called social shopping .
Sotsiaalsed võrgustikud olid olemas ka enne interneti tulekut, kuid neil puudus see, mille tõi internet, näiteks ulatus, paindlikkus, suurus, kiirus, personaalsus ja kogukondlikkus. Internetipood Amazon.com oli esimesi, kes hakkas innustama kirjutama ja lugema tarbijate arvamusi toodetest.