The first social maps date from the early 20th century. A recent example is the mapping of the residences of U.S.

Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

users and their social links. In marketing, a social map is a visualized analysis of a

digital identity A digital identity is information used by computer systems to represent an external agent – a person, organization, application, or device. Digital identities allow access to services provided with computers to be automated and make it possibl ...

of a person, brand or company. A social map shows exactly where a digital identity is created, formed or discussed and sets each element in context and proportions. These social maps created an intense discussion about digital reputation and digital identities. For companies, a so-called corporate social map is still a very new and unusual methodology, but also very effective and meaningful.

See also