Online social networks are changing the way people communicate, work and play, and mostly for the better...

Also in this special report:

Global swap shops - Why social networks have grown so fast‹and how Facebook has become so dominant

Twitter's transmitters - The magic of 140 characters

Profiting from friendship - Social networks have a better chance of making money than their critics think

A peach of an opportunity -Small businesses are using networks to become bigger.

Yammering away at the office - A distraction or a bonus?

Social contracts - The smart way to hire workers

Privacy 2.0 - Give a little, take a little

Towards a socialised state - The joy of unlimited communication