Social Networks as Tools for Support in Business: A Focus on Young Entrepreneurs

Young entreprenureship is a phenomenon that presents significative implications as regards economic development, innovation and structural change. In the light of the current economic context, characterized by a profound crisis that involves many nations (including Italy), young entrepreneurship is becoming an essential element which can better the living conditions and economic independence of the young. Alongside the numerous threats that hinder the development of young entrepreneurship in our National Economic System, opportunities in this respect could be seized by using the new media, in particular Social Networks, which can become useful tools for sharing, communication, sales, exchange of ideas, experience, opinions, enabling a way of communicating, not only vertical (like the first generation Web) but also horizontal. This paper undertakes an analysis of the contribution that social technologies could offer young entrepreneurs by encouraging the starting up and development of their own business.