In the 21st century, the social Internet media has become Facebook and Twitter. Using one or both of these world-wide connections can open up a treasure of information, aids, suggestions, ideas and advice that you may have never realized.

First, there are numerous family surname Facebook groups. There are general genealogy groups, offer suggestions for those needing assist in their research. The Facebook group for ‘Ancestry.com’, the online commercial database, has an incredible following, some 162,520 individuals across the globe. This Facebook group being so large is a great method let other people know what you might have to share. For example, an individual posted that he had many tintypes and original documents from the 1860s, none from his own family. He wanted to know how to post the items so others would have access to them. Within a few hours there were six different posts with suggestions and links.

Before discovering these new sources, you have to have an account on Facebook. You can create a free account. With your own profile established with the account, there is the section titled ‘Applications.’ In the search box place the phrase ‘family tree.’ From here you can search for surnames you are interested in.

Not only are those individuals interesting in a certain surname, but also there surname societies on Facebook. The Welsh Griffiths Family Surname Society has 255 followers or members on Facebook, along with the Gibson / Gipson Genealogy Facebook page with 231 members.

Another place to also check are the ‘groups’ represented by a ‘double-head’ icon. Do a search using the terms ancestry, family tree or genealogy. Additional there all types of ethnic groups to review, most with connections to those a genealogical society. For example, those with a Scottish background on Facebook is ‘Scottish Genes’ with some 677 members or followers, or French there is ’The French Genealogy Blog’ with 476 followers or German is found at ‘German Genealogy’ with 936 members.

Not just name or ethnic groups, but also search for ancestral hometowns. Plugging in Lancashire County, England produced over 3,100 members on Facebook for that group and for Cornwall County, England resulted in 2,137 members.

Once finding a group you are interested in by reviewing the types of questions the group followers are asking and their responses, lets you know if this will work for you. Then, you can ‘join’ that group and are open to ask specific questions or even help provide some information for others.

Using the Twitter social network is very similar. Sign up for a free account. Finding groups with similar interests is done the same way, by checking profiles with the genealogy word or a certain surname. Using just 140 characters at a time (like a mini-message); you can ask questions, seek out opinions of resources and learn what is successful as far as gathering family data. If you have a question about locating certain vital records there can be thousands of followers on Twitter willing to provide an answer. There is ‘Surname Saturday’ on Twitter where names are posted and followers ask questions and share information.

The advantages to using Facebook or Twitter networking are:

1. Sharing and learning from fellow family history researchers is fantastic.

2. Learning from the many genealogical societies on Facebook; such as the Irish Genealogical Society, the Society of Genealogists in U. K., or the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History.

3. Post images for which your have questions; for instance a soldier in a uniform you cannot identify. You would be amazed how many experts are out there that are willing to help.

4. Locating any number of other Facebook members who share the name surname or hometown.

5. Unlike email, you can have a chat in real time with a follower on Facebook or Twitter, providing instant answers.