.SOCIAL Domain Extension

Why choose a .SOCIAL domain?

In about fifteen years a handful of companies took this word over. Before them, “social” meant concerning society: social work, social housing, the social economy, social security. In English that older sense has almost disappeared behind the network. In French it is still the dominant one. So the meaning has to be settled before you choose, because two audiences will not read the same word.

The network

A platform, a federated instance, an online community. The sense an English-speaking reader will reach for first.

Social work

Casework, support, referral, advice services. Visitors often in difficulty, who need to find things fast and without jargon.

The social economy

Co-operatives, social enterprises, trading charities. A sector where the word is exactly right and understood without explanation.

The social event

A club, a circle, the annual dinner, a networking evening. A third, lighter sense that coexists with the others without difficulty.

Settling the meaning

Your first sentence has to remove the ambiguity in a few words. A visitor who cannot tell which sense you mean will leave.

What it actually changes

• The word carries two senses that sit awkwardly together. The only suffix in this group whose main meaning depends on the reader’s language.
• In French the older sense still holds. Social economy, social housing, social work: the platforms have not swallowed the word there.
• No registration restrictions. No organisational status to demonstrate to the registrar.
• It works as an email address too. hello@cooperative.social suits the social economy sector with no ambiguity at all.