Introduction:

Social networks are the best exponent of the so-called Web 2.0, where people or entities related through platforms can communicate quickly and simultaneously, to share information and documentation resources of any kind. Currently researchers and institutions use networks to establish links.

Objective:

Characterize the objectives and elements of academic networks, the advantages and disadvantage they present and the way of use, among other aspects.

Method:

We made an extensive literature search on this subject that included Web sites, books and magazines during the past five years. The documents obtained were classified and evaluated according to their relevance and quality.

Development:

The objectives and particularities of Web 2.0 are stated, as well as some ways of obtaining scientific and technical information to later introduce the peculiarities of Social Networks and Academic Social Networks, making a particular distinction with the Academic Research Networks that exist in our area. Techniques currently used to assess the quality of the scientific output of researchers are presented and discussed.

Conclusions:

Considering the novelty and usefulness of these tools, it is considered that this report may be of interest to researchers and the general public due to the affordable language with which it has been written.

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