Social networks are an online collection of nodes and ties. Nodes are the individual actors within the networks, and ties are the relationships between the actors. In a traditional social network, users are provided a collection of various ways to interact, such as chat, messaging, email, video, voice chat, file sharing, discussion groups, blogging, etc. Users can further personalize their experience by entering their personal data, such as interests, cultural heritage, geographic location, political ideologies, marital status, sex, etc. Social networks that follow this model include MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster. These website are currently dominated by groups of younger individuals (ages 16 to 26) seeking relationships and social support. Social networks have been proven to be excellent at networking, planning and coordinating social events, building social ties, and providing entertainment value for its users.

The Cause Based Social Support Network (SSN) is an evolution of the traditional social network that organizes its users for a greater social good, or cause. SSNs are made up of miniature social networks, called Micro Support Networks, that revolve around a single user, or Beneficiary, who is facing a personal challenge or obstacle related to the Cause. A perfect example is a patient battling cancer. Clinical data has shown that diagnosed cancer patients who have a support network outlive patients who do not. Furthermore, patients who stay proactive in seeking their cure actually derive a medical benefit from the proactivity.

A SSNs infrastructure requires users to register and participate according to a specific user type: Beneficiary, Advocate, or Volunteer. The goal of each Micro Support Network is to:

1. Remove all of the frustrations from every aspect of the Beneficiary’s personal challenge or obstacle. 2. Give the Beneficiary the ability to focus all their energy on their situation.

3. Give the Beneficiary empowered access to all information available on their situation.

4. Surround the Beneficiary with a support community of individuals who are currently battling, or who have already successfully battled, the same situation.

5. Enable the Beneficiary to create an informed and customized strategy of attack that is molded to their unique value system.