Passions may seem like an obvious source when you’re looking for the focus of your social network but my definition of a niche social network goes further than that:

A group of people passionate about a shared experience, situation, goal, or pastime,
but who don’t have an existing venue to easily connect with one another.

Think about your experiences for a moment.

Is there something you’ve been through (or are still going through) that would have been easier to endure if you had a community of people around you who knew what you were dealing with?

Nothing brings people together like a common enemy: Health problems, money issues, family conflicts, and other personal challenges can all be a solid foundation for a vibrant community.

If you think people won’t go online looking for solutions to these painful, personal issues, think again: According to an iCrossing  report from 2008, while 55% of adults seek health and wellness information from their physicians, 59% use internet-based resources, including web sites, search engines, online advertisements, blogs, forums, and social networks.

PatientsLikeMe is an example of a social network tapping into this need to connect in a broad sense, as is In The Rooms, a social network for people in recovery, but I’d suggest you dig even deeper into specific issues, ailments, and conditions to find new opportunities.

The New York Times ran a great piece a while ago about how the chronically ill — people battling everything from MS to Lupus — are finding solace through niche social networks.

People fighting chronic illnesses are less likely than others to have Internet access, but once online they are more likely to blog or participate in online discussions about health problems, according to a report released Wednesday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation.

You see, topic-based social networking isn’t always as strong as challenge-focused social networks. Here’s what I mean: Joining a social network to connect with other baseball fans (a topic), for example, is nice. Joining a social network to connect with others who are coping with a debilitating illness (a challenge) is more urgent.

These people aren’t looking for a simple distraction, they are desperately looking for information, support, and a sense of community that they likely can’t find anywhere else.

So while you may think of social networks as fun time-wasters, consider the huge potential of connecting people with common ailments, burdens, or challenges.