How to create a social network site like facebook using moosocial.com platform?

how to build a facebook-like social network

MooSocial is a PHP-based social network software that provides ready-to-use features like timelines, friend systems, groups, messaging, photo/video sharing, and more—ideal for launching a niche or general-purpose social site.

✅ Step-by-Step Guide

1. Purchase and Download MooSocial

  • Go to https://moosocial.com

  • Choose a pricing plan based on your needs (self-hosted or cloud)

  • Create an account and download the package

2. Prepare Your Hosting Environment

You can either:

  • Host on your own VPS (like DigitalOcean, Linode)

  • Use shared hosting that supports:

    • PHP 7.x or 8.x

    • MySQL 5.6+

    • Apache/Nginx

Minimum server requirements:

  • Apache or NGINX

  • PHP 7.4 or 8.x with required extensions (like mbstring, gd, curl, pdo_mysql)

  • MySQL 5.6+

  • IonCube loader installed (for MooSocial licensing)

3. Upload and Install MooSocial

  • Unzip the MooSocial package

  • Upload files to your web root (/public_html or /var/www/html)

  • Create a MySQL database via cPanel or phpMyAdmin

  • Visit yourdomain.com/install

    • Fill out database info

    • Set admin username/password

  • Follow the installer prompts

4. Configure Basic Settings

Once installed, log in as Admin:

  • Go to Admin Dashboard

  • Configure:

    • Site name, logo

    • Default language

    • Time zone

    • Email settings (SMTP)

5. Customize Theme and Branding

  • Choose or upload a custom theme

  • Modify CSS and layout via the Theme Manager

  • Add your logo and branding in the admin panel

6. Enable Core Features (Facebook-like)

From the Plugin Manager, enable:

  • Friends/Followers system

  • Messaging

  • Timeline and Newsfeed

  • Groups or Pages

  • Photo and Video sharing

  • Notifications

7. Install Additional Plugins

You can enhance your site by buying/installing official plugins:

  • Chat

  • Ads Manager

  • Live Video

  • Points & Rewards

  • Mobile app (optional)

Browse the MooSocial Plugin Store for more options.

8. Set Up Permissions and User Roles

  • Go to Manage Roles under Admin

  • Define user roles (e.g., Admin, Moderator, User)

  • Set permissions for posting, messaging, reporting, etc.

9. Test Your Social Network

  • Create test accounts

  • Test friend requests, posting, messaging, photo uploads

  • Check mobile responsiveness

10. Launch Your Site

  • Configure SEO settings

  • Link to a custom domain (if not already done)

  • Promote your site through social media or email campaigns

Consider:

  • Backups – Set up regular backups (daily or weekly)

  • Security – Use SSL (HTTPS), keep software/plugins updated

  • Performance – Use caching (like Redis or Varnish), enable CDN

Optional: Launch Mobile App

MooSocial offers Android and iOS apps (requires purchase and setup via React Native or third-party services)