Two kinds of networks. One for groups working together. Another for marketing and distributing the product. One infacing, private or at least not publicized. Another outfacing, public and publicized. That second one hasn't always been much of a network.
Back in the middle part of the last century, "network" most commonly meant radio network or television network. Public and publicized, sure. But hardly interactive. There were the Nielson ratings, of course. And I got a secret decoder ring from Jack Armstrong. For twenty-five cents and three Wheeties box tops, I think. Most of the time , though, those networks were telling us what to buy. And we just listened.
Those of us who grew up in the last century may tend to think that this top-down network is the norm. But it never was the norm for local merchants. You sell to the people in your village, you listen to the people in your village -- or at least to your customers.
