The disclosed technology is directed towards devices (nonhuman entities) participating in social networks. Devices that join a nonhuman social network can share information, can learn from other devices, can assist in performing tasks and so forth. A device can search for an existing nonhuman social network that matches its criteria for joining a nonhuman social network, such as a nonhuman social network of the same type of devices, a nonhuman social network within a certain neighborhood, and so on. A device can form a nonhuman social network if one does not exist that meets the device's social network join criteria. A device's user may need to give approval to join and/or form a social network. A human social network can interact with a nonhuman social network, and there can be hybrid social networks of both human and nonhuman entities. A device can change social networks over time.