Which of the following best defines social institutions?

Social institutions are best defined as established systems fulfilling essential societal functions because they provide structured and organized mechanisms that society relies on to meet its foundational needs. These institutions, such as family, education, religion, government, and the economy, work collectively to maintain social order and cohesion while also addressing the basic requirements of the community, such as socialization, support, and governance.

In contrast to informal networks of friends, which lack the formal structure and roles characteristic of established social institutions, the key characteristic of institutions is their systematic approach to fulfilling specific societal functions. Transient social groups refer to temporary associations that do not have the lasting impact or established roles of social institutions, while individual behaviors focus on personal actions without the broader context of societal organization, which misses the collaborative aspect that institutions embody.