Task 2

Social Media

Social networking has already changed the way people communicate. Social networking emerged first as

an invention developed in 1975 and is used today as an e-mail (Email). But social networking has

progressed in using a profile to notify and incorporate the e-mail use of a user and his/her interests.

Social networking now includes posting stories, photographs and the use of software, and

communication with others.

People may use social networking sites to connect and stay in touch with friends as well as meet new

people. People can use these places to find someone with similar interests with whom they can form

friendships and get to know. To meet people who share common interests and viewpoints, groups may

be joined or created. By using platforms like blogging and messaging to share ideas and stories, social

networking allows for creative expression (Are social networking sites good for our society, 2009).

Poems, music, TV shows, hobbies, pictures, and many other items are shared by users (Jason). Rather

than mailing invites, event invitations can be created and submitted to friends, and friends can also

RSVP for an event on the web. Social networking is beneficial not only to people but also to companies.

Businesses can use these platforms to advertise and sell their services to a large audience, and creating a

profile is free (Gillin). Several companies have developed profiles that provide accurate information

about their operations to promote themselves at a low cost (Roberts, 2008). Since the company profile

is visible to all users of the social network, businesses can receive more exposure. Businesses also want

to use social media to learn more about future hires and make hiring decisions based on the details on

their profiles (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007).

There are some disadvantages of using social networking, but they are minor in comparison to the

benefits. These websites substitute face-to-face socializing with an online contact, which is thought to
result in low-quality relationships with other people (Mikami, Szwedo, Allen, Evans, & Hare, 2010).

Teens share so much personal information with the public, which can harm them in the future while

looking for work, and simply deleting the information isn't enough. Cyberbullying which publicly bullies

people online also occurs, but only in a few cases. People who regularly use social networking online are

often vulnerable to social isolation that can lead to depression and lower social skills (Mikami, Szwedo,

Allen, Evans, & Hare, 2010). A false sense of security leaves users of social networking websites

vulnerable to security attacks such as hacking, theft, and viruses. Identity theft may happen when a

cybercriminal uses the network to collect personal data about individuals. It also has been said that

social networking sites threaten children by encouraging pedophiles to search out children (Are social

networking sites good for our society?). Also, since they are becoming more mobile, it is possible that

people would use their cell phones to access these sites while driving, similar to how text messaging was

once common.

References
Are social networking sites useful for our society? (2009). Social Networking ProCon.org. Retrieved April
9, 2010, from http://socialnetworking.procon.org

Bhutkar, G. (2009, January 29). Users on social networking sites. Journal of HC Vistas, 5 (February 2009).
Retrieved from http://www.hceye.org/?UsabilityInsights/??p=103

Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., and Lampe, C. (2007). The advantages of Facebook "friends": social capital
and use of online social networking sites by university students. Journal of Computer-Mediated
Communication, 12 (4). Retrieved from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/?vol12/?issue4/?ellison.html

Jeremiah Owyang's first and greatest web strategy for social networks | Social Media, Web Marketing.
(n.d.). Jeremiah Owyang's web strategy: Web Marketing, Social Media. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from
http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/07/09/email-the-first-social-network/