Social Networking Sites:
A Dangerous Addiction
John Visgaitis
Period 6-7
November 1, 2010
Visgaitis 1
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Define and introduce Social Networking Sites
B. Question: Are these sites dangerous?
C. Thesis: Even if caution and vigilance are used, social networking sites
encourage online predators, expose users to objectionable images,
and create cyberbullies.
II. Counter-Argument and why it is not valid
A. Counter Argument: If you don’t post too much personal information, it
is safe.
B. Why it is not valid: Use quotes and research from Cohen article (1 in 5
have been sexually solicited online).
III. First supporting point – Onlne Predators
A. Quote: Online predators “use the data you’ve posted to pretend to be
your friend.”
B. Analysis: Sexual predators use social networking sites to get your
personal information and make contact with potential victims.
IV. Second supporting point – Objectionable images
A. Quote: “Almost every user will inadvertently come across
pornographic images regardless of the filters used at home or at
school.”
B. Analysis: Almost all people who use the internet, including social
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networking sites, will be exposed to pornography or other suggestive
material.
V. Third supporting point - Cyberbullies
A. Quote: “A cyberbully is anyone who repeatedly uses the internet to
intimidate, bully, harass, or terrorize another person.”
C. Analysis: Social networking sites allow bullies to threaten and harass
others all day long, even after school hours.
VI. Conclusion
A. Restate three arguments: online predators, pornography, cyberbullies
B. Encourage people not to communicate in such a public way.
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John Visgaitis
Mr. Furman
Grade 9
November 1, 2010
Social Networking Sites: A Dangerous Addiction
Most people could not imagine one activity that almost all teens partake in.
But, there is such an activity and that activity is the usage of the internet. In fact,
eighty-seven percent of teens say they use the internet in their lives. (Cohen 94)
One of the most common activities on the internet for teens is spending time on
social networking sites. A social networking site is a sort of cyber-club where
members can create profiles and then connect with others who have similar
interests or profiles. At first these sites seem to give benefits to the user, such as
to connect with old friends or classmates, but some people have chosen to play
the system for their own disturbing gain. There is definitely a lot of controversy
about whether these sites are safe or not. After reviewing the facts, evidence
suggests that these sites are indeed a danger. Even if caution and vigilance are
used, social networking sites encourage online predators, expose users to
objectionable images, and create cyberbullies.
Perhaps with all the evidence, it seems improbable that anyone
would think social networking sites are one hundred percent safe. However,
some teens and even adults dismiss this evidence as paranoia. They think
social networking sites are just a great way to stay in touch with friends. They
believe if you don’t post too much personal information, you’ll be perfectly safe.
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This argument may be comforting, but it is completely false. David Frey, chief of
New York’s computer and technology investigations unit, says, “Bits of
information that seem perfectly innocuous – a first name, a school name,
interests, and worries – can be seen and used by sexual predators.” (Cohen 90)
Frey also points out that “one in five children who use the internet has been
sexually solicited online”. (Cohen 92)
If indeed twenty percent of children who use the internet have been
sexually solicited online, think of the staggering number of sexual predators who
are out there looking at teens’ online profiles. According to Frey, “Sexual
predators are very clever. They use the data you’ve posted to pretend to be a
friend.” (Cohen 91) Teens are almost force-feeding the predators information.
They are so comfortable posting personal information, both good and bad, that it
is like a flashing neon sign directing predators where their next catch of the day
will be. Predators can take a tiny bit of information and figure out where a teen
lives, goes to school, or works. A recent study showed that “seventy-one percent
of students do not think that an internet predator will contact them based on
postings online.” (Kite 162) David Frey’s whole job is to show how much in
denial those students are!
Though the students are in denial about online predators, their
parents are in denial about how much pornography their children may be seeing
on social networking sites. According to Judy and Sean McCleese, “almost
every user will inadvertently come across pornography regardless of the filters
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used at home or in schools.” (McCleese 11) This viewing of pornography can
become a habit for teens. This habit can be dangerous because some teens are
too young to fully understand that many of those photos are digitally enhanced.
This can give teens a bad image of their own bodies or can manipulate them into
posting suggestive photos of themselves.
Another form of negative manipulation from social networking sites is
cyberbullying. A cyberbully is “anyone who repeatedly misuses technology to
harass, intimidate, bully, or terrorize another person.” (Kite 159) Cyberbullies
flourish and prosper around social networking sites because of the unlimited
amount of the resources and time available to them. Social networking sites
allow bullies to harass others at any time of day or night, not just at school. Also,
the bullies know that since they are not at school, there will probably be no
consequences for their actions. This often makes them post even more cruel
and threatening things to or about others. Studies indicate that “between 20
percent and 33 percent of adolescents have reported being victims of
cyberbullying.” (Kite 159) It is also a possibility that those who have been bullied
through social networking sites are more likely to become classic bullies or
cyberbullies themselves.
The cycles of the bullied becoming bullies and the viewers of suggestive
images becoming the posters of suggestive images are supported by social
networking sites. Social networking sites can be a scourge of the internet which
not only violate people’s privacy with information brought to them from the pen of
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their bloggers, but also give them fantasies of a safe blogging environment.
Anyone with knowledge about our modern age knows that whatever you do on
these sites shall get beamed into a satellite, for whoever wants that information.
Even though most people who view others’ information will do no harm to them,
there will always be an exception. Those exceptions are the cyber bullies and
the predators that both use subjective images and videos to deteriorate their
victims. After understanding the dangers of social networking sites, users may
want to think twice before broadcasting their private information to billions. Why
not do it the old fashioned way: a personal conversation, not a public one
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Works Cited
Barrett, Joanne. "Social Networking: A New Tech Tool and a New Security
Concern for Teens and School." MultiMedia & Internet @ Schools 13.3
(2006): 1-13. Print.
Cohen, Alan. "Do You Know Where Your Kids Are Clicking?" PC Magazine July
(2006): 88-96. Print.
Kite, Stacey L., Robert Gable, and Lawrence Filippelli. "Assessing Middle School
Students' Knowledge of Conduct and Their Consequences and Their
Behaviors Regarding the Use of Social Networking Sites." The Clearing
House 83 (2010): 158-63. Print.
McCleese, Judy, and Sean McCleese. "Seeking Balance." Independent School
69.4 (2010): 1-25. Print.