Social Networking Sites
By Kendra Chapman, Michael Christie, Christian Fleming,
Clare Graziano, Breana Potter, and Anastasia Buyalskya
Introduction
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A social networking site is a medium to build
and establish online communities of likeminded people who share common
interests.
Social networking sites were created to
provide people with an outlet to share
information, communicate, and express
themselves.
Introduction
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Today, they are used regularly and are
loved by millions of people.
There are several types of social networking
sites.
Most of them are used as a tool to connect
with friends or to even establish
professional relationships.
Background Information
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The idea of Social Networking Sites and computer mediated social interaction was
suggested early on. There were many early efforts to support these ideas by sites such
as Usenet, LISTSERV, and bulletin board services.
Some early Social networking websites included Classmates.com (1995) which focuses
on reconnecting old schoolmates, and SixDegrees.com which focuses on indirect ties.
Profiles and friends lists could be created as well as messages sent. While some of these
features existed in some form before these websites, this would be the first time that
they were available in one whole package on the internet.
Two different models then came out in 1999 which were trust based and developed by
Eopinions.com and friendship baded. Innovations included not only showing who is
friends with whom, but it gave users more security and creativity.
Between 2002-2004 three social networking sites emerged as the most popular sites in
the world. First there was Friendster, then MySpace, and finally Bebo. 2004 saw the
creation of Facebook. When this network opened up to the non college community in
2006, it became the largest and fastest networking site in the world.
Social networking began to blossom as a component of many business strategies.
Various social sites have been created catering to different languages and different
countries. Now it is estimated that there are over 200 social networking sites.
Positive Aspects
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Encourage development of social skills: Social networking sites
provide an easy to use and cheap way of staying in touch, hence
allowing individuals to stay in touch with people they might not call
or email. Networking sites also expand individual networks in a nonintrusive way.
Make it easier to get answers: Social networking sites make it very
easy for individuals to find people that can answer any questions or
inquiries they have about common interests or future plans. Many
students use networking sites to discuss schoolwork and receive help
on tougher subjects.
Help out companies: Many larger companies have access to internet
profiles, and many prospective employees know that. Employers
sometimes look at online profiles in order to gain a better picture of
their possible hires before making a decision, which often
encourages hopeful employees to keep a professional profile and be
thoughtful about the information they make accessible to the public.
Criticisms
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Hanson’s “Social Spaces and Scary Places”
– online networking sites, threaten both our
privacy and our trust.
– online networking sites, are making our social
relationships more simplistic.
Rajan’s “Shaddup Your Facebook”
– social networking sites such as Facebook
encourage shallow relationships and
oversimplified communication.
– People that use internet networking groups to
get their “fifteen minutes of fame.”
Opinion
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PRO-SOCIAL NETWORKING!
Overall, we believe that Social Networking Sites are
more helpful than harmful. Though they there is a
common idea that, like text messaging, they make
people less personable, we don’t agree with this.
Websites like Facebook and MySpace are great
networking websites, whether it be for social
intentions or professional intentions.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, it is without any doubt that the popularity and utilization of
generic social networking sites will continue to rise as time goes on. This is
because a social networking site, unlike any other tool we possess, enables us
to stay connected despite the hindrances of distance and time. Also, in a
world that is becoming more and more connected each day, the invaluable
opportunity to create business relationships and perform collaborations might
become more dynamically evident in the future. Yet, it is important to be
mindful of the problems that arise from social networking sites and resolve
them before they become endemic. Such problems include online bullying,
stalking, and soliciting must be heavily policed so that social networking sites
remain useful, safe, and fun. Recently in the news we have heard about a
thirteen year-old girl who committed suicide after she was publically hazed on
a networking site. This is a problem that needs to be addressed by site
executives, legislators, and people in any regular community. Above all social
networking sites should remain as vehicles in which larger communities can
be formed and expressed.