How Has Social Networking Affected Society Media Essay

How Has amicable Networking stir Society Media EssayThe net income has revolutionized the way in which mass communicate. The pro spiritration of this medium of communication and data murder has made it difficult to believe that all a few decades back, plenty had to wait for days and some ms weeks for a letter to r all(prenominal) them. straightaway communication is a real quick process and it is the mesh that has made it affirmable. The latest byproduct of the internet is what is c everyed hygienic-disposed networking. There argon numerous web puts alike Orkut, Facebook and MySpace that are commitd by individuals to find their friends and stay in contact with them. It is impossible to ignore the impact that accessible networking has had on human family. This paper will study the different ways by which well-disposed networking sites prevail influenced society. The positive and negative do of this cyber phenomenon will as well as be delved upon.The popularity of the internet among the masses was made possible mainly collectable to email. hatful could send emails to any part of the world and could receive emails instantaneously. Subsequently in that location were websites that integrated audio and visual elements to make internet browsing a substance abuser friendly experience. Today, hand-held devices utilize the internet for various purposes. This means that the internet and related applications can be made easy to any person who knows how to use a compatible handheld device. For many citizenry the internet has begin an absolute necessity that they can non do without in their daily lives. Even though in the beginning internet services were utilized by commercial establishments to further their business interests, techno lumberically inclined entrepreneurs brought together junction Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), photo share, instant messaging, ecommerce, multiplayer gaming and so on and created websites that were aimed at tran sport people together (Ishak, n.d).This initiative guide to the growth of the social networking revolution. People found out that they could use the internet to connect with other people. It was also possible to rekindle old births and stay in touch with long lost relatives or those who were living in other countries. Social networking sites forthwith are the close highly valued internet companies. This is because almost anyone who uses the internet is a process on at least(prenominal) one of these sites. Some may also read memberships in various social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook and MySpace. This general adoption of social networking sites has definitely impacted the way human beings socialize. There are hundreds of social networking sites today that connect people across the world. Some target people who piddle common interests and some do not make any such criteria and are open to all (Ishak, n.d).Online social networks focus on building and reflecting socia l relationships among people who share interests and/or activities (Ishak, n.d). Social networks enable a person to maintain a profile where he/she is able to include info to the highest degree him/her and also include friends. individual(prenominal) experiences are shared by way of messages, photos, videos and other media. A few of the most popular social networking sites that yield millions of members are Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Orkut etc. Socializing on the internet was not pioneered by these websites. Email and messengers like ICQ have always enabled people to do so nearly a decade ago. But these websites have made it possible to include a large number of people in groups and stay in touch with them effortlessly (Ishak, n.d).The social web and mobile technologies have accelerated the rate at which relationships develop, information is shared and influence takes hold (Benioff, 2012). Social technology is employ to shape the notwithstandingts of the world. Websites like Facebook have attached a new way to communicate and reach out with the overhaul of groups and friends. Portable devices like tablets and smart shout outs have applications that help people access their friends regardless of their location. The impact of social media has been seen in peoples movements like the Arab Spring and the interest movement. People who are connected to each other with these means have managed to rally crowds and gather an sense of hearing that helped them in toppling political regimes (Benioff, 2012).Social networking has made it easier for people to meet other people. Not all people are outgoing luxuriant to take the initiative and meet others. Con firingional opportunities to make friends were during social gatherings when people had an opportunity to meet other people. Since some people are introverts they find it difficult to muster enough courage to meet someone and strike up a conversation. Social networking ensures that everybody has a level play ing field. Even people who do not have an impressive personality per se can have hundreds of friends on their profile and also interacts with each other on a daily basis. Not all friends on a social networking profile penury to be close friends. Some may be brief acquaintances but in due course of time a relationship could be certain (Parrack, 2012).People of x spend a very long time on social networking sites. This is because of the sharing of experiences that takes place between people. People on a friends list tend to listen and respond to messages and even dispel any concerns that are voiced by other friends. Since modern lifestyle does not relent people enough time to communicate, communication systems need to be extremely fast. Social networks are very fast and it is possible to send a message and get a reply to that within a matter of seconds. There is also a sense of equality despite the locations that people may be in and hence social networking sites have made the world a much smaller place. It is also possible for people with similar interests to interact. By sharing likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies etc, people tend to move closer to each other despite the physical distance between them (Parrack, 2012).Every individual will feel the need to maintain certain frail ties. These could be with people whom one meets during the course of the day. Asking for a phone number may not be possible due to the nature of the relationship. Potential benefits of keeping in touch with certain people might be for arranging play dates or demonstrateing a hobby. These are interactions that do not require a very close relationship. Social networking is a very utilitarian tool for such people. Interaction will be possible during that particular time and also in the future when it is necessary. Bonding with friends and family is different from associating oneself with the weak ties. Social networking sites allow individuals to manage a wider network of weak ties and thus increase bridging social capital (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009).When a persons social network is improved it will help them to increase the information that is available to them and also to improve the opportunities that they have. In a study that was conducted among undergraduates it was found that but using the internet did not increase the social capital. Only intensive use of websites like Facebook led to higher levels of social capital. Before the advent of these sites people used communication strategies like newsletters and gossip to discuss about their past and present acquaintances. Social networking sites have enabled status messages and regular updates that enable people to take on in lightweight social surveillance. It is true that most of the status messages are about seemingly visionary matters. A friend may have got a new dog, an old colleague may have changed his job and knowing about these may not make any change in ones life but it is the awareness of ones social network that provides a continuous link to the acquaintances (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009).Social networking sites can service in coordinating and mobilizing social action (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009). There are several organizations that have managed to mobilize the society and influenced it. Political figures, organizations and advocacy groups can find supporters very easily with the help of such websites. For any network to have value it needs support from as many numbers of people as possible. focused networking sites like for instance MyChurch.com unites Christian churches and the website Care2.com unites environmental activists. There is also a social networking site that unites activists called Change.org. This site has been used in the past to elevate protests and boycotts in an efficient manner. This has only been made possible due to the number of members who follow such websites and the messages that are posted regularly (Ellison, Lampe, Stei nfield, 2009).Social networking has also had several untoward make on the society. agree to Sherry Turkle, a clinical psychologist, a social network not only changes what an individual does but also changes the person that he/she is. People tend to befriend people on Facebook but tend to keep people in their lives at a distance. Today it is possible for a person to tweet a message to a thousand followers at the same time but the same person fails to pick up a telephone which is a much more efficient mode of communication and jaw to someone. According to Turkle, the relationships that are forged in this way fling the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship (Strachan, 2012). In other words we are only getting used to a way of being alone together (Strachan, 2012).Social networking sites have also had an impact on the communication styles that are adopted by people. Writing has produce more concise due to little blogging sites like Twitter. Several abbreviati ons like LOL for laughing out loud, BRB for be right back, ROTLR for rolling on the al-Qaida laughing are being used. This is not considered to be a very good trend by people because it corrupts the English language. Apart from abbreviations words are also shortened as the necessity may be. Before becomes b4, to becomes 2and so on. The main problem with this is that it is the younger generation that is using this kind of communication in front even becoming proficient with the language. Even if it is assumed that this is only a trend that will come about then those who use this kind of language will face problems when they grow up are anticipate to use formal English language (Sherman, 2010).While it is true that social networking sites enable us to organize our real world relationships it also unfavorablely affects a persons ability to socialize. People nowadays are haunt about composing a perfect tweet or a good Facebook status update that they forget to enjoy the important e vents in their lives. For instance in a survey that was conducted about this put forward it was revealed that 24% of the respondents missed out on enjoying special moments because they were busy trying to document the occasion for their friends on social networking sites (Laird, 2012). People who are not mature about their real world relationships tend to vent out their relationship woes on social networking sites. This could have a disastrous consequence on their relationship itself (Kaiser, 2012).Americans in particular have become less participant-oriented. They prefer to remain only as reference members. In the past in that respect used to be a propensity to tie in sports teams, and civic groups. Today people tend to live an isolated life. Such an existence will only lead to lesser empathy and fewer social skills. People are so used to dealing with people online that they cannot bring themselves to talk with their neighbors. It is the real life social networks that are being destroyed by virtual social networks. In the United States, suburban streets have started to look deserted. People no longer gather to communicate or just have a good time. Children are addicted to their computer screens and video games. Neighbors who might be burning up the social media pages inside their homes barely know each other outside (Robinson, 2011).According to a recent study, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are supposedly more addictive than cigarettes or alcohol. This addiction is due to the fact that checking updates on these sites is neither expensive nor does it have any adverse effects on ones health. Desires for media may be comparatively harder to resist because of their high availability and also because it feels like it does not cost much to engage in these activities, even though one wants to resist (Epstein, 2012). However there is a psychological explanation to this addiction. Receiving or answering a notification results in a lay down of Dopamine which is a chemical neurotransmitter that is associated with reward responses in the human brain. Dopamine is also released while consume drugs or indulging in sexual activity. This is why social networking can be addictive (Franceschi-Bicchierai, 2012).In an online poll that was conducted among a thousand teenagers, it was revealed that four out of five experienced negative side effects when they were not allowed to access their social networking accounts. Sites like Twitter and Facebook made them have negative feelings like depression, insecurity, panic attack and dependence (Dungan, 2012). Yet another problem that is seen on social networking site is bullying. The internet seems to give people a sense of anonymity that brings out the mean streak in them. According to a look study by the Pew Research Center, where 800 teenagers were surveyed, it was seen that incidents of mean and cruel behavior transcended all ages and backgrounds on social networks. (Kang, 2011).Bull ying in schools and colleges is common but the ease of communication on the internet makes it possible for peers to join forces and gang up on an individual. Of those who had seen such cruelty online 21% joined in the harassment. Out of ten girls aged twelve to thirteen, three admitted to having experienced unkind treatment. Teenagers assumed a different personality online that was markedly different from that of their real personality. Some of them approached their online friends with more bravado than they had in real life conversations. Facebook is a website that requires its members to use real names to prevent anonymous bullying. But it has not stopped bullying altogether. The online peer groups become meaner when the child is of a younger age (Kang, 2011).Social networking encourages people to be more public about their lives. Intimate details of a persons personal life may be available to other people in the form of posts, status updates, photos and videos. These will stay in the public domain even after(prenominal) the accounts are deleted by the user. It is also possible that someone might have downloaded them to their computers. These can then be altered to malign the reputation of a person. For instance a picture of a person doing shots at a party may look absolutely fine to their friends. But when a prospective employer is doing a background check, the very same photo may land the person in trouble (Jung, 2012). This bolshy of privacy is a very serious issue that can affect people in a society.Social networking is a very influential mode of communication. Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace make it possible for member to communicate with ease with their friends and family. It has become easier to enter into relationships with such websites. Hand held devices like tablets and smartphones have applications that enable users to log in to the social network from their devices and stay in touch with their friends. However social networki ng also has its adverse effects on the society. People have started to get addicted to networking sites. This addiction to updating ones status on a networking site has made people incapable to engage in real life interactions with people. People are also developing a different identity online that makes then indulge in bullying. Social networking therefore has profound influences on human society that are both beneficial as well as detrimental.