Social Networking

Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are examples of communication tools available online.With proliferation of social networking online comes impact on society; a difference in what people do and how they do it. Changes in society are simultaneously useful and negative and this is the case with the impact of online social networking. A social networking site is described as “a website where individuals can set up an online profile, describing his/her interests”. Most sites support the maintenance of pre-existing social networks, but others help strangers connect based on shared interests, political views, or activities.” From this, it is evident that the main use of social networking sites is interaction and communicating with others. We use them to keep up to date and in touch with existing friends and relations, or to create new relationships. The amount (and type) of additional features and services offered by different social networking sites often relates to their popularity.
The significance placed on interaction and participation within these social networking sites is evident in the numerous ways in which communication is encouraged. For example, some social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook offer users the ability to create sub-groups (or message boards) of people based on similar interests. Unlike ‘fan pages’ or ‘followers,’ which are largely one-dimensional, these groups are “analogous to clubs in the offline world”. These can vary from support groups, to fan groups, to community organisations or school groups. The basis behind them is to share information and communicate with others. Apart from using these groups to interact, people have the ability (depending on privacy settings) to comment and respond to ‘status updates’ and statements or comments that others have posted, thereby initiating communication. On sites such as YouTube, people may even give a video response. By allowing such feedback, there is the prospect of conversation, of debate, of sharing information or perceiving new ideas. It is this capability of interaction that makes social networking sites multi-dimensional in communicating, unlike the one-dimensionality of earlier websites and blogs. As such, it also points to the fact that social networking sites are often an extension of ‘real life.’ The article "Tweeting From The Operating Room" says that While the hospital’s chief of plastic surgery, Dr. Viirender Singhal, operated, the public information officer, Sherry D. Gibbs, posted live updates on Twitter from the operating room. The “tweets” were visible to anyone following the hospitals Twitter feed, and the family gave permission for all the updates to be made public.
Is there a 'a dark side'? I personally believe there is 'a dark side' that comes out of social networking. Yes they bring people together, but other than that what do they do? As one of the article says: "Pear Analytics, based in San Antonio, Texas, said that it randomly sampled 2,000 messages from the public stream of Twitter and 40 percent of Twitter messages 'pointless babble'". They are a easy way to stock people or lead to all the rape or kidnap stories we hear about. They are also addictive, with Facebook and Myspace there are many games that require you to check everyday. Teens who use Facebook more often show more narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania and aggressive tendencies. I work in a middle school. I know from my own experience that Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning. Studies found that middle school, high school and college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period achieved lower grades. Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders, as well as by making them more susceptible to future health problems.