Social Networking

     With the evolution of the Internet, a new world has emerged: Social Media. Basically setting up ways for all Internet users to communicate with one another through various online mediums, social networking is starting to become an integral part to our society. And like everything else, there are pros and cons to this prevalence in society.
     Social Networking can have many usages. First, it can simply be used for the purposes of social interactions. Websites like Facebook and Twitter allow its users to communicate emotions or messages to friends or followers through its 'status' updating capabilities, allowing users the chance to 'be there' in each moment. Yet through these very same platforms, others may use it to advertise products and services, and even search out potential candidates for various job or service positions. In a way social networking has allowed its users a new way for instant and effective, electronically written communication. From being a world that only allowed communication face to face, social media has shrunk the world to the point where it does not matter how distant you are from another person. As long as an internet connection is available, they are only seconds away from having a conversation. And because of this, it benefits society with these technologies because people can be more time efficient with instantaneous communications, while being able to be utilized for bigger tasks like advertising.
    However there is definitely a dark side. Because the Internet and social media is so huge, it is very hard to stay hidden from unwanted viewers. The whole issue of privacy, and to whom content belongs to once it is posted online is always a subject that causes controversy. Just like there are beneficial uses to social media, there are also detrimental side effects. For example, people like to use social media to carry out scams online, through the use of social media the growth of cyber bullying has emerged, and even using social media to stalk unsuspecting individuals.
   The Social media is new, and it definitely has long ways to go. The benefits are definitely there; real time communication has unlimited potential. In the future it can be used to help find items, find missing persons, or even plan events for communities. What must be remedied is the detrimental side effects that are present now. Filter out users that do not contribute, or are using the platforms for malicious intents. If that happens, I think the landscape of our society will drastically change. There will be less time spent for experimenting or thinking, and more time for doing.

Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15wwln-medium-t.html?_r=0

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf