Essay on Social Networking

Submitted By krystleiz
Words: 854
Pages: 4

Social Networking
Crystal Carter
INFO 103 Computer Literacy
Alex Hosch
09/28/2014

SOCIAL NETWORKING

What are social networks? Social networks are applications that people use socially to interact or connect with people anywhere in the world. There are many different kinds of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs. These three are the most popular form of social media. Like everything else, social networking has its advantages and disadvantages, but does the good really outweigh the bad when using social networks. The benefits of using social networking are endless. It offers immense convenience. Today, with social networking you can always be connected to friends and family that are miles and miles away. It is almost like a real time scrapbooking creating perpetual memories online with a click of a button. For example, family reunions create groups on Facebook. This allow other family members to meet their family that he or she has never met before. It is a great tool for and reconnecting with people. There are other benefits as well for social networks. According to a study, Facebook usage was found to interact with measures of psychological well-being, suggesting that it might provide greater benefits for users experience low self-esteem and low life satisfaction.” ("The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites - Ellison - 2007 - Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication - Wiley Online Library," n.d.) Through this kind of research one examines the usage of a user and examines the relationships of the users. For example, as time changes, other things changes, and one will have the ability is a formations of new friendships or evolved character traits. One may agree to the above mentioned study. From personal aspects, a user will post how he/she feels. Some of these feelings can be the same such as all their post may be centered on positive or happy energy. Facebook can have an impact on someone’s psychological well-being. The people that constantly post happy thoughts may encourage or inspire people that are unhappy, to do better. Happiness can be infectious. Social networks have opened the door to informality, whereas Facebook and Twitter are really popular, but other social networks exist. A corporation may have an intranet with a similar setup as a social network. Employees can or will flee to this kind of setup. It does not present restrictions or boundaries. “Analysis of user behavior and interviews presents the case that [professionals use internal social networking to build stronger ties with their weak ties and to reach out to employees that they do not know. “ ("Motivations for social networking at work," n.d.) By using this, corporations and agencies can motivate their employees. The concept of motivation is a grand idea. It is believed the happier an employee the more productive the employee is. Motivation helps to keep workers enthusiastic and using the intranet for social networking gives them something they like to do. No one ever dreads posting a status update. It is like making an announcement or a mass communication. Another positive thing is people get to agree to disagree and be receptive to different ideas. There are innumerous ways that social networking provides good or improvement in people day to day life, but also you have to be cautious when using it. Social networking can pose a lot of potential threats invasion of privacy, and the risk of being hacked.