Social Networking with a Purpose: Creating a Positive Online Profile
Although social networking sites are still in their infancy, they have certainly become a primary means of communication and connectivity for millions of consumers. While most Internet users have heard of the largest online social networks like Facebook and MySpace, thousands of smaller networks exist that connect individuals through specific user communities (e.g. educators, physicians, professors, etc.). Boyd and Ellison (2007) define social networking sites as:
web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.
While social networking sites serve as a form of entertainment for many users, these same networks, both large and small, can and do affect users’ professional profiles.
SixDegrees.com, created in 1997, was the first online network to meet Boyd and Ellison’s definition. SixDegrees members developed profiles, which could be designated public or private, to connect with friends or family who were also members. At its largest, SixDegrees.com had over one million members and one thousand employees. The company, which was sold to Youth Stream Media Networks in 2000, is no longer in operation.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, networks like SixDegrees.com regularly appeared on the Internet, some successfully developing loyal membership. When MySpace began in 2003, it was the first social network site to allow users to modify their own pages. Although initial MySpace users were teenagers, the site’s ...
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...H. L., Foulger, T. S., & Ewbank, A.D. (2008). Have you googled your teacher lately? Teachers’ use of social networks. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(9).
Helms, A. D. (2008, November 12th). Teachers disciplined for Facebook postings. CharlotteObserver.com. Retrieved from http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/
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Michels, S. (2008). Teachers' virtual lives conflict with classroom. ABC.com. May 6, 2008. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=4791295
MySpace. (2009). Tip: Don’t post anything that would embarrass you later. Retrieved from http://www.myspace.com/
Nielson (2008). Top 20 social network sites, November 2008. Retrieved from Nielson database.
Tallahassee.com. (2007, January 25th). Teacher fired over MySpace page. Tallahassee.com. Retrieved from http://tallahassee.com/legacy/special/blogs/2007/01/teacher-fired-over-myspace-page_25.html
This specific article addresses the implications of “online social networking and how they transcend disciplinary actions and reputational harm” (442). Fleming begins her argument by paralleling the transformative properties of the invention of the telephone years ago to social networks today (440). Students’ online identities come at a price, allowing job recruiters, school administrators, ...
“The rapid growth and accessibility of social networking websites has fundamentally changed the way people manage information about their personal and professional lives” (Garner & O'Sullivan, 2010 p.113). Even when primarily used for personal or entertainment reasons, nurses need to be mindful that when using social media others (such as employers or patients) may use it to make judgments of a professional
The situation revolving around these sites is not likely to clear up any time soon; in fact, as freshmen enter higher education institutions, more activity regarding social networking will take place. Christine Rosen, “a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington” (2), said that the amount of freedom and control that technology gives us also provides a direct route for marketers to advertise products to these users. In addition, she says that college administrators use Facebook as a means of snooping around to find evidence of illegal activity of students. Many of these administrators and employers also create fake profiles in order to conduct these investigations, although, as spokesman for Facebook Chris Hughes says, creating...
Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook has connected multiple individuals across the world and even reunited some people with family members. Zuckerberg never imagined Facebook would grow so dramatically and have the impact it does on individuals across the world. Facebook allows it’s users to update statuses, upload photos, post videos, and even instant message others. For example, if some teenagers were at a shopping mall, they could update their status to let others know they were shopping. They could even post pictures in their favorite stores. This all could happen within only a few seconds. Today, more than nine-hundred people use Facebook monthly (Pros 2013). That number is continuing to grow. More specifically, fifty-seven percent of American adults use Facebook. In addition, seventy-three percent of teenagers are Facebook users (King
Foulgers, Teresa. “Moral Spaces in MySpace: Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives about Ethical Issues in Social Networking.” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 2009: 16.
Just as anything else, social networks were not born in a day, it slowly developed into what is known in today’s society. In the 70’s, Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) and Usernets were prime communication. BBS is considered the first site that allowed internet users to interact with each other. However, users would have to use a dial-up connection and only one at a time could access the BBS. While Usernets were slightly different. This was a system that allowed users to post articles to newsgroups. Into the 80’s Online Services were created, such as CompuServe, Prodigy and the well-known AOL. These sites simply made the internet “universally accessible in the United States.” Following online services in the late 80’s came Instant Messaging and Chat systems such as Internet Relay Chat, which allowed for sharing links and files. ICQ was also booming around this time, its use was for instant messaging and was “partly” responsible for avatars, emoticons and abbreviations such as LOL and BRB. In 1997 the “first modern social network” Six Degrees was created. This site allowed users to build profiles, and become “friends” with other users. Following Six Degrees were sites such as; BlackPlanet, LiveJournal. World of Warcraft, Friendster, Hi5, LinkedIn, Myspace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Ins...
The use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users or to find people with similar interests to one’s own.” – Google
Mackenzie, A. (2012, July 26). Don't let e-safety worries be a barrier to using social media in school. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/jul/26/social-networking-school-safety
Social media is a relatively new phenomenon that has overtaken society, revolutionizing everyday life for individuals across the globe. It has become a place for people to share their ideals, to meet new friends and to reconnect with old friends. Social networking sites offer people new ways to communicate via the internet, whether it is through a smartphone, laptop, tablet, and etcetera. The sites can vary from posting pictures, tweets or even 6 second videos. They allow people to create their own online profile and to create a display of contacts, often called “friends” or “followers”. The rapid growth of social networking sites in recent years has resulted in its development as a mainstream form of communication for students. Schools all around the world are using more and more technology every day. All of the new developing technology in the daily lives of students has both a positive and negative impact on education.
Social networks are increasing dramatically every year. Employers are turning to social networks because it is a tool to screen job applicant’s profiles. According to a survey conducted by jobvite.com (2013), 94 % of employers use social media profiles to recruit job applicants. This trend assists the applicants and recruiters. Job applicants should be judged by their social network profiles because social media give positive image about the candidate, prove the information in the resume, and help to identify if the person fits the culture of the company or not.
Supporters of social networking sites say that the online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family; offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access to educational support and materials. Social networks are now widespread in our world with existing social networks expanding, social networking sites are being created for educators, medical professionals all accessible 24 hours a day via computer, tablet, smart phone, and Internet-enabled devices. Challengers of social networking say that the sites prevent face-to-face communication, waste time on frivolous activity and spread false and potentially dangerous information.
There is an increase in a total of 318% in Myspace.com, a highly used networking site among youth from 2005 to 2006, as reported by ComScore (Infographics.sg). Relating it to Singaporeans on the Social Media platform, Facebook.com, we actually spend an average of 19.6hours per month, making of 19 posts a month each on top of comments made. This makes us twice the user of th...
The use of social networking has both its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is “an Internet social network can help you connect with other people who share your interest, and find resources to ga...
Internet has become a vital element in people daily lifestyles. People use smart phones, tablets, laptops or computers to access Internet. By the first decade of the 21st century, many Internet users use faster broadband Internet access technologies. As the Internet users grow, one of the Internet phenomenons that can be seen is social networking. Basically, people use social media to interact among people where they create, share or exchange information in virtual communities and networks.
Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest. These are only a few of the websites that have become omnipresent in the typical teenager’s life. First launched in 2004, Facebook seemed like the perfect means to connect with old friends and take part in organizations. Eleven years later, the social media industry has snowballed from its original purpose of simply a network for interaction. Most likely launched by the incredible popularity of Facebook, other networks have popped up. According to The Huffington Post, 71% of teenagers engage in more multiple social media networks, 24% of these teenagers admit to checking social media almost constantly. Scrolling, posting, and liking are actions