Online social networking sites, like Facebook, are simultaneously good and bad for its users. Facebook is both a useful tool and a waste of time depending on the view of the user. The positives of Facebook’s tools provide and maintain the ties and nodes from face-to-face interactions. Through posting comments, photos, and personal updates, whether likes or status updates, the user gains more social capital. In counter to these positives, Facebook promotes the notion of normalizing stalking, a continuous cycle of envy and the fixation upon oneself. To conclude the negatives of Facebook far out-weigh the positives, suggesting that people need to understand their virtual privacy, and that Facebook should be used as a service rather than convenient way to communicate between friends. Facebook is a facade of the user’s identity that provides a false sense of empowerment and ownership of their life.
One way that Facebook promotes networking is through posting comments. These comments are quick snip bits of communication that allow the person to know that you are thinking of them, and thus create a convenience communication (Young, 2011). Posting comments on friends’ profiles is the same as talking to your friends physically; some users of Facebook post “private and direct questions in public rather than via private
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It allows for strengthening of virtual relationships without the need of physical connection. Facebook provides a service to maintain and organize virtual relationships between friends, as well as promotes a normalization of stalking, a cycle of envy, and narcissistic behaviours. Facebook is a facade of the user’s identity that provides a veneer sense of empowerment and ownership of their life within the virtual realm. The user may believe that they are in control of what they put on the web and whom they show it too, but default privacy settings, number of friends and more dwindles the control that the user thought they
Who would have thought that in a few years facebook will become the main social meeting place for millions of people around the world? Facebook, is a social phenomenon with a dimensionless scale effects both positive and negative. Facebook has also generated interest among scholars and researchers who study its effects on the different layers of our life. As many studies suggested and my own life experience, Facebook can have some negative impact on romantic relationships, self-esteem, identity theft and other dangers to safety that result from an invasion of privacy. There are ways to minimize these negative outcomes, which we should be aware of.
Social networking is a concept that has been around for a long time than the Internet. People have always been able to work together in a team. Social networking has come to users using the internet to communicate in various different ways. This focuses on creating a ground for social networking and collaboration. Social networking is about everyone in the society where it has become self-sustaining and created further growth leading to human social interaction. A social networking site has allowed users to post their profiles and create personal details for exchanging information with other users (Weaver and Morrison, 2008) [1]. In early stages, social networks have become the most frequently used tools. “Facebook is currently the largest online social network. Its business model is based on the analysis of user data to display customized advertisements. However, the data collection induces possible privacy concerns which oppose perceived benefits. Information privacy concerns are important aspects for the intention not to use Facebook but it is outweighed by perceived usefulness”. (Becker and Pousttchi 2012, pg.187) [2].
The twenty first century is the age of the “Internet” which guarantees people information at the touch of their fingertips. Intelligence of any subject can be acquired- personal or private- in a matter of seconds. This method of public privacy is practiced by numerous social networking websites, which hold personal data of its users. Facebook and Twitter have promised to engulf people with their warmth, keeping them interacted with friends, updated with trends, and connected with society. While several buy into this ruse, they neglect the undesirable effects of networking, which eventually led to depression, presenting a social paradox. The virtual relationships formed online through social networks, are intended to replace physical interaction; people become immensely socialized through a new avenue of communication and remain “connected” with friends or family. This common contact behind masked computer screens eventually becomes insufficient. Yet, people seem to be addicted to social websites resulting in a continuous, daily dependence upon these networking mediums. The more society becomes reliant on social networking, the more people become victims of isolation and depression, as these types of websites merely detach people from physical communication and significant interactions.
People feel they are on top of the world due to the numerous friends that they have on their Facebook page. Having Facebook friends provides them with a sense of acceptance they had never experienced. These experiences are a gateway to a stream of emotions that has the potential to harm as well as to help. Social media has helped to emotionally feel connected and is an easy and efficient way to stay in contact with family and friends; however, it is harmful when it is the culprit for facilitating and fueling arguments and unhealthy relationships. “As the Danish academic Anders Colding-Jorgensen argues: ‘We should no longer see the internet as a post office where information is sent back and forth, but rather as an openarena for our identity and self-pro...
Manjoo’s essay 'Is Facebook a Fad' provides extensive insight into various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Based on statistics derived from Manjoo’s essay, we get to know that Facebook has over one billion active users and one half of them log into their accounts each day (Manjoo p.223). William Deresiewicz also eludes to this in his essay 'Faux Friendship'. As a result of so many people opting to turn to social networking sites, this in turn has made friendship to smoothly be integrated into the various new electronic lifestyles. One way that these sites poses an imminent threat to our ability to communicate face to face, is that, people have become so busy sending texts that they hardly don’t have time for their friends. For instance in America, studies have indeed confirmed that people with no close confidants have risen from one American in 10 people in 1985, to one in four thus making social networks a real threat (Deresiewicz p.478). Diverse effects of social networking. Alignment will be towards the the various issues and concerns sorrounding the social networking sites.
The 21st century has brought a lot of modern ideas, innovations, and technology. One of these is social media. The invention of Facebook has completely changed the way we communicate with one another. Instant messaging, photo sharing, and joining online groups have created a way for families and friends to connect. Some argue that Facebook is the greatest invention however, while it is seemingly harmless, Facebook has created an invasion of privacy. The accessibility of Facebook and its widespread use has created privacy problems for users, teens, and interviewees by allowing easy control to viewers.
Today’s generation does not understand how Facebook makes our society more interconnected. With the growing number of people joining social networks like Facebook, communication with others is easier than ever. Juliane Elliot argues in her writing, “How the Internet Has Changed the World,” that Facebook has dramatically changed our everyday lives in several ways. For example, it allows people to build stronger relationships with friends and family by providing a method of easy and quick communication. Furthermore, businesses have increased advertising through websites like Facebook because of the large number of people that are exposed to ads and also since posting an advertisement is effortless. Lastly, political life has greatly improved since politicians can now reach out to their voters with the click of a button. Opposing these arguments, however, are other authors that write about how Facebook has led to a loss of personal communication and productivity, and can spread falsified evidence. Although the validity of Facebook as having a positive impact on society is at question among groups opposing social networking, Juliane Elliot is most persuasive in her argument because of her use of logical reasoning, emotions, and practical application in everyday life.
and family, and also “meet like-minded people” ( Metz, par. 1). In some cases, business people such as Ron West, claim that he uses Facebook “to become acquainted with new customers”( par. 8). Yes, these types of websites are great tools to stay in touch with old classmatesand faraway family members. It is a great source of communication, but there is always a con to every pro. Even though users are connecting with others, users of social networks never know exact...
Facebook also provides its users with safety, security, and control. The social media site lets individuals control how their fellow Facebook friends portray them. Pictures, statuses and posts on friend's walls manage how people can perceive you. It also provides protection from seeing people's reactions in an objectified type of way. Facebook's protection creates a positive atmosphere for its users by only having a 'like' button. Users strive for 'likes' on their posts. It also gives individuals a self-esteem boost and societal approval by the amount of 'likes' received on their posts, photos, and statuses. 'Selfies' have also became a new phenomenon among all social media sites. Many people hate the constant blow up of 'selfies'. They have been negatively labeled among all Facebookers; but people still post them. The amount of 'selfies' a user uploads can label the individu...
In Betty White’s opening monologue to Saturday Night Live, she said, “I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time. I would never say the people on it are losers, but that’s only because I’m polite.” Originally intended for the use of students at Harvard University in 2004, Facebook grew exponentially to be an online phenomenon in the years following. In 2006, it became accessible to anyone and everyone with internet connection. Aside from the advantages that give the site its popularity, creating a profile comes with a number of significant disadvantages inherit to online social networks. What do more than 500 million active users use their Facebook for? Communicating with long distance friends and spreading awareness of causes are common responses. Unfortunately, Facebook has it flaws, from limiting the privacy of relationships to creating a form of almost unmanageable bullying, making one reconsider their involvement and think, “do I really want my Facebook account?”
How would your life be without your facebook account? Although Facebook is a popular social website, some people take it too far often overshadowing the people who use facebook in a positive, even productive ways. This paper will contains information about all the good and bad things about facebook.
Facebook, a popular social networking site founded in 2004 by a Harvard sophomore, has already had more than 800 million active users by July 2011. (Giles, 2011) Like other sites, users must register with e-mail address before using the site. And once a user has logged in, he/she can join a school network, search for friends and view other users’ profile as long as the privacy feature is turned off. Within the account, users can post status, share videos and photos, publish notes, list interests and personal details. Facebook also has the optional privacy features which restrict others access to only partial of their profiles. (Cain, 2007)
Loved ones, best friends, coworkers, classmates, and siblings shape our personal network. Within that network, not all the relationships are equally important, and therefore, I believe that Facebook can be a positive tool if used in a responsible and smart manner, but only if a balance can be found. Social media was created to help people maintain connections despite the distance, with the idea of being a supplement more than a substitute for human interaction. However, what it is actually doing is isolating us in our own worlds, making us lonelier and, ultimately, less
In this day and age, many individuals simply cannot go without some sort of socialization. Specifically speaking, most participate in online social networking sites. The most popular and used one is commonly known as Facebook. Facebook was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. By 2007, Facebook had over 21 million users, adding up to 1.6 billion page views every single day. The typical user spends over twenty minutes per day on Facebook and two thirds of the users log in every day at least once. It is not questionable as to why many people have a Facebook account. Facebook is generally efficient, easy for socialization, and not difficult to manage. Most organizations are affiliated with Facebook, as “almost 22,000 organizations had Facebook directories,” as of November 2006. A year after that in 2007, Facebook was named the seventh most popular website (Ellison 1). However, with anything well known, many oppose to using Facebook and hold criticism against the popular network. There are many flaws in the website and the relationships it starts online. Facebook is risking dangerous activities, ignoring privacy laws, and demeaning healthy socialization.
Social networking sites like Facebook can have both negative and positive effects. Facebook can leave us feeling like we are not good enough if we don’t have enough likes on our pictures or if we do not have a certain amount of friends. While on the other hand it can make us feel empowered and worthy when we have a significant amount of likes on our picture and thousands of friends on Facebook. The following two articles argue whether or not social networking sites like Facebook, have a negative or positive effect on one’s overall well-being. As the old saying goes, there are always two sides to everything.