Risks of Social Networking

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During the last few years the use of social networking has grown exponentially in the world. Social networking has many different purposes including interpersonal connection, education, research and business. Users include all sectors of the population, from young teenagers to the elderly, in all socioeconomic groups. According to government statistics, there are more than 500 million users on Facebook, 175 million on Twitter, and more than 100 million on MySpace. (McDowell 1) Although social networking can be very beneficial in many ways; it can also be very dangerous. Social networking sites have not completely eliminated all the risks. The risks include harm to your personal safety as well as your professional and business world. Participation in social networking can also lead to attacks: financial attacks as well as attacks on computer hardware.

One of the risks of social networking is that it can cause harm to your personal safety. Personal information can be leaked, or simply posted online, and could possibly fall into the hands of someone dangerous. Information such as addresses and other personal information are provided on personal pages; and hackers could retrieve this information. The dangers of social networking include serious physical harm or even death. This is evidenced by the case of a 17-year-old girl from Rhode Island who was drugged and raped by three men she met on MySpace. (Fleming, 28) In another case, a 13-year-old girl from Texas was sexually assaulted after she met one of her friends from MySpace in a parking lot. Her parents tried to sue MySpace for negligence, as their daughter had lied about her age. However, the case was dismissed because the Judge ruled that her parents, not MySpace, had a dut...

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...s, February 2011: 8 pages. Print. This article explains how to avoid being tapped or traced online. It discusses security of home networks and safety of file sharing. It actually suggests disappearing from all social networks. It says the best thing to do is to start over with a new identity and be more careful.

Zachary, Mary-Kathryn. “Social Networking Sites in Employment cases.” Labor Law For Supervisors. 1 Nov. 2010. Print. This four-page article is written for the benefit of employers. It discusses a case where an employee alleged mental distress as a result of employment. It emphasizes that courts may not view social networking sites as private. It states that supervisors as well as employees should be aware of employment ramifications of social networking. It is risky for either employees or employers to use these sights from a liability standpoint.

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