Social Networking

In this technological era, social networking is so popular, and it is an important tool for us to use to communicate and share information. It is also becoming one of most used technology among all ages. As social networking is considered as a platform, it can be reached from a computer, smart phone, tablet, and many other devices, that make it easier to use. Everything has more than one side; almost nothing is perfect as it is, with no downsides of it. Just like everything else, social networking tools/sites make our life easier, but in the mean while, it has its dark sides.

Social networking technologies such as Facebook, twitter, MySpace, Google+, etc, is indeed making our life easier and better. You can chat with others easily, sending out the information you want to send to public easily, and so on, within a few clicks. Isn't it convenient? “I believe the benefits provided by social network sites such as Facebook have made us better off as a society and as individuals, and that, as they continue to be adopted by more diverse populations, we will see an increase in their utility.” Says by Nicole Ellison, assistant professor of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media at Michigan State University. Social networking is part of our life now, it makes our life easier, and it is hard to live without it in nowadays.

Other than the good side and benefits of social networking, there are dark sides of social networking. People get too addicted to it, thus couldn't focus on other important things. For example, I have heard from a lot of peers and teenagers, they when have Internet or phone with them, they couldn't focus on their homework, they must go on Facebook and other social networking sites for update and talk to friends every few minutes. For teenagers and children, their brain is not fully grown, sometimes it is difficult to tell what’s right and wrong. When they see something online, most often they get influenced/affected, or receive the wrong message; it can be very serious, sometimes they even attend to commit suicide because of that. “Social networking technologies are doubtless changing society. But like anything — apart from motherhood and apple pie — whether this is good or bad depends upon what kind of society you value.” Says by William Reader, professor of psychology at Sheffield Hallam University and social networking site researcher. It is indeed correct that it really depends on how you value it, but again, even an adult couldn't make right decisions all the time, how could children or teenagers make right decision and not get influenced by the social networking when they receive wrong message?