¶ … DB Post
Social Web and You
Explain how social media/web is changing or has changed the ways you, your family, and colleagues find information. Also, how has social media/web changed the ways you interact in your personal and professional life as well as within academic spheres? What functionalities do you think will be invented in the future? Make sure you support your argument with facts, figures, and intelligent analysis. Also, consider any opposing arguments. (One page).
When social networking was just getting started, critiques were concerned that it would lead to isolation -- that people would only connect online and would increasingly neglect their real time friends and family (Putnam, 2000). The Pew Foundation has been conducting a longitudinal study called the Internet & American Life Project that examines how people use the Internet and how that use is changing communication, social interactions, and political activism, among other dynamics. As part of the Internet & American Life Project, Pew researchers surveyed social networking people to learn about their overall social networks and how use of technology relates to "trust, tolerance, social support, and community and political engagement" ("Pew SNS," 2011).
People who use Facebook and Twitter tend to access the site on a daily basis, while only 7% of those who use LinkedIn access that platform daily ("Pew SNS," 2011). Clearly casual communication and networking is dominates most Internet use on social network sites ("Pew SNS," 2011). According to the Pew study, Facebook users tend to be more trusting of people than non-Facebook users ("Pew SNS," 2011). Facebook users tend to have more close social relationships and get more social support than non-Facebook users ("Pew SNS," 2011). In 2008, the average American had 1.93 core ties or discussion confidents ("Pew SNS," 2011). By 2011, that number had increased to 2.16 discussion confidents, which is a significant -- if modest -- increase ("Pew SNS," 2011). Indeed, Facebook users who access the platform several times per day average 9% more close, core times within their social network than other Internet users ("Pew SNS," 2011). Measures of total support, emotional support, companionship, and instrumental aid (or actual real-time support) indicate that Facebook users score higher in every category of support ("Pew SNS," 2011). Users of Facebook score about half of the total support derived from being married or from cohabiting with a partner for average Americans ("Pew SNS," 2011). Moreover, Facebook is often used to renew dormant relationships, which can be important source of information for users ("Pew SNS," 2011). Facebook users seek information about politics on social networking sites, and they are more likely to attend a political rally, and 57% of Facebook users said they were likely to persuade someone to vote in a particular way (Smith, et al., 2010).
About one in five people in America still do not use the Internet -- most reported that they do not find it relevant, but they have the skills to use the Internet if they wish to do so ("Pew SNS," 2011). Of the people in groups that do not use the Internet (elderly people, in household with less than $30,000 income, people with disabilities), access to the Internet is shifting to mobile devices and away from computers ("Pew SNS," 2011). Most of the people I know who have research to accomplish go first to the Internet and then later may access printed material ("Pew SNS," 2011). Also, for information gathering, professional networking sites like LinkedIn are frequented ("Pew SNS," 2011). I believe the best example of how the Web is being used is the recent viral video to make Kony famous. In the words of the founder of the non-profit that filmed the video, "Today, people all over the world can actually see each other, and leads to caring about each other and the lives people are leading far away from you" (paraphrased).
Sources:
Hamptom, K., Goulet, L.S., Rainie, L, and Purcell, K. (2011, June 16). Social networking sites and our lives. Internet & American Life Project, Pew Research Center.
Putnam, R. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Smith, A., Lehman, K. Verba, S. And Brady, H. (2010). The Internet and Civic Engagement. Pew Internet & American Life Project, The Pew Institute. Retrieved http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2009/The%20Internet%20and%20Civic%20Engagement.pdf
2. (DB) Slide Show Presentation Critiques
THIS WILL NEED TO BE DONE LATER
Post your research paper slide show presentation to this discussion forum (PowerPoint, optional PowerPoint with Jing or optional Prezi). Analyze and provide constructive critiques for at least two of your classmates' slide shows. You will use...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now