¶ … social networking has in the last couple of years stirred a lot of debate among politician and scholars alike. The level of risks and benefits associated with social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace especially to children and teenagers has elicited a mixed reaction among the debating parties. In this paper we present a systematic analysis of the implications of social networking sites for both children and teenagers with a sharp focus on Facebook. We also focus on the benefits as well as the issue surrounding the use of social networking sites by use of relevant illustrations. Overall, we evaluate how the use of computer technology has impacted the society in general and education in particular.
Definition of Social Networking
Several scholars have attempted to define the concept of social networking and its components. Boyd & Ellison (2007) define social networking sites as special web-based services that are developed in order to allow the users to construct either a public or partially-public profile within a system that is bounded. The services are also to display the list of other site users with whom the individual shares a connection. The other element of a social networking site is that is displays a list of all the connections which exists within the bounded system. Techtarget (n.d) defines social networking as the practice of increasing the number of business as well as social contacts that one has through the making of appropriate connections with different individuals.
How social networking sites' operation are based on the concept of six degrees of separation an idea that suggests that any two individuals on the earth could contact each other through a chain comprising of more than 5 intermediaries. The social networking site establishes highly interconnected online communities that aid the members of the community to easily contact each other even without the need of real physical contact.
The implication of social networking sites on the children and the society.
The last couple of years have seen the number of social networking sites skyrocket from activities by a few interested individuals into one that engages several million users. The rapid and exponential growth of the social networking site popularity and functionality has resulted in several concerns from parents, teachers and government agencies. These concerns are mainly on the potential risks that these social networking sites pose to the children and teenagers who blindly leave a trail of personal information in the public domain without knowing the consequences of such actions (Lenhart & Madden, 2007)
A close analysis of the statistics of social networking sites' consumption by the children and teenagers clearly illustrates the impact that these sites could have on the society and on the educational system. Below is a summary of the recent finding by Pew Internet Project in 2006 (Lenhart & Madden,2007);Fifty five percent of teenagers who engage in online activities have created at least an online profile for themselves on sites like Facebook and MySpace. Sixty six percent of the teenagers who have online profiles do believe that their online profiles are never visible to the entire internet communities. They highly limit the level of access to their profiles. About forty eight percent of teenagers make daily access to the social networking sites or visits them often. Another twenty six percent make daily visits while twenty two percent make several visits a day. The PEW research further indicated that older teenage girls of ages (15-17) were more at likely to be users of social networking sites.
Social networking sites like Facebook gives members a chance to keep in touch with their friends and family via the internet backbone. The members are given a chance to perform live chats, post messages to each other, engage in online interactive games and share pictures. The popularity of the social networking site, Facebook in particular, has grown exponentially to more that 500 million user's worldwide (Facebook Press Room, 2011). According Corbett (2010) nearly ten percent (40 million) users of the popular social networking site Facebook are school going teenagers. These teenagers are at greater risk when compared to other Facebook users due to their naivety and general experience is matters of risks. The effects of peer pressure makes the teenagers a particularly vulnerable lot since according to them, social networking sites like Facebook are an extension of their social and academic life that is never governed by school and parent rules.
The risks associated with Facebook usage by teenager there are several risks that teenagers expose themselves to when they engage themselves in unmonitored use of Facebook, the popular networking site. What is worrying is that...
G. politicians, movie and rock stars, etc.). Indeed, the combination of social networking sites and an abundance of cellular services and phones has even changed the socio-political landscape in countries that do not have an open or democratic regime (e.g. protests in Iran, etc.) (Friends, Fans and Followers, 2011). The role of social networks have changed the way marketers and politicians view their audience, communicate with them, and even interact. Since
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Another common assumption is that the development of virtual social interactions based on the ideal self, is not reflective of how real people will interact with you in the real world and therefore could potentially give the individual a false sense of confidence, regarding their ability to appropriately interact in the real world. Yet, many would also argue that confidence is the most attractive social attribute, almost regardless of
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social world? The effects of information technology on the society The social capital framework In this paper, we evaluate the validity of the statement that IT is radically changing the social world. We perform a critical analysis of the concept of social world and social capital and how it is influenced by information technology. This is carried against the backdrop of the concept of information technology as the conceptual framework. The paper
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