Social Networking free essay sample

Social media has consumed our society. 47% of American adults used social networking sites in 2011 like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter; up from 26% in 2008(quoted from procon. org) The aspects of social media both have a positive and negative impact on life. Social networking sites promote interaction with distant family and friends. Social networking sites can demonstrate opportunities to strengthen existing relationships and to develop new friendships as well. The downfall of social media sites prevent less face to face communication. Also, social media has been known to be more likely to spread false, and even potentially dangerous information. Questions come about quite often about social networking sites, and if they are good for our society. As a member of our society social networking can have a positive or negative influence in school, relationships, promoting business, and self expression. While others may view social media as a negative influence, for me, the issue hinges on how social networking sites are being used and displayed accordingly. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Social networking sites have become more popular and users have expanded from teens to young adults, and now are even including individuals over 50 years of age. While social media inherent risks, there are also many potential benefits. When social networking sites are brought up, most people think of all the negative aspects of it, but I believe that there is good in all circumstances. Why do you think social media can hang onto a negative reputation? For some, social media has a negative effect because of the potential harm it may cause. Two-thirds of all teachers believe that social media does more to distract students than to help them academically. (quoted from procon. org) Different surveys and studies have been conducted regarding students that use social media while in school are more likely to make their GPA drop more than students who are not involved with social media. Even though social media may potentially change the world for the better, it has greatly effected student academics. With the opportunity to immediately open up any social media network conveniently on a smart phone, it becomes such a distraction in the classroom. Not only can students post negative statements about teachers, but just as much drama can accumulate regarding their peers. Social networking sites can influence negative behaviors and consequences in some relationships. A survey of the nations top lawyers show more clients are coming to divorce court armed with social media evidence to prove spouses are cheating, according to Fox News. Individuals are reconnecting with old grammar school sweethearts on social networking sites. In the beginning, the motto is just to reconnect. Unfortunately, once one is lured in, the physical relationship outside of social media is put to flames. Social media sites can not only break relationships by marriage, but relationships through friendship. A small joke with one close friend can be sent to or seen by three others and potentially be taken the wrong way. What occurs between friendships over social media sites can be harmful because it is not face to face communication. Many times it is very hard to be fully capable in expressing emotional feeling through social media. Friendships are broken because of social media. Couples should always be fully aware of how much they are exposing on cyberspace. Behind any device, individuals are able to say whatever they are feeling to whoever that want. In reality, social network can be very harmful in someones life. Although social media has advantages to advertising your business. Social networking sites also run the risk of allowing customers to post negative comments about your business. The hassle of running and updating the social networking site will take many hours and dedication. While promoting business on social media avoid posts that are unprofessional. Be sure to proofread tweets or posts before posting them. Misspelled words and errors are a turn off for prospective customers. Being unprofessional online can also lead to a negative reputation. When posting on social media, business hours can get busy and not have enough time to post. Make sure when you are using social media, it is not used to much or not used enough. If the business page is not updated often, your posts could get overlooked by your friends and followers as well. Using social media can be time consuming if you do not understand it, but likewise it could help your business in the future. Walk thru the halls of any high school, look around at any restaurant and you will notice one person taking a picture of them self. Self expression is vital to understanding yourself and your very own uniqueness to the world. This particular topic may not seem as much a big deal; however, self expression is an important part of one’s life. It is not good for a person’s psychological well being to limit self expression through social media. Many times individuals can become consumed with who they are behind social media. Social networking can become addicting and eventually life threatening to one self, or others that they could come in contact with. Discover and set boundaries to help prevent hiding behind social media. From the positive point of view, students are able to gain important skills from social networking sites while at school. Lauren Gerber stated, â€Å"Far from being a source of distraction and danger, social networking sites offer teenagers the opportunity to navigate everyday technology, learn valuable computer and social skills, and polish their language proficiency. Acquiring computer skills will help them find jobs later in their careers and prepares them for a professional environment in which computers are common place. † For a long period of time school districts have banned mobile internet usage. Many reasons are because social media was becoming a distraction. Moreover, today social media is becoming more allowable in schools and is being used educationally. Classroom learning is now competing with social networking sites. By creating educational sites, similar to social networking, schools are creating more opportunities to enhance learning. Educational social networking sites are also becoming more enjoyable for students. Social networking sites can be a great attribute in developing new friendships. A study on the internet shows that teens are much more likely to report that using social media has a positive impact on their social and emotional lives than a negative one. (quote commonsensemedia. org) Depending on your point of view, some believe a positive of social media is openly displaying their relationships. Social networking sites allow people to interact with more people then on a week to week ratio. Social media is able to open the door with more opportunities to new ideas and resources. Nonetheless, having the access to quickly pull up a new friends profile is helpful with small talk and conversation starters. Social media is starting to put the communication factor back in relationships. From all walks of life, social media allows you to connect with more people. Social networking sites largest source of revenue is considered advertising. Positive aspects of promoting business through social media is that it can reach millions of people around the world. Social networking sites are an inexpensive way to promote business. Social media will also keep existing and new clients talking about your business. These sites allow you to inform your followers and friends of upcoming promotions and even secret sales simply and quickly. Clients can post experiences on your page that they have had with your company. Personal reviews can always help with new customers too. With almost all social networking sites being free, advertising your business on these sites would be crazy not do so. Social networking can offer a fast and simple way for customers to touch base with you on a problem or a quick question. Using social media to promote business does not require high level skills. An average person with a standard computer should have no difficulty at all. Anyone that desires to master the internet universe is considered taking on a massive undertaking called the social network. Lastly, self expression through social media can be used in a positive way. By allowing users to share everyday life happenings through pictures and stories. Different social media networks offer creative ideas and portray new resources to help your imagination develop new opportunities. By using self expressing qualities friends are able to share different hobbies and adventures. Business people, soldiers, and students studying or working in other countries are able to share life experiences and joys with friends and relative literally around the world. This provides a low cost way of communicating that brings encouragement and excitement to any relationship that benefits as a result of social media. By becoming fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages around social networking sites, it is up to the user. Whether they are willing to make a positive or negative impact with the social media. Social media becomes our responsibility, if we choose to use this technology properly or improperly. Since, in the long run we are the ones benefiting from social networking sites. Even though social networking sites have negative influences, the positive impacts heavily out weigh them. The good things that social media offers should not be overlooked and clouded by the negative. I would encourage everyone to use social networking sites, but to always remember to use them wisely, with discernment, knowing that what some people use to cause harm can actually be used for the good. Social Networking free essay sample Social networking services serves as a big platform to create social relationships. People who have common interest idea, activities, backgrounds and real-life connections connect with each other through social networking sites or services. It connects people from one end to another end of the world very easily with internet connections. With improvement in technology in mobile phones through introduction o androids and smart phones, social networking services and used widely by all age group people. This was made much easier for people who do not have a desktop or a laptop. Pocket internet services, available in different package based on time period, memory and data usage, given by the service providers helps peoples for a budgetary internet usage. Students using social networking sites have negative impact. The student’s motivational level reduces due to the use of these social networking sites. They rely on the virtual environment instead of gaining practical knowledge from the real world. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This puts them in a separate world where there is a severe lack of face-to-face communication. Problem Statement The world is today celebrating the improvements in communication technology which has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Ufuophu and Ayobami (2012:129) observe that the ICTs include internet, satellite, cable data transmission and computer assisted equipment. Social network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige (Adeboye, 2012, cited in Asemah and Edegoh,2012). Social networking sites include: Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Twitter, Youtube and so on. These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends (Adeboye, 2012, cited in Asemah and Edegoh, 2012). The expansion in technology has also affected internet software, thus leading to chatting sites known by the name â€Å"social media†. With social networking sites, one can send and receive messages almost immediately. However, lack of regulation of the internet has led to its excessive use. McQuail (2008:154) avers that the internet penetrates more homes. It is a common sight to see a youth chatting in sensitive and highly organized places like church and lecture venues. Some are so carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they keep chatting. The manufacturing and distribution of equally sophisticated cellular phones has complicated the situation, as youths no longer need to visit a cybercafe before they send and receive messages. Attention has been shifted from visible to invisible friends, while important ventures like study and writing are affected in the process. This phenomenon has become a source of worry to many who believe in knowledge and skill acquisition. The emergence of social media as a result of advancement in technology and expansion in internet software has raised eye brows among academics on its (social media) impacts on studies. Students at all levels of learning now have divided attention to studies, as a result of available opportunities to be harnessed from social media. Whether these opportunities promote studies is a question that needs to be answered. Thus, the problem this study investigates is the effect of social media networks on the academic performance of the students.