Social Networking Sites

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Social Networking Sites
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Introduction

• To our generation Social Networking Sites are
  part of everyday life. Sites such as MySpace,
  Facebook, Xanga, and programs such as iChat, AIM,
  and Adium have revolutionized the ways in which
  people communicate. It used to be that e-mail
  had replaced traditional mailing systems, but now
  instant messaging replaces phone calls and wall
  posting replaces even e-mails.
• Social Networking Sites bring together resources
  such as email, instant messaging, etc. in one
  place. The conveniency of this promotes fast and
  frequent communication. Facebook, for example,
  houses a version of email, instant messaging,
  quick message posting, discussion forums, picture
  albums, calendar and social information updates
  (mini-feed).
• Social Networking Sites have changed the way
  indeviduals communicate with the world, however,
  everyday designers are finding new and innovative
  ways in which they can use the sites to connect
  one person to the rest of society.

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Introduction
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Background Information

• Social networking sites have morphed into a
  mainstream method for teens and adults to
  exchange information about themselves, share
  pictures and videos, and use blogs and private
  messages to communicate with friends, others who
  share interests, and sometimes even the
  world-at-large.
• The purpose of social networking sites have not
  digressed from the initial intentions of their
  creation however, these sites have expanded to
  serve a larger audience.
• A few examples would be Facebook, Cyworld, Xanga,
  MySpace, and Xiaonei.

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Positive Aspects

• Social networking sites allow you to express
  yourself and keep in touch with friends by
  exchanging messages or comments and posting
  personal profiles describing who you are and your
  interests, blogs or online diaries, photos,
  creative writing, artwork, videos, and music.
• Instant Messaging (IM) and sharing online
  profiles are popular forms of social networking.
• If practiced safely, there can be many positive
  aspects of social networking. You can connect
  with friends and seek like-minded individuals.

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Criticism

• Some sites and services ask you to post a
  profile with your age, sex, hobbies, and
  interests.
• While these profiles help you connect and share
  common interests, potential exploiters can and do
  use these profiles to search for victims.
• Users may pose as someone else a different
  person or a person of a different age without
  others knowing. You cant take back the online
  text and images youve entered. Once online,
  chat as well as other web postings become
  public information. Many web sites are cached
  by search engines, and photos and text can be
  retrieved long after the site has been deleted.
• Teens have been punished by their families
  denied entry into schools and even not hired
  because of dangerous, demeaning, or harmful
  information found on their personal sites or
  blogs.

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Opinion

• What do you think? Would you use social
  networking sites as an implement of communication?