Friendster, MySpace, Hi5. These are only few of the Online Social Networking sites dominantly available today. Online Social Networks started in 1995 with Classmates.com as the first ever Internet social community. Basically, Online Social Networks are social structures made of nodes, (generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of relations, such as values, visions, ideas, friends and kinship. These virtual communities allow their users to create profiles that provide personal information and photos. In these communities, a user sends out invitations to anyone he wishes to join his network. Once invitation is confirmed or accepted by the invited, he will be an official "friend" of the user. This process is repeated by other members and even by new members thus growing the number and links of the network. But what do these online social networks really do? What do these networks provide that it became such a big hit? What are the benefits and the risks of joining in these virtual-social communities.
Research in number of academic fields has shown that social networks operate on many levels , from families up to the level of nations, and play a critical role in determining the ways problems are solved, organizations are run and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals. Psychologically it can be said that these social networks give power to the users. It is for the reason that these networks provide user control rather than being computer-controlled. A user is the one who chooses the people he wants to be in his network. He has the power to change his profile and design his network base on his own preferences. Not only that, these virtual communities also create connectivity through being discovered through friends of friends and it present opportunities for self expression and friendship building. Also, in such environment, youth can build skills that will be a foundation for career in the 21st century.
However, everything got downfalls. Ethical and Social issues do exist about involvement on these sites. Unsafe disclosure of personal information are providing potentially dangerous or damaging personal information. Addiction can result to lack of healthy engagement in major areas of life. Pornography and cyberbullying can be easily done by those users who's hobbies are these. Making connections with other users to discuss information can result to misgiving of very vital and private information. On large social networking services, there has been growing concern on giving out too much information. Also person-to-person communication and socialization are blocked by these sites.
Online social networking all-in-all is one huge development in technology. It is a new way of connecting with others anywhere in the world, anytime. Though we may say it has so many uses, such as personal development applications, business applications and medical applications by sharing information with anyone in your network, still these sites also got its drawbacks. These could be the reason of your own downfall, a tool of your destruction. No one stops anyone in joining and being a part of these sites but as responsible individuals, we should be guarding our own selves. Feed these sites but not of too much information, engage on these virtual communities but don't let yourself be addicted. Follow safety precautions, enjoy but never be irresponsible.
Research in number of academic fields has shown that social networks operate on many levels , from families up to the level of nations, and play a critical role in determining the ways problems are solved, organizations are run and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals. Psychologically it can be said that these social networks give power to the users. It is for the reason that these networks provide user control rather than being computer-controlled. A user is the one who chooses the people he wants to be in his network. He has the power to change his profile and design his network base on his own preferences. Not only that, these virtual communities also create connectivity through being discovered through friends of friends and it present opportunities for self expression and friendship building. Also, in such environment, youth can build skills that will be a foundation for career in the 21st century.
However, everything got downfalls. Ethical and Social issues do exist about involvement on these sites. Unsafe disclosure of personal information are providing potentially dangerous or damaging personal information. Addiction can result to lack of healthy engagement in major areas of life. Pornography and cyberbullying can be easily done by those users who's hobbies are these. Making connections with other users to discuss information can result to misgiving of very vital and private information. On large social networking services, there has been growing concern on giving out too much information. Also person-to-person communication and socialization are blocked by these sites.
Online social networking all-in-all is one huge development in technology. It is a new way of connecting with others anywhere in the world, anytime. Though we may say it has so many uses, such as personal development applications, business applications and medical applications by sharing information with anyone in your network, still these sites also got its drawbacks. These could be the reason of your own downfall, a tool of your destruction. No one stops anyone in joining and being a part of these sites but as responsible individuals, we should be guarding our own selves. Feed these sites but not of too much information, engage on these virtual communities but don't let yourself be addicted. Follow safety precautions, enjoy but never be irresponsible.
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