Social Net'g

     As you all probably know, social networking is a form of indirect communication through a network of social interactions and personal relationships. To be simple, these include a number of different websites primarily focused on allowing communication to other people through the use of posting information, commenting, messaging, and sharing information. It’s used by many, especially businesses and companies. LinkedIn, for example, is a great example of a form of social networking that allows employers a more efficient way to find employees. With a simple search on LinkedIn, a number of qualified candidates can be found almost instantaneously. As shown in, “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting,” with the correct search and being in the right place at the right time, a job opportunity can arise. LinkedIn essentially has the advantage of screening through a crowd and viewing their so called bio and as well as practically their resume. Aside from the well-known LinkedIn, many other companies are involved in the marketing and advertising of a company’s brand name. Lately, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instragram are wonderful ways to not only promote a product or company, but you can also have the public do it for you! Twitter has actually been in talks recently to monetize their business to those that have been using their service amongst their strong marketing strategy. 

     There are downsides to this service however. As information become more and more public, as well as readily accessible, privacy amongst public consumers deteriorates. With a click of a button on Facebook or LinkedIn, you can practically view the history of a person as well as their bio. As depicted in the article “Facebook Exodus”, a community of people began to leave Facebook because of the addiction it has caused as well as the dependence to it to go about their day. Stalking and information seeking as also been addressed as an issue that arose due to the fact that information is easily shared. Another dark side to the service, as I mentioned in my previous blogs, includes the lack of interaction and decreasing efforts in physically meeting friends, family, and loved ones. Both articles actually addressed how there is nothing better than meeting with the person face-to-face and that communicating via computer screen is impersonal.

     But even with this “dark side” of social networking, I can still see it being an important factor in everyday life in the future. I may have my opinion about the matter, but I can’t entirely deny the fact that it has improved some social aspects in life with maintaining relationships with friends and family as well as it allowing me to view a status update of a long-lost friend. There is definitely an addictive element to social networking and my only fear is that it can and will cause complications in life as these social networks begin growing and developing into larger beings.

     What do you guys think?