Over the past few years something has taken a toll in most people’s lives, we use it, love it, talk about it, and check it almost every hour of every day: this thing is called social networks. It was only a few years back, in 2003, when MySpace was discovered, and in 2004 when Mark Zuckerberg established Facebook, and soon after in 2006 Twitter followed. These sites became more than just an online destination, but a way of life. Notifications, follower counts, friend requests, photo comments- all what might seem like silly things that teenagers and adults alike await the moment they come home to check. We scroll unconsciously through feeds and pictures of people we barely know, from the inquisitive human nature. At school everyone is talking: “You won’t believe what I just saw on Facebook!” or when a major political occurrence occurs, most people admit “Oh yeah I saw that on Twitter.” It is inevitable that social networking sites have taken a major toll in our lives. The question is whether it is for the better or worse. Although many can hold a cogent argument that social networking sites have connected them with friends and family, these sites have led to decreased grades, lowered self esteem/depression, and lost jobs due to the blank addiction. Therefore, social networking sites are bad for our society. Social Networking sites lead to decreased grades. As high school students we are presented with plethora distractions: talking, texting, eating, and watching television but none compare to the immense impact of social networks. Our brains are almost programmed to be able Bushnaq 2 to sit on for hours scrolling simultaneously through feeds and not get bored. Bsecure states that teachers consider that social networking sites a... ... middle of paper ... ... Jarvis, Tim. "Negative Impact of Social Networking Websites at Work - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Oct. 2010. 09 Nov. 2011. Web. "Social Networks and Depression - Chicagotribune.com." Chicago Tribune: Chicago Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Weather and Traffic - Chicagotribune.com. KDAF- TV, Dallas. 09 Nov. 2011. Web. "Social Networking: Events Connecting People to People and People to Places | Lansing State Journal | Lansingstatejournal.com." Lansing State Journal | Lansing News, Community, Entertainment, Yellow Pages and Classifieds. Serving Lansing, Michigan | Lansingstatejournal.com. N.p, 1 Oct. 2010. 09 Nov. 2011. Web. "Social Networking Sites Are Connecting Families | TECHNOLOGY News." Breaking & Daily News, Sport & Weather | TV ONE, TV2 | TVNZ. AAP, 18 Mar. 2009. 10 Nov. 2011. Web.
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...ile Steven Pinker believes that social networking is improving society and Sherry Turkle finds it to be harmful to individuals, the real answer lies in-between the two positions. “It is a well-known fact that the web is a valuable asset for research and learning,” stated Sue Scheff in her article “Social Networking Sites Can Limit Interpersonal Skills and Physical Activity,” “…[but] it can also be a very dangerous place” (1). While the Internet is beneficial in gaining knowledge and connecting with others, it will always come with downsides as well because it can become addictive and an easy source for predators and bullies to prey on those who are vulnerable. Ultimately, “it is in our collective interest to ensure that the Internet lives up to its potential as a revolutionary connective medium” (Pariser 11) while being aware of the risks and practicing self-control.
Social networking has made its way into American culture quickly and is more prevalent now than ever before. Many people have different views on the relevance and benefits of social networking, whether they are from a positive or negative standpoint. Nevertheless, social media and networking are a part of our American lifestyles as a whole. As a Computer Information Systems major and studying the foundations and composition of computer applications, I would like to research the effects that social networks have on undergraduate students attending an Historically Black College or University. In order to conduct this research, a study and survey must be conducted to determine whether social networking positively or negatively affects grade point averages by recording the number of social networks students are actively using and the number of hours spent on these applications in comparison to grade point averages.
Social media is so popular that according to a recent article published by forbes.com, “72% of American adults are currently using social media sites; that figure has gone up 800% in just 8 years”(Olenski). Social networking was originally created to simply reconnect people with old high school pals, but in recent years it has evolved into a completely different operation. When social media first originated it was also intended for adult usage, which has in recent years expanded into the usage of all ages. Social media can create a negative affect on lives because it has been proven to be a dangerous addiction, for it takes away interpersonal relationships that are essential in life, and it has been proven to prevent people from being productive in life.
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To begin, there have been many speculations about social media and how the effects it has on grades. Stated by Lomeli, “some students would rather Facebook then do their homework. There is a lot of time lost due to social media”. As Lomeli said, "some students spend six to eight hours per day on social media, such as Facebook, while completing their homework. Doing work and using a social media at the same is a huge distraction. “Students who use social media had an average GPA of 3.06 while non-users had an average GPA of 3.82 and students who used social networking si...
Our society today has become dependent on social media to entertain, excite, and inform each other on the newest and latest hot topics of today’s world. Some people cannot go as long as an hour without checking their social media websites whether it is on the phone, computer, Ipad, or any other electronic devise with internet. The creators of social media have made it easier to recognize and draw the user in with notifying pop-ups every time something new happens in the cyber world. The easier it gets, the more addicting it makes it to check every second. Also, it’s not only the youth and teenagers using these social media cites; it also claims adults as well. One of the main reasons people make social media accounts is because people are nosey about other people’s lives. They get a social media page such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to monitor people and see what they are missing out of in the world. People post pictures to their “page” for everyone to see how good they look or how funny they are. Since everyone has a social media account, others feel obligated to make one, two, or even three accounts. What used to be rare is now typical for a normal person to have at l...
Supporters of social networking sites say that the online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family; offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access to educational support and materials. Social networks are now widespread in our world with existing social networks expanding, social networking sites are being created for educators, medical professionals all accessible 24 hours a day via computer, tablet, smart phone, and Internet-enabled devices. Challengers of social networking say that the sites prevent face-to-face communication, waste time on frivolous activity and spread false and potentially dangerous information.
“The Effects of Social Network Sites on Adolescents’ Social and Academic Development: Current Issues and Controversies.” Journal of the American Society for the Science and Technology, 62(8): 1435-1445. Web. 2011.
One problem students face, resulting in lower grades, is the distraction that social media has the ability to cause in school. The desire to go on social media in class, results in students not paying attention and eventually lower test scores. (Lederer 1) At some schools teachers are oblivious to the fact that students are on Instagram, twitter, and many other applications f...