Social Networks and Social Networking Sites

3619 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effect of social media on teenagers

Introduction

The world has evolved into a technologically savvy and dependent society with the Internet readily available to many. Convenience and connection are vital to individuals, especially within the United States. Social networking sites have progressed to fit the demanding desires of today’s technological era (Albarran 118). The progression from the first social networking sites, such as Friendster or instant messaging, to the sites used today, such as Facebook and Twitter, has made a significant impact on society. Fifteen years ago it was unimaginable the advancements the world has made in many areas, especially in technology and the worldwide web. Remaining behind a computer screen for hours was once a foreign concept, but recently became commonplace among the younger generations. Social networks are the most frequently used and popular sites on the Internet. In the United States, the time spent on social networking sites is double the amount of time spent on any other site online and continues to increase (Wilcox and Stephen 90). Without a doubt, social networking sites are an ever-growing phenomenon that is prominent in society.

Technology is a very effective tool for staying plugged in and connected with the world. Social networking sites began with original, positive intentions. Social networking sites are a great way to be aware of the most recent news. In Friends, Followers, and the Future, writer, filmmaker, and journalist Rory O’Connor whose work centers around media and politics states, “Ironically, we live in a media-saturated era, one in which news and information from a wide range of sources is readily available to many of us for the first time in history” (24). Another respectable original intent...

... middle of paper ...

...tisocial Media Content: Rejection-Based Anger Impairs Moral Judgment Among Adolescents." Developmental Psychology 49.6 (2013): 1165-1173. PsycARTICLES. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.

Smahel, David, B. Bradford Brown, and Lukas Blinka. "Associations Between Online Friendship And Internet Addiction Among Adolescents And Emerging Adults." Developmental Psychology 48.2 (2012): 381-388. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.

Utz, Sonja, Martin Tanis, and Ivar Vermeulen. "It Is All About Being Popular: The Effects Of Need For Popularity On Social Network Site Use." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, And Social Networking 15.1 (2012): 37-42. PsycINFO. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.

Wilcox, Keith, and Andrew T. Stephen. "Are Close Friends The Enemy? Online Social Networks, Self-Esteem, And Self-Control." Journal Of Consumer Research 40.1 (2013): 90-103. Business Source Premier. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Essay On Effects Of Social Media On Interpersonal Relationships

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    When someone “friends you” on Facebook, it doesn’t automatically mean that you have some special relationship with that person. In reality it really doesn’t mean that you now have the intimacy and familiarity that you have with some offline friends. And research shows that people don’t commonly accept friend requests from or send them to people they don’t really know, favoring instead to have met a person at least once (Jones). A key part of interpersonal communication is impression management, and some methods of new media allow people more tools for presenting themselves than others. SNSs in many ways are podiums for self-presentation. Even more than blogs, web pages, and smartphones, the atmosphere on a SNS like Facebook and Twitter enables self-disclosure in a focused way and permits others who have access to ones profile to see their other friends. This merging of different groups of people that include close friends, family, acquaintances, and friends of friends, colleagues, and strangers can present issues for self-presentation. Once people have personal, professional, and academic contacts in their Facebook network the growing diversity of social media networks creates new challenges as people try to engage in impression management

    Read More

  • Monsters In Society

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    While in the process of creating these artificial connections we fail to realize we are isolating ourselves from forming real relationships. This complied with the unjust evaluations of our accomplishments can lead to a lowered self-esteem and deepen our depression. Now I am not placing total blame on social media of these negative effects. I am however attempting to make it known that this is just a tool that has made it easier for us to see our voids and short

    Read More

  • How Does Social Media Promote Conformity?

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    We as humans constantly are concerned about our social image and outcomes. These newly updated online technology tools help us use the Internet to communicate with friends and to share information and resources with our networks of contacts. Anecdotal evidence suggests social media are altering our opinions and influencing our choices, which plays a great role in conformity. Furthermore, by deviating too far, individuals risk rejection. If a person feels that he cannot change the situation, he is unlikely to try anything new. The apathy becomes self-fulfilling. No one tries anything different, and consequently, nothing

    Read More

  • Self-Esteem and Social Media

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/07/instagram_and_self_esteem_why_the_photo_sharing_network_is_even_more_depressing.html Facebook And Social Media Activity Reflects Self-Esteem, Study Finds. Medical Daily. Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/facebook-and-social-media-activity-reflects-self-esteem-study-finds-256832 Facebook Envy: How The Social Network Affects Our Self-Esteem. Facebook Envy: How The Social Network Affects Our SelfEsteem. Retrieved from http://www.wbur.org/2013/02/20/facebook-perfection.

    Read More

  • The Internet's Effects on Social and Cognitive Abilities

    1112 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smahel, D., Brown, B. B., & Blinka, L. (2012). Associations between online friendship and internet addiction among adolescents and emerging adults. Developmental Psychology, 48(2), 381-388.

    Read More

  • Millennials, Narcissism, and Social Networking Sites

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    In particular, interest over whether people who use SNSs have higher levels of Narcissism than non-users of such sites. Two reasons have been discovered as to why people who use SNS may have higher levels of Narcissism than non-users. Firstly, Narcissism is strongly associated with forming relationships as an opportunity for self-enhancement (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008). Online communities, like Facebook and Twitter, encourage self-absorbed behaviour as they are built on superficial ‘friendships’ and often are used to maintain large numbers of relationships rather than deeper relationships. This allows Narcissists to maintain large numbers of shallow relationships, which constantly affirms their Narcissistic esteem (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008). Secondly, these sites offer a highly controlled environment, providing owners with complete power over self-presentation (Mehdizadeh, 2010). This provides an ideal setting for the owner to manage the impression they portray to others and create their “hoped-for possible selves” (Mehdizadeh, 2010). In particular, SNSs can be used to only share attractive photos of oneself or writing posts that are self-promoting, creating a biased impression of themselves (Ryan & Xenos,

    Read More

  • Narcissism In Social Media

    1942 Words  | 4 Pages

    “I didn't know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time –Betty White (“Betty White Quotes,” 2014, para. 1).” This quote can be interpreted to fit with several of the social media avenues that many people spend their time on. Day in and day out people post, tweet, share, and pin countless times throughout the world. These different forms of communication were first created for an easier way for people to connect with others. Yet now, so much time is spent on these social sites that it has warped the interactive part and is causing more damage than good. Many are growing a desire and are living for the amount of “likes” they can receive on a post or how many re-tweets they can generate. Instead of going to these outlets to participate in a partial portion of their social lives, people are filling that time with the technological aspect of communication. As White said, this can become an inordinate amount of wasted time and can ultimately grow into further damaging circumstances. These different social media channels can cause emotional harm through disparaging the relationship between friends, conjuring of a narcissistic personality, and the retrogradation of ones self-esteem.

    Read More

  • Research Proposal: Effects of Social Networking on Undergraduate Student’s Grades

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    This research is unique because it will give light to the individuals who are against social networking that will not take to consideration that it has any positive outcomes at all and to those who believe that social networking has no downfalls and are too blinded by the social networking to even notice the affects it has on their own lives.

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Social Media

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    The use of social networking has both its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is “an Internet social network can help you connect with other people who share your interest, and find resources to ga...

    Read More

  • social networking sites, more harm than good?

    1964 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...their popularity among peers but establish their own self-enhancement and self-esteem. Furthermore, social networking sites are also used as way for users to identify themselves with a cyber social footprint. The theory of self-presentation applies to a person's quest to project a distinct identity and image to peers. Another concept social researchers posit is impression management, which is the blueprint that people use to “plan, adopt and carry out the process of conveying to others an image of self in interaction with the communicative context” (Zywicka and Danowski). Thus, social networking site users likely construct a profile to cultivate a specific image to other viewers. These two concepts suggest that social networking sites play a large role in not only creating but also reinforcing a sense of self for the site user as well as other viewers or “friends.”

    Read More

  • Social Networking Controversy

    1917 Words  | 4 Pages

    Did you remember to tell your cousin happy birthday on Facebook? Do you know how many people liked your latest picture on instagram? Or how many retweets did you get on your totally relatable and borderline inspirational tweet? As of January 2014, 74% of online adults use social networking sites (Rainie). Also more than 9 out of 10 American teenagers use social media(Blaszczak). Because of social networking we are becoming more connected than ever before. Important information can spread faster than wildfire, and we now have the ability to have friends and relationships all over the world. With the ability to communicate and interact with anyone at our fingertips what could go wrong? Well...lots of things.

    Read More

  • Causes And Effects Of Social Media Essay

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social network sites have without a doubt become an important part of everyday life for many people, considering that Americans live in a country of technological advances. From people constantly checking their Facebook page to people posting pictures on Instagram, social media has changed people’s behavior and the way that they communicate with others. Social media includes websites such as Facebook and Twitter. This essay will focus on the causes and effects of social networking on the daily lives of American citizens.

    Read More

  • Facebook Effects in Socialization

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this day and age, many individuals simply cannot go without some sort of socialization. Specifically speaking, most participate in online social networking sites. The most popular and used one is commonly known as Facebook. Facebook was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. By 2007, Facebook had over 21 million users, adding up to 1.6 billion page views every single day. The typical user spends over twenty minutes per day on Facebook and two thirds of the users log in every day at least once. It is not questionable as to why many people have a Facebook account. Facebook is generally efficient, easy for socialization, and not difficult to manage. Most organizations are affiliated with Facebook, as “almost 22,000 organizations had Facebook directories,” as of November 2006. A year after that in 2007, Facebook was named the seventh most popular website (Ellison 1). However, with anything well known, many oppose to using Facebook and hold criticism against the popular network. There are many flaws in the website and the relationships it starts online. Facebook is risking dangerous activities, ignoring privacy laws, and demeaning healthy socialization.

    Read More

  • Modern Communication: Social Networks

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    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. Social networks have become a substantial part of our modern civilization. It is a defining trait of how integrated our social interactions have become. Social networks have become an important source of news.

    Read More

  • New Media Essay

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    The impact that new media has on society is apparent though various community based forums, user oriented video hosting websites, and user managed blogs. People are straying from more traditional forms of information and resort to using new media technologies as a source of reliable information. The increase in usage of new media plays a pivotal part in shaping the society of this century. The evolution of social media websites brought forth a negative outcome. Social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook have become a normal occurrence to find associates or coworkers on. A major transition from traditional forms of information to new media is the creation of video hosting websites such as YouTube. These video hosting websites caused an increase of regular people reporting on headlining events and as a result causing a surge of unreliable information for the viewers. Viewers overlook more traditional forms of information reported by actual journalist and take in fictional instead of factual information. The advancement of new media is detrimental for society in every way.

    Read More

More about Social Networks and Social Networking Sites

Open Document