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Social networking is a transformational technology that influences the lives of billions of people. Social networking has made people more connected with one another due to the ease of communication available through the internet and other technologies. “It is clear that individuals are increasingly using these sites to keep in touch with friends, find jobs and enhance their careers. Social networking sites drew 139.8 million visitors in April, a 12% increase from 124.4 million in March, according to comScore, a service that measures web traffic.”[1] These technologies have made networking very simple by allowing people to contact across the world with a simple message or post. There are many downsides that have occurred as well. Privacy is much more difficult to attain even for the most affluent and powerful people in the world. The biggest concern is how communication changed due to social media. Social media made people lack the development of real-life social skills and ironically made people antisocial. A Pew Research Study found, “Two thirds of the texters surveyed by the center’s Internet and American Life Project said they were more likely to use their cellphones to text friends than to call them. Fifty-four percent said they text their friends once a day, but only 33 percent said they talk to their friends face-to-face on a daily basis.” Social networking has expanded communication and networking but has also changed every-day socialization and privacy.[2]


[1]Knowledge@Wharton, "Leaving 'Friendprints': How Online Social Networks Are Redefining Privacy and Personal Security
[2]Antisocial Networking? by Hilary Stout, New York Times, May 2, 2010, p. ST1.

Comments

  1. Hi Elvin,

    It was great reading your post. Thank you for providing some statistics regarding social media's impact on real-life social skills. 15 years ago, the only way one could make friends was by meeting them in person, which automatically helped people develop their interpersonal skills. However, in the modern age with the rise of social media, shy people choose to limit interaction to online channels to avoid the awkwardness of meeting new people. Even though the awkward feeling disappears after a while, people choose to take the easy way out.

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