Chapter 11: Information Sharing

Social Networking

Social networking is a place where individuals getting socialize with other people into specific groups using the social sites. According to mashable.com, “A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities and people with similar or somewhat similar interests, backgrounds and/or activities make their own communities”. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Friendster are examples of social sites. However, there are some benefits and drawbacks of social networking towards individuals or people.

The social networking may help people to connect with other people which are separated by distance. For instance, parents which living in Malaysia can still connect with their children who were studying at foreign country. Other than that, social networking is also useful for the people who work on a business and really need to find for consumers or on the other word, to expand their market opportunity in the easiest way. Some people that are new to business may advertise their products and services on the social sites in order to grasp attention from the public.

Exampe of Social Networking Sites

However, social networking may also result in time wasting which is a drawback for the user. For example, students could not finish their assignment because of the addiction of Facebook. The time which is consumed for them to finish their assignment is easily wasted by commenting on post and chatting with their friends. On the other hand, people also can be easily be a victim for predators which are eager to steal someone information from the social sites. Therefore, the social sites users must be conscious towards these kind of people and must limit the personal information on the social sites.  

Scenario

 

Facebook is one of the important material for the students nowadays to get socialize with other people around the world. It has been a must for them and become similar to drug addiction because without Facebook, their life can be miserable. What would happen if parents prohibit their children from using FB? Will it be a positive or negative effect for the children?

For other information, you may refer to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network
http://www.hudsonhorizons.com/Our-Company/Internet-Glossary/SocialNetworking.htm