Alone or together? The dilemma in social networking

By Lionel Wijesiri

A global survey has revealed that 23 percent of Facebook users check their accounts five or more times every day. A surprising fact, isn’t it?

It is obvious that social media websites are taking over the Internet and that new users are signing up every second. Social media sites are by far some of the fastest growing businesses online. It seems that our generation cannot get enough of social media and what it has to offer. No matter how many types of social media sites are out there, new ones keep appearing and capture our attention.

What makes these sites so popular? What is different about each of them?

There are over 200 well-known social network sites, each with its pluses and minuses

The latest recruit in our company, a 22-year-old management trainee, gave me five good reasons why he uses social media extensively:

* Global connectivity

No matter if you are searching for that former college room-mate, your first grade teacher, or a foreign friend, there is no easier or faster way to make a connection than via the social network. Although Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace are probably the most well-known social networking communities, there are new websites popping up regularly that are dedicated to allowing people to connect and to interact via the Internet.

These connections can help one with a variety of things such as seeking a new job, locating assistance, getting and giving product and service referrals, receiving support from like-minded individuals and making or receiving advice on career or personal issues. In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the mall or at club socials to exchange news and get updated on friends and families.

* Common interest

When you opt to participate in a social network community, you can pick and choose those individuals whose likes and dislikes are similar to yours and build your network around those commonalities. For instance, if you are a chess buff or a book lover, you can find and interact with those who share your interest. Because you are connecting digitally instead of having to physically attend meetings, you have the luxury of joining many more groups and communities. You can meet with your friends any time you have an Internet connection and whenever you find them online.

* Real-time information sharing

Many social networking sites incorporate an instant messaging feature, which means you can exchange information in real-time via a chat. This is a great feature for teachers to use to facilitate classroom discussions. These networks can be used as effective vehicles for students to pursue self-paced online learning. In addition, the Internet is the ultimate online textbook. Students no longer need to take out six library books at a time. Much of what they need to know can be found online.

Social networking can provide a tool for managers to use at team meetings, for conference organisers to use to update attendees’ knowledge and for business people to use as a means of interacting with clients or prospects.

* Free advertising

Whether you need to get the word out about your upcoming fund-raiser or you are a business owner marketing a new product or service, there’s no better way to get your message to millions of people 24/7. The best part is that you can spread the word through social networking profiles free. You can promote one product, service or idea or many because you are limited only by the amount of time you wish to invest in the endeavour.

* News cycle speed

Social networking has revolutionised the speed of the news cycle. Many news organisations now partner with social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to collect and share information. One can get a sense of what is going on in the world just by watching trending topics from many of these sites. This has led to the development of a near instantaneous news cycle as millions of social networking updates rapidly spread news and information.

He is a smart young guy! I told him that I can give five disadvantages of online social networking:

* Face-to-face connections are endangered

A huge advantage of these social communities has a reverse side effect that is also a big disadvantage of social networking: They reduce or eliminate face-to-face socialisation. Because of the anonymity afforded by the virtual world, individuals are free to create a fantasy persona and pretend to be someone else. It is hard to say no or be rude, or ignore someone when you are speaking face-to-face. However, it’s incredibly easy and quick to detach someone or simply block his efforts to make a connection. Just one click of the mouse and your problems are over. Unfortunately, this feature of online socialisation cheats people of the opportunity to learn how to resolve conflicts in the world outside the Internet and it could retard or cripple one’s social skills developments.

* Crimes against children

Use of social networks can expose children to harassment or inappropriate contact from others. Unless the Internet content is filtered, children could be exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content.

*Identity theft

Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it. Most hackers need just a few vital pieces of personal information to make your life a nightmare, and if they successfully steal your identity, it could cost you dearly.

* Time waster

A young girl networks at a cyber cafe. Young adults are more likely than older adults to use social media

A Nielsen report explains that social networking can be a big waste of time that sucks 17 percent of our Internet time down the non-productivity drain. While it is true that some of that time is likely spent in making and maintaining important business, social or professional connections, it is also true that it is easy to become distracted and end up spending valuable time on games, chats or other non-related activities.

* Invasion of privacy

Social networking invades your privacy and sells your personal information. Have you ever posted a comment on Facebook, only to notice an advertisement appear with content related to your post? Facebook has earned US$ 3.8 billion in revenue in 2011. In 2012, it grew more. That’s not bad for a free site. If Facebook and other social networking sites don’t charge their members, how do they make so much money? They do it by selling the ability to specifically target advertisements.

On social networking sites, the website isn’t the product, its users are. These sites run algorithms that search for keywords, web browsing habits and other data stored on your computer or social networking profile and provide you with advertisements targeted specifically at you. At the same time, you may be giving the site permission to share your information with outside sources unless you specifically generate settings that disallow them to do so.

Now we come down to the final point. Are social networks harmful to society or not?

Because networking in online social communities is still a relatively young online trend, whether or not social networking is harmful is still unknown. For safety’s sake, let me give a few hints:

* Like any other type of networking or social club with which individuals become involved, it is a good idea to do your homework and make sure that you know what you are getting into;

* Understand the terms of use, the rules and regulations, and be clear on issues such as security and privacy;

* Take responsibility for your own safety and integrity and never join something just because it is trendy or all your friends are doing it.

In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of social networking, it’s best to err on the side of caution and information. After all, the lack of both can have a devastating effect.

Technology is threatening to dominate our lives and make us less human. Under the illusion of allowing us to communicate better, it is actually isolating us from real human interactions in a cyber-reality that is a poor imitation of the real world.

This is my personal opinion. While you may or may not disagree with me strongly, this is absolutely a debate worth having.