Many people currently live in a digital society where information is readily accessible. Various media for communication and transfer of information are vastly available and are widely used in today s society. Compared to the means by which news and information were acquired during the early years, today s communication is far more convenient. Due to the rapid and unprecedented advancement of technology, new modes and means of communication have been developed, such as the Internet. The sudden popularity of the Internet has broadened the horizon of communication and rendered fast and convenient ways of communication, such as electronic mail (e-mail) and instant messaging (IM). One of the popular products of the Internet is the social networking sites (SNS), the emergence of which has posed several advantages and disadvantages to the users. However, while social networking sites have been beneficial to todays communication, there are still many concerns that need to be addressed, most especially the privacy and security issues in this type of web site.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking pertains to the grouping of individuals with shared interests or commonality. Social networking has been done in person and localities. However, social networking has become more popular online because it is participated by millions of people who would like to meet other people who share the same interests or hobbies. Social networking sites function as an online community of millions of Internet users who seek relationship or interaction with other members (Beer, 2008).
Social networking sites also provide various features that attract members. Making friends is just one of the benefits of registering in an online community. Apart from this, SNS allow the users to experience diversity, as many people around the world have access to the site. This means that a person can have an online friend from foreign countries and obtain various types of information. Many of the social networking sites nowadays have open membership and do not focus on a particular interest. Thus, there are many chances to learn more about other hobbies and interests (Beer, 2008).
Social networking sites describe something in particular. It is a set of application wherein, to a certain extent, networking is the main concern. Therefore, it is an application or a motivation to form an expanding network or the practice of networking. SNS are set apart from other sites as their main concern is making and expanding established online friendship (Beer, 2008).
Benefits of Social Networking Sites
Since the inception of SNS such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, it has attracted millions of users who integrated these sites into their daily practices. Online SNS have become extremely popular especially to the new generation, as evidenced by the numbers of members and visits to the sites. Aside from the interests and practices supported by the SNS, some sites also vary in terms of how they incorporate new information and communication tools as the sites features mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo and video sharing. These features attract users to a particular social networking site. The added features allow the members to customize their profile pages and express their thoughts and feelings. Through these online social networks, members can post personal information, photos, and blogs as well as communicate with other members within the online social environment (Cain, 2008).
Social networking sites are also categorized as a form of computer-mediated communication (CMC) or communication aided by computer and Internet applications. Many people utilize SNS to communicate to people who are part of their extended network. The SNS have a messaging system that is utilized by users to send messages to another member of the site. The sites allow its members to add friends and contacts and label them with different relationship to expand their contact and network (Boyd Ellison, 2007).
The popularity and growth of online social networks has been phenomenal. Facebook and MySpace are two of the most popular online social networks that have an enormous number of subscribers. These sites proved to be beneficial to students as they aid students in forming their identities and finding the group that they most likely fit in. They also helped the members to stay connected with friends and classmates and share information regarding school activities (Cain, 2008).
Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites also have their own set of disadvantages that may affect the users or subscribers of the sites. One of the major concerns in online social networking sites is their susceptibility to invasion of privacy and the weak security measures that can endanger the members of the sites. Todays technology is defined to be public andor private, which are terms seen as two peas in a binary pod. The Internet is crossing on both sides of being public as everyone can be a participant in the community and being private as users are not personally interacting with each other and limitations are still being applied. Todays teenagers socialize in a community that is widely complicated by the shifts in the public and private ends (Boyd, 2007).
The virtual community of online social networks cannot be said to have an impenetrable wall of security. Most SNS are vulnerable to hacking and other security threats. For example, a persons place and date of birth posted in social networking sites can be exploited to predict the social security number (SSN). Thus, it poses privacy consequences through the use of SNS and uninhibited posting of personal information that other people can see (Acquisti Gross, 2006). Other security issues issue such as identity theft, spamming, phishing and cyberstalking are also a major concern among SNS users. However, due to the lack of strong legislations pertaining to cyber crimes, the perpetrators are often at large. Moreover, it is complicated to trace the perpetrators due to the false information that can be posted on the Internet, and it is an interconnected network in the whole world.
Online social networks can have serious consequences, and it has given rise to a wide array of moral panics as details of a person are voluntarily and willingly provided in social networking sites. Some people reveal too much personal information to strangers or people they only meet online. This poses a much higher risk when it comes to privacy invasion, miscarriage of justice based on false information, and... the menace of predators who want to harm young people (Albrechtslund, 2008, moral panic section).
The rapid advances in technology render various benefits and disadvantages to society. In the case of social networking sites, they have improved the means of communication by allowing the users to easily reach people, find old friends, and be connected again with them. SNS also help youngsters to find people with the same interests that may be helpful in fruitful activities like school and hobbies. However, the SNS can also threaten the privacy and security of the users due to the personal information posted on the sites. The users may be susceptible to privacy issues, identity theft, phishing of information and online predators. Hence, the effect of the social networking sites may depend on how users utilize these web sites for their own advantage. Users and subscribers of the various social networking sites should practice utmost care and precautions when using the Internet and going around the site in order to prevent the aforementioned consequences. Moreover, strict and rigorous legislations are needed to protect the users from the perpetrators of cyber crimes.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking pertains to the grouping of individuals with shared interests or commonality. Social networking has been done in person and localities. However, social networking has become more popular online because it is participated by millions of people who would like to meet other people who share the same interests or hobbies. Social networking sites function as an online community of millions of Internet users who seek relationship or interaction with other members (Beer, 2008).
Social networking sites also provide various features that attract members. Making friends is just one of the benefits of registering in an online community. Apart from this, SNS allow the users to experience diversity, as many people around the world have access to the site. This means that a person can have an online friend from foreign countries and obtain various types of information. Many of the social networking sites nowadays have open membership and do not focus on a particular interest. Thus, there are many chances to learn more about other hobbies and interests (Beer, 2008).
Social networking sites describe something in particular. It is a set of application wherein, to a certain extent, networking is the main concern. Therefore, it is an application or a motivation to form an expanding network or the practice of networking. SNS are set apart from other sites as their main concern is making and expanding established online friendship (Beer, 2008).
Benefits of Social Networking Sites
Since the inception of SNS such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, it has attracted millions of users who integrated these sites into their daily practices. Online SNS have become extremely popular especially to the new generation, as evidenced by the numbers of members and visits to the sites. Aside from the interests and practices supported by the SNS, some sites also vary in terms of how they incorporate new information and communication tools as the sites features mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo and video sharing. These features attract users to a particular social networking site. The added features allow the members to customize their profile pages and express their thoughts and feelings. Through these online social networks, members can post personal information, photos, and blogs as well as communicate with other members within the online social environment (Cain, 2008).
Social networking sites are also categorized as a form of computer-mediated communication (CMC) or communication aided by computer and Internet applications. Many people utilize SNS to communicate to people who are part of their extended network. The SNS have a messaging system that is utilized by users to send messages to another member of the site. The sites allow its members to add friends and contacts and label them with different relationship to expand their contact and network (Boyd Ellison, 2007).
The popularity and growth of online social networks has been phenomenal. Facebook and MySpace are two of the most popular online social networks that have an enormous number of subscribers. These sites proved to be beneficial to students as they aid students in forming their identities and finding the group that they most likely fit in. They also helped the members to stay connected with friends and classmates and share information regarding school activities (Cain, 2008).
Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites also have their own set of disadvantages that may affect the users or subscribers of the sites. One of the major concerns in online social networking sites is their susceptibility to invasion of privacy and the weak security measures that can endanger the members of the sites. Todays technology is defined to be public andor private, which are terms seen as two peas in a binary pod. The Internet is crossing on both sides of being public as everyone can be a participant in the community and being private as users are not personally interacting with each other and limitations are still being applied. Todays teenagers socialize in a community that is widely complicated by the shifts in the public and private ends (Boyd, 2007).
The virtual community of online social networks cannot be said to have an impenetrable wall of security. Most SNS are vulnerable to hacking and other security threats. For example, a persons place and date of birth posted in social networking sites can be exploited to predict the social security number (SSN). Thus, it poses privacy consequences through the use of SNS and uninhibited posting of personal information that other people can see (Acquisti Gross, 2006). Other security issues issue such as identity theft, spamming, phishing and cyberstalking are also a major concern among SNS users. However, due to the lack of strong legislations pertaining to cyber crimes, the perpetrators are often at large. Moreover, it is complicated to trace the perpetrators due to the false information that can be posted on the Internet, and it is an interconnected network in the whole world.
Online social networks can have serious consequences, and it has given rise to a wide array of moral panics as details of a person are voluntarily and willingly provided in social networking sites. Some people reveal too much personal information to strangers or people they only meet online. This poses a much higher risk when it comes to privacy invasion, miscarriage of justice based on false information, and... the menace of predators who want to harm young people (Albrechtslund, 2008, moral panic section).
The rapid advances in technology render various benefits and disadvantages to society. In the case of social networking sites, they have improved the means of communication by allowing the users to easily reach people, find old friends, and be connected again with them. SNS also help youngsters to find people with the same interests that may be helpful in fruitful activities like school and hobbies. However, the SNS can also threaten the privacy and security of the users due to the personal information posted on the sites. The users may be susceptible to privacy issues, identity theft, phishing of information and online predators. Hence, the effect of the social networking sites may depend on how users utilize these web sites for their own advantage. Users and subscribers of the various social networking sites should practice utmost care and precautions when using the Internet and going around the site in order to prevent the aforementioned consequences. Moreover, strict and rigorous legislations are needed to protect the users from the perpetrators of cyber crimes.
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