Social Networking

Does social networking loosen inhibitions? How is this good and bad?

As with any form of online communication, there are risks. Primarily, because these are public spaces used by anyone, young people and adults alike and published content can be seen by a worldwide audience. There are risks of bullying, online predators, identity theft and the promotion of violent and inappropriate content. It is important to underline those children and young people may not only fall victim to such harmful behavior but may also be involved in initiating, maintaining or perpetrating it against others (Igoe, 23-30).

Young people talk about how online environments make them feel invincible and say that they lose all their inhibitions. This can, in turn, lead to them engaging in risky behaviour when online that can make them very vulnerable to online predators. Unfortunately many social network providers set public user profiles by default. Unless young people actively seek to change this, any information they publish can be seen by anyone.

Do social network sites such as twitter and facebook allow one to carve out a social identity different than the one that exists in real time and space? How is facebook and twitter identity different than the one in your actual face-to-face encounters?

Many people now prefer communicating through impersonal media rather than face-to-face encounters. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other conduits for connection have become a staple for even our closest friends. Couple this with the growing body of research demonstrating that society is lonelier than ever, and Vernon says we could be “entering a period of crisis for the entire concept of friendship.”

Social scientists in America and Canada have pointed out that even though social networking sites have exploded in recent years, the quality of our friendship may be declining. But before we throw stones at Twitter, Vernon says we must realize that there are many social pressures contributing to the decline of true friendship.

Does on-line discourse diminish a person's critical thinking skills, the ability to reflect over and to realize ideas in depth?

In my opinion, Critical thinking is tremendously important in health, human service, and community work because it allows you to understand the actual issues involved, and to come up with an approach that is likely to address them effectively (Kiesbye, 45-51).

Social networking on the Internet has become a major social phenomenon that is revolutionizing the way people communicate and interact. To understand a little ...