Social Networking



Introduction1

Discussion1

Social Networking Users1

Literature review2

Privacy Issues in Social Networking Sites4

Information Leak due to Privacy5

Improper Use of Disclosed Information6

Information leak due to attack techniques9

Critical Analysis of Social Networking Sites9

Future Trends of Social Networking Sites10

Conclusion10

References12

Social Networking

Introduction

The social networking is a type of online site, platform or service that facilitates the building of social relations or social networks in people that share activities, interests, real life connections or backgrounds. The social network service includes the representation of every user through a profile, the user's social skills and a number of extra services. Many social networking services are based on internet and provide a way for the individuals to interact with one another through the internet. The online community services are also considered as social networking services. The social network services refers to the individual centered services and the social networking sites permit the users to hare activities, ideas, interests and events in the individual's network (mashable.com).

Social network was developed to distinguish between the networks that were used for business purpose and socializing. It now includes websites which are interactive and have chat rooms, message boards and the option of leaving comments and discussing with other people (www.whatissocialnetworking.com). They have evolved from being simple communication hubs to the veritable agents of change that galvanize many people in the political discourse and have also led to the creation and changing of industries and in the changing of lives of people (Qaisar n.d., p. 01).

Discussion

Social Networking Users

The internet users that are below fifty are more likely to use the social networking websites. The proportion of women is more than men in using these social networking sites. The people who live in the urban areas are also more likely to use the social networking as compared to the rural internet users. The table below represents the percentage of internet users that use social networking sites in 2012 (Duggan & Brenner 2013, p. 03).

Literature review

Research after 2006 has focused on different aspects of social networks. There are some researches that have focused on the management of impression by audience which refers to the way the individuals introduce themselves in the social networks and the quality of relationship that is established in this manner. The degree of authenticity of the users has also been analyzed. Based on the different roles the users of the social networks are divided into two groups which are passive and connectors which have properly participated in the evolution of social evolution.

Through research, it has been revealed that most of the social networks serve the purpose of reinforcing the existing relationships. They have built the bridges between the offline and online worlds. The social networking site like Facebook is used for strengthening offline friendships rather than meeting new people (Latre n.d., p. 04).

The other important research has tried to highlight the issues of intimacy and privacy that is generated by the social networks. At times, the need for safer environment for adolescents and children is ...