WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING? —PART 1

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“I have friends in other countries, and the best way I can keep in touch with them is by social networking. I love being able to talk to them even though they’re far, far away.”—Sue, 17.

“I think social networking is a waste of time, a lazy person’s social life. Face-to-face interaction is the only way to maintain friendships.”—Gregory, 19.

Which of the above statements comes closest to reflecting your view? Either way, one thing is certain: Social networking has become hugely popular. Consider this: It took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million users, 13 years for television to attract the same number, and 4 years for the Internet to do so. The social networking site Facebook gained 200 million users in one recent 12-month period!

To start with a social network is a Web site that allows those who have an account to communicate with a selected group of friends.

What’s the appeal of social networking? The answer is simple: Humans are hardwired to interact with humans. And that’s what a social network is all about. Consider why many might be tempted to join one.

1. Convenience.

“Keeping up with your friends can be hard, but when they’re all on one site, it’s easy!”—Leah, 20.

“I can post a comment and it’s as if I’ve just e-mailed every one of my friends at the same time.”—Kristine, 20.

 2. Peer pressure.

“I’m always getting requests to join someone’s list of friends, but I don’t have an account, so I can’t.”—Natalie, 22.

“When I tell people that I’ve chosen not to have an account, they look at me like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’”—Eve, 18.

 3. Media pressure.

“There’s this belief fostered by the media that if you don’t stay superconnected with people, you will have no friends. And having no friends is like having no life. So if you’re not social networking, you are nothing.”—Katrina, 18.

 4. School.

“My teachers use a social network. Some post messages to tell us when we have a quiz coming up. Or with math, for example, if I don’t understand something, I can post a message on my teacher’s Wall and he’ll help me solve the problem online.”—Marina, 17.

 5. Work.

“People looking for employment use a social network to connect with others. Sometimes this helps them find a job.”—Amy, 20.

“I use a networking site for my work. It allows clients to see current graphic-design projects I’m working on.”—David, 21.

The fact is, social networking—like virtually any use of the Internet—has its dangers. If you use a social networking account, how can you avoid those dangers?

Safe “Driving”

In some ways, using the Internet can be compared to driving a car. As you’ve probably noticed, not all who have a license are responsible drivers. In fact, many people have got into horrific accidents because of their carelessness or neglect.

In this article we will now discuss two aspects of social networking that deserve your serious consideration—your privacy and your time. 

YOUR PRIVACY

Privacy might be the last thing on your mind when it comes to a social network. After all, isn’t the whole idea to reach out to people? Nevertheless, not taking precautions can lead to disaster.

To illustrate, suppose you had in your possession a large amount of cash. Would you display it for everyone to see as you walked down a public street with your friends? That would be foolish—you’d be asking to be robbed! If you’re smart, you’ll hide your cash where it can’t be seen.

Think of your personal information as your cash. With that in mind, look at the list below and check off the items that you would not feel comfortable advertising to a complete stranger.

..... my home address

..... my e-mail address

..... where I attend school

..... the times when I am at home

..... the times when nobody is at home

..... my photos

..... my viewpoints

..... my likes and interests

 

Even if you’re the world’s greatest extrovert, likely you’d agree that there are at least some things on the above list that shouldn’t be revealed to just anyone. But many young people—and adults— have unwittingly shared such details with strangers! How can you avoid such a pitfall?

Always remember that when it comes to the Internet, “privacy” is merely a relative term. Why? “Large Web sites back up their databases,” points out Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe in her book CyberSafe, adding: “What we put on cyberspace never truly goes away. We have to consider it permanent because there is likely a copy somewhere; to think otherwise is foolish.”

YOUR TIME

Not only your privacy but also your time can be compared to a large amount of cash. In a sense, then, you need to budget your time. And that’s one of the greatest challenges when it comes to any use of the Internet, including social networking.

 “I was addicted. Every time I got home from school, I would spend hours checking what some people said about my posts and looking at their posts.—Cara, 16.

“I could access the site on my phone, so I’d look at it on my way to school, at school, and on my way home from school. Then, after I got home, I’d go on the computer. I knew I was addicted, but I didn’t want to stop!”—Rianne, 17.

The Bottom Line

There’s another factor about social networks that you need to consider. To help you grasp this aspect, put a • next to the option that you feel best applies.

A social networking site is primarily . . .

(A) ..... a business.

(B) ..... a social club.

(C) ..... a form of entertainment.

The correct answer? Believe it or not, it’s Option A. First and foremost, a social network is a business. Its objective is to make a profit, mainly through advertising. And to advertisers, the value of the network increases as more people join and those members’ posts are more widely shared. After all, the more time you or anyone spends networking, the more ads will be viewed.

Knowing that helps you to realize that a social network really has little to lose—and advertisers have much to gain—if you share your information too widely or if you spend too much time online. By all means, then, if you use a social network at all, protect your privacy and monitor the amount of time you spend on it.

As culled from the Awake Magazine