Research Essay
Social Networking: Should We Connect or Log Off?
There is no denying the fact that the Internet has drastically changed the way our world works, especially the way people communicate with one another. Each day, millions of people log into websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, where they scroll through hundreds of status updates, photos, and videos to see what their friends and families are saying and doing. According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project and the University of Pennsylvania, in which they surveyed approximately 2,255 American adults on their use of the internet and social networking sites, the number of people using social networking sites is almost two times as many as in 2008. The researchers found that Facebook was the most popular social networking site, with more than 92% of social network users using Facebook (Goulet, Hampton, Purcell and Rainie). Social networking sites like Facebook have opened up a whole new world when it comes to communication. They allow people to stay updated and connected with friends and relatives that they do not see on a day to day basis, even those who live on different sides of the world. For many, Facebook and similar sites have made the world a smaller place where they feel more connected to people than ever. As these sites become more popular, however, there is much controversy as to whether they have had a negative impact on society.
There are often two distinct views on the topic of social networking. People either believe that social networking is a good thing because it helps people stay connected to their friends and family, or they believe it to be a bad thing because it replaces face-to-face interaction with hiding behind a computer screen. Many lean towards the negative perspective on social networking sites because of recent studies that state that these sites contribute to the anti-social tendencies of people today, among other issues such as depression and narcissism. While many of these conclusions have proven to be true, other studies are finding that there are many benefits to social networking as well. Both views, the positive and the negative, are proving to have some truth to them. Many of the negative impacts come from spending too much time on social networking sites. Social networking sites can have many benefits, such as staying connected to far away friends and family, yet they can also present many risks that come from spending an excess amount of time on them. Therefore, people should limit the amount of time they spend on social networking sites should they decide to use them often.
What is it that keeps social networking users logged into sites like Facebook? An article by Lea Winerman in the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology addresses what it is that keeps drawing Facebook users, even those who claim Facebook and similar sites to be a waste of time and a distraction, back to the site. In addition to interacting with friends, researchers are finding that Facebook continues to draw users in because it appeals to the need to belong and present ourselves in a certain way to others. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the user. In the article, Winerman writes, “…Researchers found that spending a lot of time on Facebook correlated with both high levels of feeling connected to other people and with high levels of disconnection. They theorize this is the case because two different processes motivate Facebook use: People who are lonely and disconnected spend time on Facebook to cope with their loneliness. But people who aren’t lonely also spend time on Facebook, and for them the site helps maintain social connections, leading them to spend even more time there.” According to this theory, spending a lot of time on Facebook can lead to both feeling connected and disconnected to others, but either way it keeps people coming back. Another factor that contributes to Facebook’s appeal, according to researchers as Winerman states, is “social capital” such as job leads and emotional support that people get from social interaction, which can benefit social network users. According to the article, social capital and the needs that social networking feeds leads researchers think that social networking will continue to grow.
Other studies are also finding that social networking is having a more positive impact on relationships and encouraging people to stay socially connected. The Pew Research Center’s study on American internet and social networking site users found that Facebook users are more trusting than other people and tend to have more close relationships than non-Facebook users. They also get more social support, according to the study in which people who logged into Facebook more than once a day ranked the amount of social support they felt they got higher than those who did not use social networking sites. Similarly, the Australian Psychological Society’s study in which they surveyed 1,834 Australians on their use of social networking sites also found that social networking is mostly effecting people’s relationships and social connections positively (Cameron and Matthews). From the survey, they found that the most common reason for using social networking was to stay in contact with friends and family, and many people worried that they would lose contact with these people if they stopped using social networking sites. Ultimately, the study found that interacting with friends online helped increase interactions in person as well, which shows that social networking sites can be a useful and effective tool in helping people stay in contact with friends and family.
One of the bigger controversies is the influence of social networking sites on children and adolescents. Many studies have been done on this subject as well, and have found that there are both positives and negatives to children and teenagers using social networking sites. Today, kids spend more time with social media than any other pastime. In a clinical report by Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, MD, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, MD, published in Pediatrics, they state that 22% of teenagers log into social networking sites more than ten times per day. There can be many benefits and many risks to kids spending so much time on these sites. According to O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson, social networking sites can benefit teenagers by giving them opportunities for community engagement, enhancing their creativity by sharing artistic and musical endeavors, growth of ideas, and expanding online connections with other from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests. Social networks also provide learning opportunities and students can use them to work together on assignments outside of class. In a ScienceDaily article, Dr. Larry Rosen adds to this list of positives. The positives that Rosen mentions are that kids who spend time on social networking sites like Facebook are better at showing “virtual empathy” to others online. He also states that social networking sites can help introverted teenagers become more comfortable as they learn to socialize online, and they can also be used for teaching in a way that captures the attention of teenagers and young adults. Other positives include the idea that social networking gives kids more opportunities to think before they interact with or respond to someone over the internet, which they do not always have in person (Diaz, Evans, and Gallagher).
There are also many risks that children, and even some adults, may face when they use social networking sites. According to O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson, many of the negatives can be classified into four categories: peer-to-peer, inappropriate content, lack of understanding of privacy issues, and outside influences of third-party and advertising groups. Lack of privacy is one risk for all people in using social networking. Sharing too much information and putting false information about themselves can put many people, especially children and teenagers, in dangerous situations and can even put future jobs and other opportunities at risk. Sexting and cyberbullying are also major issues for kids and teens using social networking. Both can be detrimental to the reputations and lives of young people, and should not be ignored. Also according to the Pediatrics report, “Facebook depression,” the form of depression that develops when adolescents spend too much time on social networking sites such as Facebook, can also occur (Clarke-Pearson and O’Keefe). Dr. Larry Rosen also mentions that these sites can be distracting and take away from learning. Teenagers and young adults who use social networking sites also tend to be more narcissistic, and spending too much time on social networking sites can lead to being more prone to psychological issues in children and young people, such as anxiety and depression (ScienceDaily). Many of these risks apply to not only children, but all people who use social networking sites. However, most can be avoided by limiting the amount of time spent on these sites.
Although there are many risks associated with social networking sites, the sites themselves are not necessarily bad things. Social networking sites offer many benefits, such as helping people stay connected to friends that may live in faraway places and strengthening relationships both online and offline. For children and teenagers, they can also be used to help develop social skills and provide learning opportunities. Many of the risks, such as certain psychological issues that could develop, can be avoided by limiting the time people spend on social networking sites. For children, the monitoring of social networking use by parents and other adults could also help prevent issues such as cyberbullying. The positives of social networking could far outweigh the negatives if people use them carefully and limit the amount of time they spend on them.
Works Cited
Cameron, Fiona and Rebecca Matthews. "The Social and Psychological Impact of Online Social Networking." Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychological Society (APS), 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Diaz, Yamalis, PhD, Lori Evans, PhD, and Richard Gallagher, PhD. "Anti-Social Networking: How Do Texting and Social Media Affect Our Children?" About Our Kids. NYU Child Study Center, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Goulet, Lauren Sessions, Keith N. Hampton., Kristen Purcell, and Lee Rainie. Social Networking Sites and Our Lives. Rep. Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, 16 June 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Jayson, Sharon. "Are Students Today More Narcissistic?" USA Today, 25 Aug. 2009: 06D. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Motivations For Using Social Networking Sites. Digital image. Pew Internet. Pew Research Center, 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2011/Why%20Americans%20Use%20Social%20Media.pdf>.
O'Keefe, Gwenn Schurgin, MD, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, MD. Clinical Report—The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Rep. The American Academy of Pediatrics, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
"Social Networking's Good and Bad Impacts on Kids." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 Aug. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2013
There is no denying the fact that the Internet has drastically changed the way our world works, especially the way people communicate with one another. Each day, millions of people log into websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, where they scroll through hundreds of status updates, photos, and videos to see what their friends and families are saying and doing. According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project and the University of Pennsylvania, in which they surveyed approximately 2,255 American adults on their use of the internet and social networking sites, the number of people using social networking sites is almost two times as many as in 2008. The researchers found that Facebook was the most popular social networking site, with more than 92% of social network users using Facebook (Goulet, Hampton, Purcell and Rainie). Social networking sites like Facebook have opened up a whole new world when it comes to communication. They allow people to stay updated and connected with friends and relatives that they do not see on a day to day basis, even those who live on different sides of the world. For many, Facebook and similar sites have made the world a smaller place where they feel more connected to people than ever. As these sites become more popular, however, there is much controversy as to whether they have had a negative impact on society.
There are often two distinct views on the topic of social networking. People either believe that social networking is a good thing because it helps people stay connected to their friends and family, or they believe it to be a bad thing because it replaces face-to-face interaction with hiding behind a computer screen. Many lean towards the negative perspective on social networking sites because of recent studies that state that these sites contribute to the anti-social tendencies of people today, among other issues such as depression and narcissism. While many of these conclusions have proven to be true, other studies are finding that there are many benefits to social networking as well. Both views, the positive and the negative, are proving to have some truth to them. Many of the negative impacts come from spending too much time on social networking sites. Social networking sites can have many benefits, such as staying connected to far away friends and family, yet they can also present many risks that come from spending an excess amount of time on them. Therefore, people should limit the amount of time they spend on social networking sites should they decide to use them often.
What is it that keeps social networking users logged into sites like Facebook? An article by Lea Winerman in the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology addresses what it is that keeps drawing Facebook users, even those who claim Facebook and similar sites to be a waste of time and a distraction, back to the site. In addition to interacting with friends, researchers are finding that Facebook continues to draw users in because it appeals to the need to belong and present ourselves in a certain way to others. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the user. In the article, Winerman writes, “…Researchers found that spending a lot of time on Facebook correlated with both high levels of feeling connected to other people and with high levels of disconnection. They theorize this is the case because two different processes motivate Facebook use: People who are lonely and disconnected spend time on Facebook to cope with their loneliness. But people who aren’t lonely also spend time on Facebook, and for them the site helps maintain social connections, leading them to spend even more time there.” According to this theory, spending a lot of time on Facebook can lead to both feeling connected and disconnected to others, but either way it keeps people coming back. Another factor that contributes to Facebook’s appeal, according to researchers as Winerman states, is “social capital” such as job leads and emotional support that people get from social interaction, which can benefit social network users. According to the article, social capital and the needs that social networking feeds leads researchers think that social networking will continue to grow.
Other studies are also finding that social networking is having a more positive impact on relationships and encouraging people to stay socially connected. The Pew Research Center’s study on American internet and social networking site users found that Facebook users are more trusting than other people and tend to have more close relationships than non-Facebook users. They also get more social support, according to the study in which people who logged into Facebook more than once a day ranked the amount of social support they felt they got higher than those who did not use social networking sites. Similarly, the Australian Psychological Society’s study in which they surveyed 1,834 Australians on their use of social networking sites also found that social networking is mostly effecting people’s relationships and social connections positively (Cameron and Matthews). From the survey, they found that the most common reason for using social networking was to stay in contact with friends and family, and many people worried that they would lose contact with these people if they stopped using social networking sites. Ultimately, the study found that interacting with friends online helped increase interactions in person as well, which shows that social networking sites can be a useful and effective tool in helping people stay in contact with friends and family.
One of the bigger controversies is the influence of social networking sites on children and adolescents. Many studies have been done on this subject as well, and have found that there are both positives and negatives to children and teenagers using social networking sites. Today, kids spend more time with social media than any other pastime. In a clinical report by Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, MD, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, MD, published in Pediatrics, they state that 22% of teenagers log into social networking sites more than ten times per day. There can be many benefits and many risks to kids spending so much time on these sites. According to O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson, social networking sites can benefit teenagers by giving them opportunities for community engagement, enhancing their creativity by sharing artistic and musical endeavors, growth of ideas, and expanding online connections with other from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests. Social networks also provide learning opportunities and students can use them to work together on assignments outside of class. In a ScienceDaily article, Dr. Larry Rosen adds to this list of positives. The positives that Rosen mentions are that kids who spend time on social networking sites like Facebook are better at showing “virtual empathy” to others online. He also states that social networking sites can help introverted teenagers become more comfortable as they learn to socialize online, and they can also be used for teaching in a way that captures the attention of teenagers and young adults. Other positives include the idea that social networking gives kids more opportunities to think before they interact with or respond to someone over the internet, which they do not always have in person (Diaz, Evans, and Gallagher).
There are also many risks that children, and even some adults, may face when they use social networking sites. According to O’Keefe and Clarke-Pearson, many of the negatives can be classified into four categories: peer-to-peer, inappropriate content, lack of understanding of privacy issues, and outside influences of third-party and advertising groups. Lack of privacy is one risk for all people in using social networking. Sharing too much information and putting false information about themselves can put many people, especially children and teenagers, in dangerous situations and can even put future jobs and other opportunities at risk. Sexting and cyberbullying are also major issues for kids and teens using social networking. Both can be detrimental to the reputations and lives of young people, and should not be ignored. Also according to the Pediatrics report, “Facebook depression,” the form of depression that develops when adolescents spend too much time on social networking sites such as Facebook, can also occur (Clarke-Pearson and O’Keefe). Dr. Larry Rosen also mentions that these sites can be distracting and take away from learning. Teenagers and young adults who use social networking sites also tend to be more narcissistic, and spending too much time on social networking sites can lead to being more prone to psychological issues in children and young people, such as anxiety and depression (ScienceDaily). Many of these risks apply to not only children, but all people who use social networking sites. However, most can be avoided by limiting the amount of time spent on these sites.
Although there are many risks associated with social networking sites, the sites themselves are not necessarily bad things. Social networking sites offer many benefits, such as helping people stay connected to friends that may live in faraway places and strengthening relationships both online and offline. For children and teenagers, they can also be used to help develop social skills and provide learning opportunities. Many of the risks, such as certain psychological issues that could develop, can be avoided by limiting the time people spend on social networking sites. For children, the monitoring of social networking use by parents and other adults could also help prevent issues such as cyberbullying. The positives of social networking could far outweigh the negatives if people use them carefully and limit the amount of time they spend on them.
Works Cited
Cameron, Fiona and Rebecca Matthews. "The Social and Psychological Impact of Online Social Networking." Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychological Society (APS), 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Diaz, Yamalis, PhD, Lori Evans, PhD, and Richard Gallagher, PhD. "Anti-Social Networking: How Do Texting and Social Media Affect Our Children?" About Our Kids. NYU Child Study Center, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Goulet, Lauren Sessions, Keith N. Hampton., Kristen Purcell, and Lee Rainie. Social Networking Sites and Our Lives. Rep. Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, 16 June 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Jayson, Sharon. "Are Students Today More Narcissistic?" USA Today, 25 Aug. 2009: 06D. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Motivations For Using Social Networking Sites. Digital image. Pew Internet. Pew Research Center, 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2011/Why%20Americans%20Use%20Social%20Media.pdf>.
O'Keefe, Gwenn Schurgin, MD, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, MD. Clinical Report—The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Rep. The American Academy of Pediatrics, 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
"Social Networking's Good and Bad Impacts on Kids." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 Aug. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2013