Positive and negative effects of social networking - Essay Example

Social networking sites are among the social media services that have tremendously received significant attention in the society. There is no doubt that social networking has improved the day-to-day life of many people in the society such as making communication easier and cheaper. However, the impact behind this cannot be underrated, as the society is moving into the technology age, the negative impacts of networking are increasing; thus outcompeting the benefits. Although, social networking makes communication easier and cheaper, it has led to increased social disorders, impacted personal privacy, cybercrimes related and destroyed relationships.

Social networking sites have contributed to more harm than good in the contemporary society in varied ways. First, it has led to deterioration of health due to increased social disorders such as Facebook Addiction Disorder and other related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, obesity, depression, anxiety among others. Biswajit and Jyoti (2011, p.225) argue that in case the world is facing any new addiction disorder, then Facebook addiction should be the first one. This is a kind of disease that evolved recently due to addiction of social networking; thus, it has made some people mad while others had become drug addicts.

This is because many Internet users especially teenagers use drugs and alcohols in order to hypertext or keep in touch with friends. This has made many of them forget the physical world surrounding them. The increased research on the impact of social networking indicates that the social media has currently exposed many users to varied consequences. For instance, many youths who are among the majority of social networking sites such as Face book, Twitter, You Tube, MySpace among others undergo varied problems such as depression, stress and loneliness that may lead to committing suicide (Feinstein, Bhatia, Hershenberg and Davila, 2012).

For instance, the shocking news reported by the Florida Times-Union revealed the scandalous act of an 18 years boy who was stabbed by his friend just because of an argument on Facebook. Secondly, the social networking has destroyed relationships and made life miserable to users. Social networking was thought to help users improve and build health or quality relationships, but instead it has damaged it. For instance, some spouses update their status on Facebook as single and yet they are married.

Some comments posted on Facebook have led to breaking up relationships. The research survey by AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) revealed that Facebook is the main cause behind increased divorce case in America (Biswajit and Jyoti 2011, 226). Feinstein et al (2011) indicates that the social networking sites are avenue for problematic interpersonal behaviors. This is because the effect of depressive and anxiety symptoms are among the aspects that impact the health lifestyles. This may result due to relationship problems that impact the quality of life.

Given that the social networking sites is perceived as the safer and effective means of communicating than the face-to-face method, the socially anxious individuals encounter varied problems across relationship types (Feinstein et al 2011, p 375). Lastly, it has also led to increased cybercrimes, affected work productivity and impacted personal privacy. Social networking offer cybercriminals a considerable advantage of conning, raping, murdering and involving in other related crimes to the targeted victims.

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