How Does Social Networking Affect Us - Essay Example

?In seeking to answer the question of how social media affects our lives, it is necessary to understand the social media affects different demographics of the world in different ways. As a function of understanding the way in which social media impacts upon different groups of people, the following analysis will analyze two of the articles that have thus far been presented during the course of the semester within the textbook. Furthermore, the analysis will seek to examine the way in which social media and the paradigm shift of mobile computing and texting have helped to provide a new representation of English language. In such a way both of these unique aspects will be discussed with regards to how they impact upon society. As with so many elements of life and the way in which the individual integrates with society, the most important aspect which will be discussed with regards to the following two elements is ultimately a question of balance and the means by which the individual is able to integrate both with the world of social networking and the world of real personal communication; both the world of abbreviated English and the world of standard English. Firstly, with regard to Reid Goldsborough’s piece entitled, “Social Networking: Crossing Digital Divide Can Pay Dividends”, the author argues that rather than merely categorizing social media as a waste of time primarily dominated by adolescence, teenagers, and young adults, the practice itself can have a level of applicability and usefulness with regards to the extent to which professionals integrate with and leverage the benefits that it can provide. However, before delving into the extent to which social media can be beneficial for the professional, Goldsborough spends a great deal of time discussing many of the aspects of social media within the younger generation that give it a negative representation. In such a way, rather than whitewashing the reputation of social media and presenting the reader with an understanding that it is applicable and useful in each and every situation, the author delves into discussing the ways in which social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and others are ultimately abused by means of posting a seemingly endless stream of meaningless comments and perpetual updates of the my new shift of life that many of its participants feel so necessary to publish (Goldsborough 251). The generational divide which was briefly discussed within the introduction comes into play within Goldsborough’s piece as he seeks to integrate an understanding of the fact that the older generation is almost categorically opposed and ultimately reticent to adopt such a new technology and integrate with some of the benefits that he can provide. However, as a means of seeking to evoke a level of participation from those individuals that remain and thence with regards to social networking, Goldsborough relates many of the positive ways in which social media can impact upon business creation, the small town feel of friendships and connections, and even the positive benefits of being able to spend downtime getting acquainted with new people and building a greater network of potential clients and friends. In this way, Goldsborough discusses the positive benefits that social networking can have upon the life of the professional while at the same time seeking to minimize the negative implications social networking has oftentimes been set famous for A secondary way in which social networking and the growth of technology within the past several years can impact upon individuals and society at large is with regards to the way in which language is ultimately being changed as a result of such a practice. John Humphrys’ piece, “I H8 TXT MSGS: How Texting Is Wrecking Our Language”, the author invokes the reader will with the understanding that although language has perennially changed, texting and the utilization of abbreviated forms of speech so often referenced in the social networking world of Twitter and Facebook is ultimately detrimental to the way in which individuals within our society understand, relate to, and represents the language of English (Humphrys 1). Whereas it could be argued that that the individuals that use this abbreviated form of “textese” can easily the turn on and off this alternative form of English, the fact of the matter is that “textese” and other lazy excuses for the representation of English are creeping further and further into the English lexicon and threatened to become part of language and culture within the near future. Ultimately, Humphrys indicates that prior levels of laziness have also negatively impacted upon the English language of the within the past. As such, it is only logical, according to this author, that in time the same negative practices of laziness and the brutalization of the language will soon become represented in such storied works of English growth and development as the Oxford English dictionary. Regardless of the way in which one integrates with social media or the representation of language that one exhibits within his/her writing or speech, the fact of the matter is that social media and mobile devices are playing an increasing role in the way individuals interact with one another and with every aspect of society. In such a way, seeking to understand and ameliorate the negative externalities of how humans behave with regards to these paradigm shifts is a central issue of concern. After reviewing the documents that been discussed within this brief essay, it is the understanding of this author that one of the most effective means of doing that is to ensure that the uniform level of interaction takes place both between the real world and the world of social networking. Alternatively, an equal level of interaction should also take place within the world of writing and speaking in normal and adequate/standard English as well as those representations of abbreviated English such as were illustrated by Humphry. Ultimately, neither one of these are detrimental to society or the individual. Rather, it is merely an issue of the extent and level to which a healthy differential of appreciation for the respective place of these technologies is integrated. Works Cited Goldsborough, Reid. "Social Networking: Crossing Digital Divide Can Pay Dividends." Community College Week 21.12 (2009): 13. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 May 2013. Humphrys, John. "I h8 txt msgs: How texting is wrecking our language." Mail Online. N.p., 7 Sept. 2007. Web. 7 May 2013. Read More