Social Networking Services, Analysis - Article Example

Heading: Social Networking Services, Article analysis Customer Inserts His/her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name 27, 10, 2013 Introduction The social Networking Services, (SNS) is growing in popularity and the new supplement of the physical offline social interaction process. The SNS has gained popularity because of its capabilities such as: video chatting, photo sharing and no geographical limitation with regard to information dissemination. The internet is the power behind the advancement of such platforms, the evolution of the Web 2.0 environment is also the power behind the social networking sites. In order to shade more light on the implication of the SNS, “The-Benefits-of-Social-Networking-Services” report will be analysed. The importance of the article will be discussed as well as its limitation in the context of the SNS. The relevance of the article in the real world will also be pointed out in order to expound on the potential benefits of the SNS is correctly addressed especially in the context of our educational system and social life. Technology is evidently changing our daily lives and thus the importance of appreciating its contribution to our development as a human species. Why the article is important “The-Benefits-of-Social-Networking-Services” According to Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20) the authors of the article focus on the importance of Social Networking Services (SNS). In the modern world, it is evident that the Web 2.0 environment is changing our communication practises and opening new spaces and ways of socialization which immensely impact on our traditional social structures. The effects of the SNS environment are particularly relevant to young people. As the authors of the article put forth, this new environment posses challenges on our social interaction which is an inherent risk. Notably, the authors, Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20) put forth that these challenges and risk have been over-emphasized by the media as well as social research. By over-emphasising on challenges and risks of the SNS, the main benefits of the social media are overlooked as the authors argue. Perhaps if the merits of the SNS and a holistic approach are used in analysing the SNS, a middle ground will be reached and people will be able to harness the power of the Web 2.0 environment to their benefit. Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20) notes that increased media literacy and internet connection among the young people helps in developing skills necessary in comprehending and analysing and creating media content. Challenges related to SNS can be mitigated by ensuring that the benefits of SNS are realized. As the authors point out, there are numerous benefits of the SNS, the main benefits in the educational and social landscape includes but not limited to enhancement of educational delivery, improving supportive relationships, identifying formation and a sense of belonging among others. Online risks especially in the SNS such as cyber-bullying, predation and breaches can be reduced through education and enlightening users of the inherent risk coupled with tightening of online privacy policies and restrictive laws (Bauman 2007 & Campbell 2005). The authors also recommend the need to harness the potential for intergenerational communication using the SNS in order to bridge which has seen the emergence of new patterns of communication and social connection among the young people. Harnessing the importance of the SNS is important to our education and society. Despite the current focus on the negatives of the SNS, the online platform is here to stay, as the authors point out, it is more beneficial to focus on ways of improving the online environment for the benefit of both the young and the old generation and also bridge the generational divide among these two groups (Ellison, NSC & Lampe 2007). In order to gain real benefit from the social media, a more collaborative approach is needed among all the key stakeholders, government and educators alike. The negatives of the social media can be countered by having a proactive government which is not quick to diminish the significance of the SNS but rather protect it from potential abusers and selfish interest groups ready to exploit the limitation of this life changing platform. Importantly, this article acts as a benchmark for what is expected among all the key stakeholders in the industry. Limitation of the article While the report focuses on the merits of Web 2.0 evolution, there are notable limitations of the report. Firstly, the SNS is a global interface which allows global communication, the Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.2) only focuses on a regional context, Australia to be specific. Whilst the article elaborates the benefits of the social media to the educational landscape, it is also limited in the sense that not all the aspects are covered. As an example, the SNS can be integrated into the current educational system in order to enhance learning delivery not only within the country but outside the country in order for Australian Universities to get international students without the hustle of travelling to Australia. More so, integrating the capabilities of the SNS environment such as live chat and video chat can significantly reduce the overall cost of education since geographical limitation will be eliminated. These are some of the aspect that the authors of the document failed to put across. The main focus of the article was to fight the popular emphasis on the shortcomings of the SNS environment instead of countering the same with evidence and content that shows real benefit of the SNS especially to the educational landscape and overall social improvement within and outside Australia (Ellison, NSC & Lampe (2007). Relevance of the paper to the “real” world The Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20) report on the benefits of the social media opens our eyes to the unprecedented potential of the digital technology and tremendous positive impact that the SNS can have on our lives if its potentials are well exploited amidst criticism of the potential shortcomings of the Web 2.0 especially on the younger generation. It is noteworthy to realize that the potentials of the Web 2.0 supersede the risks associated with a free media platform such as cyber-bullying and privacy invasion. Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.4) report tries to re-emphasize on the critical role of the SNS in the educational as well as the social landscape. It also shades light on how the shortcomings of the technology can be overcome while maintaining focus on the positive utilization of the SNS platform in order to increase benefit especially to the young generation. According to Ellison, NSC & Lampe (2007) the social network has numerous advantages not only in the educational landscape but also in the social and business world. Many companies have adapted the social media usage especially facebook and twitter. The social networking sites are no longer a leisure and hang-out platform but a necessity to the business world as they strive to remain relevant in the ever increasing competition. The social media is an important platform not only for social activities but as a platform for getting the current trends and news relevant to that particular user. The presence of the SNS has shifted the focus our focus from physical meeting in order to discuss social activities to online environment which foster easy communication and sharing of information among family and friends (Boyd & Ellison 2008, p.210). The capabilities of these social sites make it possible to send videos, photos and other multimedia content to the online environment. This capability is important in bonding people and knowing the current progress of friends (Holloway & Valentine 2003). This ability has also revolutionized the business environment, most companies have adopted the online platform in order to get their message across, and YouTube for instance is one of the leading video and photo dissemination mechanism, unlike the traditional platforms where the message or information relayed in the media was limited to a geographical location. Platforms such as YouTube have made it possible for an uploaded video or series of photos to reach unimaginable audience within a very short duration. In the business world, this is a real revolution and a cheap means of promoting their products (Hitchcock 2008, p.2364). As noted by Bruns (2008) the SNS has played an imperative role in the enhancement of education. Marketing for instance has improved with the need for creative content in the digital media. Most advertising videos in YouTube for instance attract varying attention from audience depending on the creativity and the content of the script. In marketing, being able to reach a large group of audience demands creativity and content quality. Without the social media, the marketing educational paradigm could not have been reoriented to meet the 21st century global demands. According to Hinduja & Patchin (2008, p.125) the internet potential and especially the SNS is yet to be exploited fully. As supported by Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20), the potential of the social network is immense especially in the educational landscape. In fact, the social network will potentially change the way in which the global education is conducted (Berk 2007). The capabilities of the Web 2.0 environment such as chats and video chatting capability may be exploited by the future educators to deliver content to students without necessarily having a physical class where the orthodox teaching process will take place (Anderson 2007 & Boase, Horrigan, Wellman, & Raine 2006). Summary and conclusion The authors of the article have emphasized on the importance of the SNS on our daily lives. They have succeeded in doing so by faulting the media and other social research on over-emphasizing on the shortcomings of the social media and ignoring the benefits of the Web 2.0 environment especially on the educational context. The authors pointed out on the importance of a holistic approach ways of analyzing and exploiting the SNS in order to fully exploit its potential. Increased media literacy and internet connection among the young generation is clearly aiding on the development of skills necessary in understanding and creating media content. More so, the SNS environment can be harnessed to improve on the educational system considering the fact that the SNS is not limited geographically and is rich in essential tools such as live chats which also includes live video chats and information sharing. Such tools are not only important in the educational aspect but also in the business world. This is evidenced by the fact that most businesses have adapted the social media platforms such as facebook, twitter, YouTube, Flikr, Myspace among others in their quest of improving their competitiveness. Lastly, the importance of the SNS environment cannot be over-emphasized if its potentials are harnessed and measures to curb the shortcomings that came with this technology integrated. References Anderson, P 2007, What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education a report for JISC Technology and Standards Watch. Bauman, S 2007, Cyberbullying: a Virtual Menace‟ paper presented at NCAB National Conference, November 2 – 4, Melbourne, Australia. Berk, LE 2007, Development through the lifespan, Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, Boston. Boase, J, Horrigan, JB, Wellman, B & Raine L 2006) The Strength of Internet Ties: The Internet and email aid users in maintaining their social networks and provide pathways to help when people face big decisions, Pew Internet & American Life Project, Washington. Boyd & Ellison 2008, Social Network Sites: Definition, History & Scholarship‟ in Journal of Computer- Mediated Communication vol.13,pp.210-230. Bruns, A 2008, Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond: From Production to Produsage, Peter Lang, New York. Campbell 2005, Cyber-bullying: An old problem in a new guise?‟ in Australian Journal of Guidance & Counseling, vol. 15,pp. 68-76. Collin, P, Rahilly, K, Richard, I & Third, A 2011, Literature Review: The-Benefits-of-Social-Networking-Services. Research Report.p.1-20. Ellison, NSC & Lampe, C 2007, The benefits of Facebook „„friends‟‟: Exploring the relationship between college students‟ use of online social networks & social capital‟ in Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication vol.12, no.3pp.:1143-1168. Hinduja & Patchin 2008, Social networking and identity construction: Personal information of adolescents on the Internet: A quantitative content analysis of MySpace‟ in Journal of Adolescence vol.31, no.1, pp.125-146. Hitchcock, J 2008, Public or private? A social cognitive exploratory study of privacy on social networking sites‟ Masters Abstracts International vol.46, no.5pp.2364. Holloway, SL & Valentine, G 2003, Cyberkids: Children in the Inforamtion Age, Routledge Falmer, London. The Allanah & Madeline Foundation 2009, Young People & Technology: A review of the current literature (2nd edition), The Alanah & Madeline Foundation, Sydney. Read More

The authors also recommend the need to harness the potential for intergenerational communication using the SNS in order to bridge which has seen the emergence of new patterns of communication and social connection among the young people. Harnessing the importance of the SNS is important to our education and society. Despite the current focus on the negatives of the SNS, the online platform is here to stay, as the authors point out, it is more beneficial to focus on ways of improving the online environment for the benefit of both the young and the old generation and also bridge the generational divide among these two groups (Ellison, NSC & Lampe 2007).

In order to gain real benefit from the social media, a more collaborative approach is needed among all the key stakeholders, government and educators alike. The negatives of the social media can be countered by having a proactive government which is not quick to diminish the significance of the SNS but rather protect it from potential abusers and selfish interest groups ready to exploit the limitation of this life changing platform. Importantly, this article acts as a benchmark for what is expected among all the key stakeholders in the industry.

Limitation of the article While the report focuses on the merits of Web 2.0 evolution, there are notable limitations of the report. Firstly, the SNS is a global interface which allows global communication, the Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.2) only focuses on a regional context, Australia to be specific. Whilst the article elaborates the benefits of the social media to the educational landscape, it is also limited in the sense that not all the aspects are covered. As an example, the SNS can be integrated into the current educational system in order to enhance learning delivery not only within the country but outside the country in order for Australian Universities to get international students without the hustle of travelling to Australia.

More so, integrating the capabilities of the SNS environment such as live chat and video chat can significantly reduce the overall cost of education since geographical limitation will be eliminated. These are some of the aspect that the authors of the document failed to put across. The main focus of the article was to fight the popular emphasis on the shortcomings of the SNS environment instead of countering the same with evidence and content that shows real benefit of the SNS especially to the educational landscape and overall social improvement within and outside Australia (Ellison, NSC & Lampe (2007).

Relevance of the paper to the “real” world The Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.20) report on the benefits of the social media opens our eyes to the unprecedented potential of the digital technology and tremendous positive impact that the SNS can have on our lives if its potentials are well exploited amidst criticism of the potential shortcomings of the Web 2.0 especially on the younger generation. It is noteworthy to realize that the potentials of the Web 2.0 supersede the risks associated with a free media platform such as cyber-bullying and privacy invasion.

Collin, Rahilly, Richard & Third (2011, p.4) report tries to re-emphasize on the critical role of the SNS in the educational as well as the social landscape. It also shades light on how the shortcomings of the technology can be overcome while maintaining focus on the positive utilization of the SNS platform in order to increase benefit especially to the young generation. According to Ellison, NSC & Lampe (2007) the social network has numerous advantages not only in the educational landscape but also in the social and business world.

Many companies have adapted the social media usage especially facebook and twitter. The social networking sites are no longer a leisure and hang-out platform but a necessity to the business world as they strive to remain relevant in the ever increasing competition. The social media is an important platform not only for social activities but as a platform for getting the current trends and news relevant to that particular user.

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