A Social Networking Service - Essay Example

? Social Networks Introduction Social networks are popular leisure of modern times. A social networking service is an online service that serves as a platform or as a site that is used to bring creation of social relations among people who may share something in common. This may include similar interests, background and even having an interest in the same activity. A social service usually contains a representation of an individual that often includes the name, age, social life, social links and also her information. Though there is information present in the profile of an individual, it may be false information that is portrayed. Social services are mostly services that are web-based and this makes it easier to interact over the internet. They provide services that are web-based such as the ability to communicate through emails and also through instant messaging that is also present in the cell phones (Walz and University of Hartford, n. p.). Social networking sites enable people to be able to communicate and give out ideas, share activities and other information, share events and also find company with someone whom there is the availability of common interests. Social networks are mostly common among the younger generation since it is them who have the knowledge and have the ability to change in accordance to how technology changes (Walz and University of Hartford, n. p.). This means that those who communicate and interact on social networks should have a certain level of trust in order to interact with an individual who is on the other end of the internet service. Most of the people who interact on social networks are people who have not yet met physically, yet there is a tendency to share information with the other individual. The purpose of this essay is to show the relationship between social networking networks and the effect that the social networking networks have on relationships and people in general (Scott, n. p.).  Literature Review and Methods The main methods that have been used in this research include questioners and also conducting interviews. Even though social networks have been known to be of many advantages, they do carry disadvantages that may come to affect users in one way or another. The main advantages are that they are the cause for people to connect and also share their ideas across the internet. Social networking sites such as face book provide the platform for people to share interests and connect even though there is little physical proof that the other person exists. Most of the disadvantages of social networking sites include cyber bullying, wastage o time and also the invasion of privacy (Scott, n. p.). Social networking has become popular particularly to the younger generation, and this has come to affect youngsters at school. It has become a distraction to those in school, and the falling grades of students are proof that the social networking sites have had adverse effects on school work. One of the major disadvantages that have come at this time has been the inability for people to maintain a healthy social and interactive life because social networking sites have taken up most of the time. The main point discussed here is that social networking has affected the social life of people and technology has taken people as its slaves. Network individualism has brought about more isolation instead of the ability for people to have more meaningful relationships. Social networking has brought about the disruption of numerous relationships, and many people have fallen victim to the negative consequences that are associated with social networking (Scott, n. p.).  Descriptive Analysis Individual may have thousands of friends on say face book; however, people with whom one can relate to and can claim to know physically and well can be reduced to a number of hundreds. This means that the real number of people with whom one can relate to on social networking networks is a very small number. This is proof to show that people have turned to social networking sites to create new relationships with people that they barely know. Social networking may be viewed interaction venue; social networking sites can be seen as the inability for people to make real friends and communicate in the real world. It is a reflection of how society has changed, and this is a change that can be viewed negatively. Social networking has a negative influence of the lives of many people and has come to be viewed as something that is essential and is needed in order for individuals to survive (Walz & University of Hartford, 2008). Years ago, before the formation of these social networking sites, there was the ability for people to physically interact, take a walk together, write letters and also visit people. In today’s modern times, people have been unable to physically interact. They have turned to social networking sites to maintain their social life. This has affected. The main purpose of creating the social networking sites in the first place was so that relationships can be formed and individual existing can continue to prosper (Cross and Parker, n. p.).  Social networking sites have taken away the life of school children, the working class and family. This only shows how the social networking community has submerged the lives of many individuals and has reduced them to become slaves of technology. Social networking cannot take all the blame though. All this has resulted from the ability for technology to develop. Because of technology, there has been an increase in the usage of technological devices. To answer the question, “Has technology increased physical separation between individuals and also whether physical separation indicates a negative relationship between individuals”, attention can be focused to a time where technology did not exist. When technology did not exist, there was the ability for people to meet at social places such as fields, at the homes of friends and also there was the possibility for people to make friends through interaction. Fast forward to today’s social life, people have become addicted to their gadgets and in particular the cell phones. Technology has become advanced to the point that there is the presence of gadgets that have the ability to email, access the internet, instant messaging, and are portable. These characteristics have made people unable to have a meaningful relationship with each other because they are so busy going about their work and also messaging others. It is not surprising to see people who call each other as friends meeting after a long time. Technology has taken over the social lives of people so much that there is no time for people to meet (Kilduff and Tsai, n. p.). Social networking has changed the way people approach relationships. It has replaced the art of giving roses to people with exchanging electronic gifts and photographs. Social networks have brought about the general idea that people can survive without the company of others other than their technological gadgets. People have come to underestimate the meaning of intimacy, and this is an important factor that holds every relationship. Technology has come to bring about then confusion that many have come to take into their lives. People have come to ignore the importance of real intimacy that is needed in relationships and have come to embrace the social media intimacy. This is one reason as to why relationships have come to collapse. The populace has become influenced by the idea that connecting with people over the internet that they do not see the importance of other people being into their lives. People have spent so much time online that they come to see that relationships that accrue from online sites seem to be more intense and more complete (Cross and Parker, n. p.).  Technology and social sites have brought the notion that people can live without others, but they cannot live without technology. If this goes on for the better part of people’s lives, then there will be a risk of alienating people from life. People will be reduced to making technology their life. Technology has proven to bring about the need for people to take their social lives and replace them with the social networking lives. Social media intimacy seems to be a more favored pastime than experiencing the real intimacy (Kilduff and Tsai, n. p.). Social networking sites have become a part of the day to day lives of people. They have become the routine, and this goes on to show how there has been a major influence. Social media has come to filter the social life of people with online chats and conversations. Relationships have become complicated to the point that people prefer social networking. Being single seems to be a more favored option since people are becoming jealous over who is adding who when it comes to social networking. Arguments have arisen as to who should interact with whom and who should not. People have begun to evolve past the traditional relationships and have embraced the other forms of relationships that do not seem to bring any advantage in terms of relationships (Cross and Parker, n. p.).  Conclusion It is true that people have become slaves to social networking sites. People have come to embrace technology more than they embrace their social lives. This has led to the making of today’s lives to become more and more digital, and as such it has brought about the destruction of people’s lives. It has come to be a fact; that social media is influencing and hurting the relationships of many people. Social media seems to have been designed for people of a younger age, those who do not have commitments with anyone. Individuals live in the world filled with more cyber influence than real life meetings and interactions. Some social networking sites have come to turn people against each other, and this is proving to be more of a negative influence that the much needed positive (Kilduff and Tsai, n. p.). Works Cited Cross, R. L., and A. Parker. The Hidden Power of Social Networks: Understanding how Work Really Gets Done in Organizations. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. 2004. Print. Kilduff, M., and W. Tsai. Social Networks and Organizations. Los Angeles: Sage. 2003. Print. Scott, J. Social Network Analysis: A Handbook. London: SAGE. 2001. Print. Walz, L. O., and University of Hartford. (2008). The Relationship between College Students' Use of Social Networking Sites and Their Sense of Belonging. West Hartford, CT: University of Hartford. 2008. Print. Read More