The internet is all around us every time we look we have new ways to access the web. We come in contact with internet at least everyday many times more than once a day. We can access the internet on our laptops, desktops, cell phones, iPods, iPads, and many other devices with just a tap/click on a button. The internet was such a great establishment and many cannot go a day without using the web in one way or another. The internet has many uses which include checking emails, downloading music, shopping, video chatting, researching material, playing games, checking the weather, sports, or even just surfing the web but most of all people use the internet for social networks.
Social Networks are becoming more and more popular every day. It’s almost rare that you come in contact with someone that is not a part of one of the many social networks out today. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter are some of the most popular social networks we use today. It’s hard for me to get on internet without checking my Twitter or Facebook to post a status or check out new pictures, I usually don’t go a day without visiting one of the many social networks.
There are pros with every social network. Social Networks are very beneficial to those who choose to use it the right way. We as users get to network with several people to find jobs or to just reconnect with friends from grade school. I know without social networks I would not be able to keep in contact with as many friends as I do now. With the use of social networks I am also able to meet and network with someone that may live half way around the world and that is amazing to me. I also tend to find out about a lot of worldwide and local news threw social networks. Social networks spreading news so quickly is remarkable; the structure of social networks and the process that distributes news were not designed for this purpose (Doer et al., 2012). If it wasn’t for Twitter and Facebook I wouldn’t know half the things that are going on in the world today.
There are also cons that come into play with social networks that have some people hesitant to join some social networks. Growing up my mom had restrictions on me joining certain social networks because everything is not always what it appears to be. Bullying has become a universal problem with social networks and has even cause deaths. People don’t always appear to be who they say they are on social networks. Anyone can make an account and appear to be someone they aren’t. Also once you put something out on the internet for someone to see it’s out there, there is no going back and deleting it because it will still remain on the internet. Many people don’t think about things they post on social networks but you never know who’s on the other side of the computer reading what you post or looking at pictures you post. Social networks are harmful and beneficial all at the same time it just depends on how one intends on using the social network.
Almost every social network has the option to make your profile private or public. When one chooses to make their profile private who is to say who can view your profile. Your profile maybe private but when there’s a will there’s a way to get around everything. I know I have all of my social networks set to private but I don’t choose to post or upload I wouldn’t want my future boss to read. I agree 100% that if you post something online it is open for the world to see. I know that everyone has at one point in their life typed their name in Google just to see what might come up. I