Social Networking Web Site
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Institution
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Introduction
In recent times, the world has witnessed significant evolution of modern media practices from the traditional forms. The key difference between the two forms of media practices according to Boyd & Ellison, (2007) being the level of interactivity and participation. Development of high technology in the modern world has taken the society into a new age of digitalization in which all aspects of our lives are stretched out across a variety of media where everyone contributes to the shaping up of such media. Much of this media according to Haythornthwaite, (2005) is related to or exists in the online world and/or the internet. The use of internet has become part of our daily lives for reasons that are very obvious for instance it is cheaper, faster, and efficient way of communication. For these reasons, the internet has become increasing popular as a means of communication in the modern world, some of the social networking sites that are found online include among others MySpace, Twitter andFace book. The emergence of these social networking sites has obviously had an impact on the society. The impacts that have emanated from social networking sites are both negative and positive, nonetheless, experts argue that there are more positive than negative influences that social networking provides to the society particularly in regard to relationships. The aim of this study is to evaluate the positive impacts of social networking on social relationships in the modern world.
Discussion
Boyd and Ellison, (2007) describes a social networking site as a website in which persons create their profile online, that describe their interests and sometimes who they are. As such, social networking enables individuals with shared interest to connect and exchange views such as economic, social, or political views. It is evident from the characteristics of social networking sites that they play a very important role in enhancing social interaction as well as communication hence improving relationships. The social networking sites are often used to establish new relationships as well as to communicate with the existing friends and those that we share interests.
Social Networking sites enhance social relationships by create a sense unity among individuals who share similar interest. Through these groups found in the social networking sites individuals in the group develop a sense of belonging and unity to a particular group out there in instances where such a person felt isolated due to his or her inability to associate with other people in the local community (Lampe et al, 2007). This may be the scenario in areas where the population is small making it very difficult to find other individual with similar interests. Social networking sites would provide a better avenue to address such predicaments by breaking the location barriers and opening up communication links with other individuals outside a given locality with similar interests.
Where mobility is a problem, social networking sites provides an opportunity to communicate with whoever a person would want to keep in touch with, without having to move an inch. In light of the above, individual with physical disabilities or even elderly people who may not be able to move from one place to another for purposes of keeping in touch with their loved ones of existing relations may comfortably utilize the existing social networking sites without any kind on strain. Some social networking site such as face book and my space encourages participation and interactions (Granovetter, 2000). These sites encourage interaction as well as participation through creating groups of individuals who share similar interests, the group members share information that they deem important and as such the relationship among group members continue to develop.
Conclusion
Indeed, there are numerous benefits that emanate from social networking sites especially in boosting social relationships in the modern society. Since most social networking sites are dependent on participation and constant interactions they become an avenue through which users are able to maintain constant and strong relationships regardless of distance, disability, or even social standings. It goes without saying that the existence of social networking sites enables individual across the world to be able to create new connection with other individuals, present themselves in the social networking sites, and be able to define their social networks (Haythornthwaite, 2005). These social networking sites may be used to bring positive impacts in a number of contexts such as romantic relationship, working relationship, linking individuals with share interests such as politics, football, and music among other interests. These networks may therefore be used as an important tool for purposes of creating, maintaining and developing relationships without having to worry about the distance between or among such individuals.
References
Boyd, D., & Ellison, N. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 34-57.
Haythornthwaite, C. (2005). Social networks and Internet connectivity effects. Information, Communication, & Society, 8 (2), 125-147.
Granovetter, S. (2000). The strength of weak ties: A network theory revisited. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Lampe, C., et al. (2007). A familiar Face book: Profile elements as signals in an online social network. New York: ACM Press.
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