Pros and Cons of Social Networking

2009-09-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

One of the most often heard arguments for the revoultion in information access that the internet has established is that the answer to a question is at the tip of the inquirer's fingertips. Say that upon meeting an interesting person from Tunisia you decide to find out more about the culture and culinary tradition so that you can wow them at the next dinner party. Istead of having to drudge to the library and research culinary delights from the African continent and taking the time to then find a how to book, you can simply google "Tunisian delicacy" and have thousands of links in a matter of seconds depending on connection speed. Instantaneous aptly describes the speed at which a curiosity is sated. On the other hand, there is the argument people used against fast food restaurants when they began taking over in populaty for the average Americans. That is, not only will the portion be unsubstantial, but that the means by which it was attained will leave the individual either wanting more and feeling unsatisfied or feeling full beyond comfort.
That access of information has of recent taken a backseat to the larger issue of social networking. Just as the phone revolutionized the way peole can communicate over distances, the internet has taken that improvement and exponentially enhanced the readth and depth of what networking can be . For this, addictive has been used to describe this phenomena of which social networking sites like myspace, facebook, and xanga are at the vanguard. These sites act as an outlet for the need people have to see themselves through the mirror of others. The opinion of others and the percieved image that they have of themselves . One of the greatest detriment I see, aside from an inability to walk without a cellphone in hand or spend a week without a computer, is the need for approval that stems from being in such close virtual proximity to others. If you saw a movie without prompt from others, immediately fo to rottentomatoes.com to see what others thought about it. If you thing your hot or your just not sure, hurry and check out hotornot.com. If you're social when you like to be but that kid you see once in a while says that your antisocial, the best thing to do is hop online and request several hundred strangers to be friends with you online.
Are these sites a continuation of the socialiazation. Do they infact expand upon a pre-existing social network predicated on pre-esisting social skills? Or, does looking at a picture and clicking on a box with sweaty palms that fear the written word of rejection lead to an arrested development?

Social Networking Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of Social Networking