Social Networks: Helpful or Harmful

Social Networks: Helpful or Harmful?

The first computer was invented in 1939 and that changed the world forever. The invention of the computer set off a train reaction in the technological world. Soon after the Internet was created in the late 1960’s and many years after, the World Wide Web made its debut in 1993. Not long after these technological advancements, we saw the first sighting of a social networking site in 1994. From that, there was a boom of social networking sites like Hi-5, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, just to name a few. The whole purpose of these sites was to instantly connect us with friends and family all over. But does it ultimately connect or isolate us from one another? This is not an easily answered question because social networking sites connect us globally but they isolate us from everyday social interactions. Looking at the social impacts of social media sites, we find that there are more negative effects than positive effects if not used correctly. (Not a strong argument. Work on creating a firm and clear thesis)

Social networking has become such a big part of everyday life. Most people have smart phones, which makes it even easier to access social networks at anytime of the day in seconds. These sites, for example Facebook, provide instant messaging, blogging, photo posting and sharing etc. in one place making communication quick and simple. Social networking is advantageous to all generations more so with young people. With the help of social media, we can reconnect with those we may have lost touch with such as past colleagues, alum from school, and childhood friends. It also enables the sharing of news like graduations, engagements, weddings, and promotions instantly. Lastly, social networking enables us to see family and friends in real time by the touch of a button. As helpful as social media can be, there is still a downside.

Social networking isolates us from having face-to-face interactions with one another. We would much rather stay in the comfort of our homes and interact behind computer screens than to actually meet and practice social skills. Communication becomes harder as a higher percentage of communication is done non-verbally. Users may tend to spend hours on these sites, which impacts their performance at school, or work. At the University of Maryland, the International Center for Media and Public Agency conducted a study in which they found that most college students were unable