Social Networks: Opening Statement

Are online social networks (Facebook, etc.) overall more harmful or more beneficial to society?
     
     Social networking are harmful to our society. Social networking means sitting in front of the computer for hours and hours, connecting with people. Why is this considered more beneficial? Children are so used to social networking that they have forgotten that they  could spent time interacting with people face-to-face. Social networking may allow people to create new relationships with others and reconnect with family and friends. Even improving communication skills. Is it true that it is really improving communication skills? Communication means talking to people face to face. Talking on the computer will not help you communicate with others in real life. We are not practicing when we speak behind the screens. The real way to practice your communication skills is talking to people face to face and getting the time to know more about them in perso7n. Social networking has entice people to spend more time on the computer rather than doing something more productive. "Teens spend an average of nine hours per week on social networking sites." If social networking expands even more, teens will spend even more time on the computer and spending less time interacting with others in person.
    
      Even though social networking sites allow people to message each other, posting blogs about themselves, uploading pictures, and etc. It doesn't mean that others won't get their hands on these information that you posted. Some of these information can even be used against you. Even though you might have deleted information that you have posted, people have ways to retrieve it. Information posted can lead others to stalk your personal life and steal your identity. Even though the information that people post might seem real to you, they might be hiding their real identity. Social networking have no way to verify who they claim to be. Is this really safe. Even though we get to meet people in using social networking, they might not be the person that we think they would be. You will have no idea if they are telling the truth and who they really are. Without knowing the person that you are communicating with, it leads people to be in danger. 


     Social networking has allowed cyber-bullying to happen. It is when people bully you online instead of in person. This is a real problem because at times you might not know who is sending these hate messages to you. It will let a person feel unconscious about their safety and leaving them in danger in public. Cyber-bullying makes it easier for people to bully an individual because the victim might not know who you are. "A 2009 study found that 17.3% of middle school students have been victims of cyber-bullying. Victims often experience a drop in grades, decreasing self-esteem, and other symptoms of depression." In fact, it has also caused others to suicide because they feel insecure about themselves. Does this mean that social networks are beneficial, when in fact it means that people have a chance of hurting others? It has lead others to have brain disorders and even feel bad about the,selves. 


     In conclusion, social networks are note beneficial to our society. It means less time socializing with people face-to-face and spending less time with family and friends. It also leads people to feel insecure and letting themselves out in the open being bullied by others. It has let cyber-bullying causing people to feel insecure about themselves. 


Cites:
http://socialnetworking.procon.org/