Social Networking

Social networking can be described as as interaction between groups of people who share a similar interest.  As a result of this, millions of people worldwide are part of a social network as they communicate with each other, with the most famous social networking site being Facebook.  In a way, social networking can be used in a corporate world.  For example, when a company needs to come up with a new pitch for something new, social networking would come in play.  The company would find a group of like minded employees to brainstorm ideas that would be useful.  Due to this, there would be less arguments and rejection of ideas between these like minded people and more positive outcomes and results because of social networking.

In a way, social networking and social networking sites can be used to benefit the society.  Take for example, a case in India involving Facebook being used to catch law breakers regarding traffic laws.  Facebook users were able to upload pictures of any violators, such as riding a motorcycle without a helmet, onto a Facebook page created by the traffic police.  The success of this is exemplified in the August 1, 2010 New York Times article written by Heather Timmons entitled "In India, Using Facebook to Catch Scofflaw Drivers".  Here, Timmons states how many people contribute to the Facebook page as "The online rap sheet was impressive. There are photos of people on motorcycles without helmets, cars stopped in crosswalks, drivers on cellphones, drivers in the middle of illegal turns and improperly parked vehicles."  Therefore, this shows how social networking can be used to better improve society as well as creating more law abiding citizen.

However, social networking does have its downfalls and its "dark sides" not many people are aware of.  In this day and age of technology, many people are using computers and cell phones for social networking.  As a result of this, people become isolated and ironically antisocial because of all this social networking usage.  As Hilary Stout explains in her April 30, 2010 new York Times article entitled "Antisocial Networking?", the question involving increased use of social networking is "whether the quality of their interactions is being diminished without the intimacy and emotional give and take of regular, extended face-to-face time."  This can show how people communicate less and less with each other personally and more and more with each other virtually, creating an antisocial behavior.

Throughout the years, social networking has definitely evolved from text messaging to "tweets".  In my opinion, it appears that it has reached the peak of its popularity and evolution.  Not only can you communicate with others over the computer, people are now able to tweet on the go on their mobile device, letting others know their current status.  The only way to improve on this is probably some form of telepathic update which would improve social networking with a simple thought.