Social Media & Networking - Boon or Bane?

A presentation on Social Networking - a boon or bane? The presentation takes a person through the history of social networking - how people interact today as compared to earlier times and mentions the social networks used by today's generation. Then it reviews the advantages and disadvantages of Social Networking and follows up with some Do's and Don'ts.

1. Social Media & Networking
Boon or Bane?

2. What is it?!
•SocialRelationorsocialinteraction,asdescribedinsocial
science,isanyrelationshipthatexistsbetweentwoormore
individuals.
•SocialNetworkisasocialstructuremadeupofasetofsocial
actors(suchasindividualsororganizations)andasetofthe
dyadic,i.e.two-waytiesbetweentheseactors.
•SocialNetworkingisthegroupingofindividualsintospecific
groupslikesmallcommunitiesorneighborhoodsubdivisions.
Althoughsocialnetworkingispossibleinperson,especiallyin
theworkspace,universities,andhighschools,itismost
popularonline.
•SocialNetworkingService(SNS)isaplatformtobuildsocial
networksorsocialrelationsamongpeoplewhoshare
interests,activities,backgroundsorreal-lifeconnections.
•SocialMediaistheinteractionamongpeopleinwhichthey
create,shareorexchangeinformationandideasinvirtual
communitiesandnetworks.
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3. A Brief History in Time
-Social Networks have been supported via computer-
mediated communication since early online services,
including Usenet, the ARPANET, ListServeand Bulletin
Board Services (BBS).
-Many prototypical features of today’s social networking
sites were also present in early web services such as
generalized online communities and forums.
-Focus was on bringing people together to interact with
each other through chat rooms.
-Users were encouraged to share personal information
and ideas via personal webpages by providing easy-to-
use publishing tools and free or inexpensive web space.
-User profiles became a central feature of social
3networking websites, allowing users to compile lists of
“friends” and search for other users with similar interests.
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5. Types of Social Networking
I.SocialNetworks–Thesearethemostpopularwayofsocial
networkingintheworldtoday.Servicesthatallowuserstoconnect
withotherpeopleofsimilarinterestsandbackground.Usuallythey
consistofauserprofile,variouswaystointeractwithotherusers,
abilitytosetupgroupsandmuchmore.Themostusedsocial
networksareFacebookandLinkedIn.
II.SocialMediaSharing–Servicesthatallowyoutouploadand
sharevariousmediasuchaspicturesandvideo.Mostservices
haveadditionalsocialfeaturessuchasprofiles,commenting,likes
ordislikes.Amajorityofthesesitesrunstrongrecommender
systemsandmakeextensiveuseofmachinelearning.Themost
popularareYouTube,FlickrandVimeo.
III.Microblogging–Socialnetworksfocusedonshortupdatesthatare
continuouslypushedouttoanyonesubscribedtoreceivetheupdatesorfollowers.
ThemostpopularservicesareTwitterandSinaWeiboofChina.
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6. IV.SocialNews–Servicesthatallowpeopletopostvariousnews
itemsorlinkstooutsidearticlesandthenallowsit’susersto“vote”or
“upvote”ontheitems.Thisvotingisthecoresocialaspectastheitem
withthemostvotesaredisplayedmostprominently.Hence,the
communitydecideswhichnewsitemsgetseenbymorepeople.The
mostpopularareDiggandReddit.
V.BookmarkingSites–Theseareservicesthatallowpeople
tosave,organizeandmanagelinkstovariouswebsitesand
resourcesaroundtheinternet.Theselinkscanthenbetagged
tomakethemeasytosearchandshare.Mostcommonlyused
areDelicious,StumbleUpon,PocketandFlipBoard.
VI.BlogCommunities&Forums–Onlineforumsallowmembersto
holdconversationsbypostingmessages.Therehavebeensites
whichhavebecomesocialnetworksforBlogsandforums.Themost
popularareTumblrandPinterest.
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7. PersonalizedSocialNetworking
Aformofsocialnetworkingmadefamousbyinstantmessagingapplications
onmobiledevices.InitiallyledbyBBM,thekindbecamewidespreadwhen
WhatsAppburstonthescene.Google’sHangoutsisusedforgroupchats
andvideoconferencing.Skypeisusedformakinginternetcallswhile
YammerisusedforOfficechats.
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AgreatpersonalephemeralappisSnapchatwhichovercomestheprivacy
issuesbydeletingyourphotoandvideomessagesafteraparticular
amountoftime,generallytenseconds.Foursquareisanotherunique
mobileappwhichclassifiesplacesinreal-timebasedontheirlocations.

8. The Internet Effect
WhysocialnetworkingisexplosiveontheWeb?
TheInternetisaglobalchanneluniquelypropositionedformass
communicationbetweenpeoplelivingindifferentpartsofthe
world.
i.Reach–TheInternethasthepotentialtoreacheveryone
connectedtothewebinjustamatterofhours,andona
massivescale.CharlieSheenhad900,000followersinjust
under24hours
ii.SimultaneityofReception–Theabilitytotransmitmessages
toyouraudienceatthesamepointoftimeasreceivinga
queryorrequest.
iii.Anonymity–It’stheonlyplaceonEarthwherethesenderand
thereceivercanremaintrulyanonymousinaheterogeneous
groupofpeople.
iv.DualOutreach–TheInternetcanbeadaptedforbothnarrow
andmassaudiencedependingontheindividual’sneeds.You
cansendaprivatetextorbroadcastamessagetothewhole
world.
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9. Mobile Meets Social
WhyMobileisbetterforSocialNetworking?
•Smartphones:Thegrowingubiquityofcellphones,
especiallytheriseofsmartphones,hasmadesocial
networkingjustafingertapaway.
•Location-free:Themainreasonforsocialnetworking
growthonthemobileplatformisitsavailabilityonthe
go.Peoplecannowconnecttothewebwherever
theywantandnotjustinthecomfortoftheirhomes
orattheoffice.
•Anytime:Anothermajoradvantageforsocial
networkingonmobileisthatitsavailablewhenever
youwantandnotjustwhileyou’resittingona
computer.
•Cross-Platform:Sincesocialnetworkingisinternet
enabled,itdoesn’tmatterwhetheranappexistsor
not.Itworksonallmobiledevicesirrespectiveofthe
versionoroperatingsystem.
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10. Social Benefits to Mankind
GovernmentApplications
•Quickandeasywayforthegovernmenttogetpublicopinion.
•NASAhasalsotakenadvantageofafewsocialnetworkingtools,
includingTwitterandFlickrtoaidtheReviewofU.S.HumanSpace
FlightPlansCommittee
•GovernmentalsousessocialmediatoinformofEarthquakesbefore
theyhappen,ex-Whena5.9-magnitudeearthquakeshookthe
Northeastin2011,manyNewYorkerslearnedaboutitonTwitter-
secondsbeforetheshakingactuallystarted.
BusinessApplications
•Socialnetworksconnectpeopleatlowcost;thiscanbebeneficial
forentrepreneursandsmallbusinesseslookingtoexpandtheircontact
bases.
•Companiescanalsousesocialnetworksforadvertisingintheformof
bannersandtext
•Brandnetworkingisanewwaytocapitalizeonsocialtrendsasa
marketingtool
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11. Datingapplications
•Manysocialnetworksprovideanonlineenvironmentforpeopleto
communicateandexchangepersonalinformationfordating
purposes.
•Socialnetworksdonotnecessarilyhavetobefordating;many
userssimplyuseitforkeepingintouchwithfriends,andcolleagues
•However,animportantdifferencebetweensocialnetworksand
onlinedatingservicesisthefactthatonlinedatingsitesusually
requireafee,wheresocialnetworksarefree.
•ThenumberofInternetusersintheUnitedStatesthatvisitonline
datingsiteshasfallenfromapeakof21%in2003to10%in2006
Educationalapplications
•TheNationalSchoolBrandsAssociationreportsthatalmost60%ofstudents
whousesocialnetworkingtalkabouteducationaltopicsonline,andmorethan
50%specificallyaboutschoolwork.
•Socialnetworksarealsoemergingasonlineyearbooks,bothpublicandprivate.
•Sitesarebeingbuilttofosterrelationshipsthatincludeeducationalblogs,e-
portfolios,formalandadhoccommunities,aswellascommunication.
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12. Medical&HealthApplications
•Anewtrendisemergingwithsocialnetworkscreatedtohelpitsmemberswith
variousphysicalandmentalailments.
•Foralcoholicsandaddicts,SoberCirclegivespeopleinrecoverytheabilityto
communicatewithoneanotherandstrengthentheirrecoverythroughthe
encouragementofotherswhocanrelatetotheirsituation.
•Somesocialnetworksaimtoencouragehealthylifestylesintheirusers.
Social&PoliticalApplications
•Socialnetworkingsiteshaverecentlybeenofimmensevaluein
heraldingsocialandpoliticalmovements.
•Activistshavecreditedsocialnetworkingsiteswithprovidinga
platformforplanningprotestandsharingnews.
•Bypresentingaplatformforthousandsofpeopletoinstantaneously
sharevideosofeventsfeaturingbrutality,socialnetworkingcanbea
vitaltoolinstartingrevolutionsonalargescale.
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13. Marketing
•SocialMediaMarketingisatrialanderrorbusiness,so
itwouldbeadvisabletoputintoplaceexperiments
anddoalotofresearchbeforeputtingallofyoureggs
intotheTwitterbasket!
•AsuccessstoryisDellandtheirrecentInternet
Marketingstrategy.Theiroutletsitesellsrefurbished
PCs,andtheypostdetailsaboutthenewestoneson
theirTwitterfeed.Thecompanyhasgenerated
$6.5millioninrevenuefromthisventure.
Entertainment
•Goinghandinhandwiththe‘social’elementofSocialNetworking,
peoplesometimesgoonpurelyforentertainmentpurposes.
•ThenewestcrazeisonFacebook,whereallthegameapplications
thathaveappearedoverthelastcoupleofyears.Themostpopular
oftheseisagamecalledFarmvillewhichhasmanagedtoacquire
72.9MILLIONuserspermonth.
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14. Other Advantages
•SocialNetworkingcanbeapowerfulengineforjob
searches.
•Socialnetworkingcanbeusedtocounteractterrorismand
organizedcrime
•Socialnetworkingcanbeusedtomemorializeandhonor
deadpersonstokeepmemoriesandhistorythatwould
otherwisefadealive.
•Socialnetworkingcanbeusedtogetdifficultpersonal
issuesoutoftheclosetinfrontofotherssotheycanbe
examinedandevaluated,andpeopleintroublecangarner
supportfromtheirfriends.
•Socialnetworkingcanprovideanextremelyaccessible
mediumforselfexpressiontothosewithaccessto
computertechnology.
•ThroughSocialNetworking,studentscanestablishcontact
withentrepreneurs,corporatepeopleandcangainvaluable
informationfromthem.
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15. Man’s “Social” Misfortune
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PrivacyConcerns
•Thinkoncebeforeyoupublishsomethingonline.
•ThesegiverisetoissueslikeCyberbullyingor
Internetharassment.
•Scientistsconsiderinternetprivacy(orthelackofit)
oneoftoday'sserioussocialissues.
•Sociologistsbelievethereisaneedforlegislation
concerningsocialnetworkingprivacy.
•Thelawswouldhelpbutpublicawarenessisalso
veryimportant.
•Thequestionis-Hasitbecomenecessaryto
constantlybeonguard?

16. Cyber Bullying
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•Cyberbulliespostdamaginginformationon
blogsorwebsites.
•Theymightstealaclassmate'sonlinename
andspreadliesorwritehatefulcomments
aboutthem.
•Beingembarrassedhasadetrimentaleffect
onaperson'sself-esteem.
•Astorywasoninternetwherestalking-type
emailsweresenttoa16-yearold,who
endedupcommittingsuicide.
•Atleastadozensuicideshavebeenlinked
tointernetharassmentinjustthelastfew
years.
•PublishedinformationfromtheNational
CrimePreventionCouncilindicatesthathalf
ofallAmericanteensarebulliedonline.
CyberBullying,isaformofharassmentthat
makesuseofthelatestelectronictechnology.
Primarilytheharassmentoccursontheweb,
buttoday'ssmartphonesarebeingusedto
harasspeople,too.

17. Disinformation on Social Sites
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Manypeopleareconfusedbywhattheysee
orreadonsocialnetworkslikeFacebookand
mediasites.
•Howtoknowthetruth?
•Howtospottheliar?
Theanswer:
•TobeSkeptical
•Whenseeastory,lookformorereliable
sources.
•Non-Journalisticsourcesshouldhave
somekindofverifiablecredentials.
ThinkbeforeClick!
•ApostonFacebookthatseemsincredible,
Googlebeforeyouclick!
•Somepostsaredesignedtosendviruses
tothesystemyouareworkingon.

18. Psychological Ill-Effects
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•Withincreasingpopularity,peoplehavebeen
spendinganexcessiveamountoftimeonthe
socialnetworkingsites.AndInternetaddictionhas
becomeanactualclinicaldisorder.
•SiteslikeFacebookandTwittermayprovide
peoplewithafalsesenseofconnectionthat
ultimatelyincreaseslonelinessinpeopleandcan
fosterfeelingsofsensitivitytodisconnection.
•Networkingactivitiesthatdonotfacilitateface-to-
faceinteractionstendtoerodetrustand
negativelyaffectsubject’swellbeing.
•Highonlineinteractionleadstolossofsocialskills.
•Asizeableportionoftheonlinepopulation(about
28%)doeenduphavinganegativeexperience,
someleavingscarsforlife.

19. Other Disadvantages
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•Negativeimpactonemployability–Peoplemayenduplosingjobs
becauseofexposinginappropriatecontent
•Trolling–defacementofdeceasedperson(s)tributepages,name
calling,playingonlinepranksonvolatileindividuals
•Workers’Rights–Thetypesofspeechonsocialnetworkswhichthe
workersareprotectedfrombeingfiredfor.
•VirtualIdentitySuicide–Duetotheprivacyissuesandnegative
aspectsofsocialnetworks,peopledecidetokilltheironline
identitiesandmaintaincompleteabstinence.
•Break-ups–SitessuchasFacebookareincreasinglybecoming
populartoolsforendingrelationshipsorblockingtheother
individual
•ThedarksideofSocialNetworkingService(SNS)usageiscalled
“SocialOverload”,whichiscausebytheextentofusage,numberof
friends,subjectivesocialsupportforms,andtypeofrelationship
(online-onlyvsofflinefriends)whileageonlyhasanindirecteffect.

20. Do’s & Don’ts on Social Networks
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21. Thank You
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