Internet & Facebook Use & Abuse
Internet Use and Abuse 1. Statement of the Problem
Technology has advanced greatly in the last 20 years. The greatest advancement was the way we communicate. The Internet and Cell-phones have changed the way information is shared, the way we communicate and the way many of us spend our days. I find this all very interesting. I am now 23 and I have witnessed the world change from, house phones and letters, to the Internet and cell-phones. I remember when my family got caller ID for our home phone and I remember when the Internet was slow and nothing but simple text filled websites. I was always good with computer and electronics, even as a kid, my parents could never understand them and I had no problem.
As I got into high school, I started using the Internet more, especially for communication, and was introduced to social networks such as Facebook. Now fast-forward to today and the Internet and my smartphone are the only ways I communicate. Facebook has become a huge company with over 800 million users (Facebook 2011). and I have a smartphone that enables me to look up information instantly almost anywhere. I realize now that I cannot go without these technologies and I know that it is the same for many, if not most people. I also realize that services such as Facebook are changing the way we interact and I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing. All of my experiences and observations have led me to wonder a few questions. My first question is whether the Internet is helping us or hurting us? My second question is whether the use of the Internet and cell-phones is making us more connected or less?
2. Review of Literature
I found multiple studies on the use and abuse of the Internet and the included services it provides. Some of these studies were outdated, not because they were over 10 years old but because the Internet and its associated culture changes at an alarming rate. The most recent professional journal article was written in
Technology has advanced greatly in the last 20 years. The greatest advancement was the way we communicate. The Internet and Cell-phones have changed the way information is shared, the way we communicate and the way many of us spend our days. I find this all very interesting. I am now 23 and I have witnessed the world change from, house phones and letters, to the Internet and cell-phones. I remember when my family got caller ID for our home phone and I remember when the Internet was slow and nothing but simple text filled websites. I was always good with computer and electronics, even as a kid, my parents could never understand them and I had no problem.
As I got into high school, I started using the Internet more, especially for communication, and was introduced to social networks such as Facebook. Now fast-forward to today and the Internet and my smartphone are the only ways I communicate. Facebook has become a huge company with over 800 million users (Facebook 2011). and I have a smartphone that enables me to look up information instantly almost anywhere. I realize now that I cannot go without these technologies and I know that it is the same for many, if not most people. I also realize that services such as Facebook are changing the way we interact and I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing. All of my experiences and observations have led me to wonder a few questions. My first question is whether the Internet is helping us or hurting us? My second question is whether the use of the Internet and cell-phones is making us more connected or less?
2. Review of Literature
I found multiple studies on the use and abuse of the Internet and the included services it provides. Some of these studies were outdated, not because they were over 10 years old but because the Internet and its associated culture changes at an alarming rate. The most recent professional journal article was written in
Bibliography: Sheldon, Kennon M., Neetu Abad, and Christian Hinsch. "A Two-Process View Of Facebook Use And Relatedness Need-Satisfaction: Disconnection Drives Use, And Connection Rewards It." Journal Of Personality & Social Psychology 100.4 (2011): 766-775. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. Weinstein, Aviv Malkiel. "Computer And Video Game Addiction—A Comparison Between Game Users And Non-Game Users." American Journal Of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 36.5 (2010): 268-276. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. Cristina Caballo, et al. "Problematic Internet And Cell-Phone Use: Psychological, Behavioral, And Health Correlates." Addiction Research & Theory 15.3 (2007): 309-320. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. Chau, Clement. "Youtube As A Participatory Culture." New Directions For Youth Development 2010.128 (2010): 65-74. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 1 Dec. 2011 "Statistics of Facebook." Facebook. n.p., 2011. Web. 12/8/11. <http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics>. Cheredar, Tom. "Google CEO: 550K Android devices activated per day." Venture Beat. n.p., 7/14/11. Web. 12/8/11. <http://venturebeat.com/2011/07/14/550000-android-devices-activated-per-day/>.