Social Networking: the Future?
INTRODUCTION
This paper will examine social networking as an effective means of communication amongst the youth of South Africa. This essay will look at the benefits of social networking and how the internet is the most popular way of social networking. People tend to think that social networking is for younger people, but this paper will look at how the adult world has also discovered and appreciated the world of socialising online. Social Networking is a nice form of entertainment, great for meeting people with similar interests, and can be a very effective business technique for entrepreneurs, writers, actors, musicians or artists. However, research has shown that social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred. This essay concludes on a positive note, as on most of us have hobbies, or things that we are keenly interested in such as books, television, video games or movies. Social networks allow us to reach out to others that have the same interests.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
WHAT IS SOCIAL NETWORKING?
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighbourhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about cooking, golfing, gardening, developing friendships or professional alliances, finding employment, business-to-business marketing and even groups sharing information about the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The topics and interests are as varied and rich as the story of our world
This paper will examine social networking as an effective means of communication amongst the youth of South Africa. This essay will look at the benefits of social networking and how the internet is the most popular way of social networking. People tend to think that social networking is for younger people, but this paper will look at how the adult world has also discovered and appreciated the world of socialising online. Social Networking is a nice form of entertainment, great for meeting people with similar interests, and can be a very effective business technique for entrepreneurs, writers, actors, musicians or artists. However, research has shown that social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred. This essay concludes on a positive note, as on most of us have hobbies, or things that we are keenly interested in such as books, television, video games or movies. Social networks allow us to reach out to others that have the same interests.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
WHAT IS SOCIAL NETWORKING?
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighbourhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about cooking, golfing, gardening, developing friendships or professional alliances, finding employment, business-to-business marketing and even groups sharing information about the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The topics and interests are as varied and rich as the story of our world
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