Social Networking

The idea of networking has always been relatively simple- meet new people in a particular gathering and exchange ideas and contact information to, in most cases, go further in life- either in terms of a career or education. With the advent of Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube, MySpace, LinkedIn, forums, messengers, and so many more mediums, networking has moved away from tangible places, and have become more instantaneous- thus the beginnings of social networking. It truly is a remarkable, but extremely terrifying, thing.

We, as students, use social network sites like Facebook to meet new and old people, to exchange ideas of particular topics, create meet ups and events to see each other or an entire group of people, and help one another learn more about school, jobs, and life. We use Instagram and SnapChat to send each other photos, we use LinkedIn to meet potential employers (and employees)- we are ALL connected to these social mediums. As a recruiter states, "Social networking technology is absolutely the best thing to happen to recruiting — ever." Social media even won a presidency- "...the Obama campaign did not invent anything completely new. Instead, by bolting together social networking applications under the banner of a movement, they created an unforeseen force to raise money, organize locally, fight smear campaigns and get out the vote that helped them...". Social media has become a substantial norm in our every day lives. 

However, we see drawbacks to social media as well. We tend to be come TOO connected to these things, oftentimes sacrificing actually meeting new people and going out (and just overall being a normal person), and waste away with our social mediums. Many of these sites require what should be considered pretty personal information. Facebook, for instance, asks us our addresses, phone numbers, full name, religion, etc. And this causes scams to occur ALL the time. Many times they'll get reported, many other times, they won't. And that's scary. According to Legal studies Professor Andrea Matwyshyn, “The way privacy has traditionally been defined is being challenged" - which is completely true. Privacy takes on another level when it comes to social networking sites, and these companies have to be on top of their game, or millions of people's information could be leaked. 

"Leaving 'Friendprints': How Online Social Networks Are Redefining Privacy and Personal Security - Knowledge@Wharton." Web. 4 Oct. 2014. <http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/leaving-friendprints-how-online-social-networks-are-redefining-privacy-and-personal-security>.






Langfitt, Frank. "Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting." NPR. Web. 7 Oct. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf>.






Carr, David. "Obama's Personal LinkedIn." The New York Times. The New York Times, 9 Nov. 2008. Web. 7 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/media/10carr.html>.