Chapter 4 Social Networking

Social networking is not a new phenomenon. We have been engaging in social networks our entire lives. We start with our family, classmates, and associates at work. Now that the internet has expanded its usefulness, there are many way to engage in social networking like never before. We can connect with people around the world and share information with others that have similar interests. " Social networking sites use members' profiles s hubs for members' personal networks"(Shelly, Napier, Rivers 2010).

The profiles tell people who we are and what we are interested in.By connecting through social networking sites we can learn information from others as well as sharing valuable information. .By joining groups, members can post blogs and reply to others. Building networks takes time but can be very rewarding. When used in business it helps connect buyers with sellers and allows one of the most important things for business, that being feedback.


There is a downside to social media. Sometimes we allow ourselves to divulge to much information and social networking sites, which are usually free, feed off our tendencies. Does social networking cause us to give up some of our privacy?
"According to Consumer Reports' 2010 State of the Net analysis more than half of social network users share private information about themselves online, opening themselves up to a variety of online dangers. The key findings of the report include the following:

• 25 percent of households with a Facebook account don't use the site's privacy controls or weren't aware of them.
  
• 40 percent of social network users posted their full date of birth online, opening themselves up to identity theft.
  
• 9 percent of social network users dealt with a form of abuse within the past year (e.g., malware, online scams, identity theft or harassment)"( Johnny Widerlund 2010).

Social networking can be a good thing providing precautions are taken. People need to be aware of how to protect against identity theft. Social networking sites need to be sure they follow FOIA laws and make sure that those advertising on their sites  do not cross the line by sharing private information.

Works Cited

Shelly, Gary B., H. Albert Napier, and Ollie N. Rivers. Discovering the Internet: Complete Concepts and Techniques. Vol. 3rd. Boston, Mass: Course Technology/Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.

Widerlund, Jonny. "Social Media: The Privacy and Security Repercussions." Search Engine Watch. Incisive Interactive, June-July 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2065928/Social-Media-The-Privacy-and-Security-Repercussions>.

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