With the ever-increasing popularity of social networking websites, there have been many arguments claiming that this craze will lead to detrimental effects on young adults. However, there also have been a few counter arguments by individuals and groups that estimate that the benefits of social networking outweigh any negative effects. I have found a few examples of counterclaims, and why I believe they ultimately do not sway my argument.
1. Marketing firms have alluded to the fact that although most social networking sites are free to join, they do create revenue through advertising. Many companies will pay to have their logo plastered on the site itself, or shared as a blog post, status update, or tweet. Karen Frazier states that "global social networking revenues will exceed $10 billion in 2013." This is expected to generate more revenue than produced by print ads, but still comes nowhere close to that of the revenue created through television. Ultimately, I feel this has more to do with the ever decreasing popularity of print ads such as newspapers and magazines, and less to do with people logging on to social networks to look at advertisements.
2. Information posted on sites such as Facebook and Twitter is logged, and is compiled into data by algorithms that other websites and phone companies can use to predict patterns of individuals. This can be used, for example, to compare a group of users' interests and frequented places, to predict whether or not they would have a positive, healthy relationship. I agree with Giles in his questioning; is this really the kind of privacy we as individuals want (40-43)? Though its been proposed, not proven, that this kind of data collection could even be used for suicide watch and prevention, there comes a point where privacy takes priority.
3. Another popular argument as to why social networking is a good thing, is that it can be a strong foothold for positive real life relationships. Relationships not created by outside databases, but ones that stem from online communication between individuals and among groups. Sam Laird counters this with a statistic stating, "Worldwide, Facebook users spend 10.5 billion minutes each day surfing the site - and that doesn't even include mobile use, according to the company's IPO filing." These are critical minutes that people are wasting online, instead of spending strengthening real relationships they already have, or creating new ones outside of the internet (Laird). This coincides with my argument that healthy, real life relationships are created face-to-face, not over the internet.
Works Cited
Frazier, Karen. "Negative Impact of Social Networking Sites." LoveToKnow. Love To Know Corp., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Negative_Impact_of_Social_Networking_Sites>. 1. This is an article from the website socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com. 2. I will be using the section regarding privacy with social networking. 3. This will be used in the section of my argument associated with privacy issues.
Giles, Jim. "The Oracle of Facebook." New Scientist 214.2862 (2012): 40-43. Academic Search Premier. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=28&sid=734558ac-c552-438c-ad58-73f45b1566b5%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=74710978>. 1. This is an article titled "The Oracle of Facebook" that was published in the "New Scientist" journal. 2. This is a major source for me, I will be using pieces from the entire article. 3. I will be using this article as key argument examples throughout my paper.
Laird, Sam. "Is Social Media Destroying Real-World Relationships?" Mashable.com. QuinStreet Inc., 18 June 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/social-media-real-world-infographic/>. 1. This is an article published on the the website mashable.com. 2. I will be referring to the survey of the effects social media has on individuals. 3. This will be used as supporting evidence in my argument that social media is destructive in face to face interactions.
Korey,
ReplyDeleteThe social media craze has revolutionized the marketing aspects of goods, services, and ideas. Like you state in your essay, the use of newspapers/magazines are no longer an effective method of advertisement. The data collected from these sites kind of scare me tho. I don't want people to monitor every decision I make on the web.
I agree that relationships should be created, built, and nurtured through face to face interactions. But they can be also maintained through the use of social networking sites. I disagree with Sam Laird stating that minutes on social networking site are a waste of time. I believe sites like FB, Twitter, and Instagram help develop relationships, and are a key tool to building a network of contacts.
Korey, I as well am doing my research paper on social networking. The amount of time that goes into online use is incredibly, and most don't realize it. It's also crazy how much money is made by it, which you include in your argument, and that it's taking over paper production.
ReplyDeleteI think that relationships online, and over online use is bad for society. I believe it's starting to make face to face interaction less exciting, which should be instead cherished. I agree with Sam Laird, that this waste of time isn't healthy.
Jasmine
Korey, It seems to me that you are on to something. May be social networking works for many people who already know each other, but I agree that it cannot take the place of face time with a friend or a loved one...or for that matter someone with whom you are trying to form a connection.
ReplyDeleteIn those cases, it seems like you can only know someone superficially until you actually get out there and meet the person and spend time with them. I have heard that face time with someone is healthier emotionally and mentally compared to clicking messages to each other.
Great topic.
Eve
Wow, I have to say this is the best written one I seen yet. I like the background and then the arguments. You did the quoting right and everything. If these are the counter claims, I realy want to see what your claims are. I am a guy who likes numbers and facts, I realy like how you quoted a Dollar figure to bring this into perspective.
ReplyDeleteOnly question I have is, do you see this going in a positive directly as you do a negative? What I mean is, you make such a good counter argument, do you see good and bad from this, yet to come?
Only resource I can make for you is internet! and news. This information is ever changing so fast, its hard to find something publish and not online. But seems like you already have great works cited.
To my online friends that I met and held while over seas ! Sorry next time Face - to - Face only for me!
Korey-
ReplyDeleteI was quite impressed with what you have written. Providing all the facts and evidence you provided are very convincing. I had some idea of the money made through our internet usage, but not to the extend you displayed in your counter arguments. They were so well written that I am curious what your viewpoint on the whole situation.
I have a cell phone and yes, I text people, but I miss the face-to-face interactions and phone calls. The internet and our online world is definitely taking over. We can't do without technology to survive these days, however I feel there's something lost emotionally and mentally without some type of physical or verbal connection with other human beings.
Nice job!
Theresa