Critical Thinking Skills

Critical Thinking Skills
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Contents
ASSIGNMENT 2 (Case Study)......................................................................................................3
Analysis of the arguments presented in the case study................................................................3
Critical evaluation to the sources of information and data used in this case study to validate the
positions taken.............................................................................................................................5
In conclusion, comment on the systematic and rigorous process carried out in producing the
above case study. How far do you think authors have remained objective in their views?........6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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ASSIGNMENT 2 (Case Study)
Are social networking sites good for our society?
Analysis of the arguments presented in the case study
The primary argument which has been made throughout the case study by the author
revolves around the negative and positive aspects of social media and social networking sites. It
has been analysed that the number of people using social media networking sites as a part of
their daily routine has increased substantially over the past few years and primarily in this decade
with a rapid change and innovations in the technology. Mobiles and computers have become
more affordable and easily accessible which has been the reason for an ever-increasing number
of users on social networking sites along with an increased access to internet as well. According
to author, it has been analysed that increasing engagement on social networking sites has positive
aspects which includes increased interaction between friends, education and learning material
and resources, participation in social and political activism along with an increasing exchange
and dissemination of information very rapidly (History of Social Media, 2020). On the other
hand, negative aspects of excessive use of social networking sites might include impact on
children’s education, wastage of time, decreased productivity, being the victim of online
disinhibition effect, making children more prone to eye diseases and mental illness, spreading of
rumours and potentially harmful or dangerous information without any filtration etcetera. The
boom in users on social networking sites came along with the launch of Facebook and in the year
2012, when it reached one billion users globally which makes every one in seven people an user
of Facebook. It can be analysed that the primary source of revenue which has been described by
the author in the case study for these social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
etcetera is advertisement and user data in some cases. However, the demographics of user has
increased from only young and adult users to people above the age of 50 years as presented in
the case study by the author but it needs to be realised that a significant proportion of users of
these social networking sites primarily including people aged over 45 years are only making use
of a limited number of features and are unaware about the disrupting features which are inherent
in these websites which increases the exposure to harmful and adverse impacts of social media
and networking sites (Boulianne, 2015.). It has been analysed in the case study that social media
and social networking sites have a very vital role to play in the political landscape shaping and
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