Emerging Technologies: Social Networking - A Comprehensive Overview

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of social networking, defining it as the use of web applications to build social connections based on shared interests and real-life links. It highlights key components like social profiles, comments, direct messages, and endorsements. The essay delves into privacy and security concerns within social networking, discussing mechanisms like blocking and access limitations. It outlines the advantages, such as facilitating family connections and information sharing, alongside disadvantages like cyberbullying and addiction. The uses of social networking, including creating interest-based connections, marketing, and aiding criminal investigations, are also explored. The essay concludes that while social networking offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges related to privacy, security, and social behavior.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATION
Social Networking
Name
Institutional Affiliation

What is social networking
 Social networking refers to the use of
dedicated web applications to establish
and build social networks with other
people with similar real-life connections,
backgrounds, education, activities and
career interests. It is the process of
expanding and individuals social and
business contacts through social media
sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram and Google Plus (Partridge,
2011).

Main points in social
networking
 Social profile-An individual’s social profile is the description of their
attributes that give them an identity distinguishing them from others on
social media sites users.
 Comment – Refers to the reaction or response to a post on social media
networks
 Direct messages –private conversations between individuals who follow
each other, commonly used on Twitter and Instagram.
 Endorsement-Recognition for a skill added on one's social profile
 A follower-an individual who subscribes to another person’s account for
the purpose of receiving their updates.
 Instant messaging –A real-time direct messaging involving a group or
two people
 A friend – An individual who is part of someone’s network on a social
media site.
 Like-Common used to show approval for a picture or comment by
clicking on the like button. It is used instead of a comment.

What is privacy in social Networking
 Privacy in social networking refers to the
ability of a group or individuals to express
themselves selectively by secluding their
personal information or themselves. Social
networking privacy is facilitated by features
such as the block option through individuals
can limit their audiences, the ability of
individuals to chose people who they want to
be friend with and limiting access to their
videos and pictures posted on social media
sites(Dwyer, Hiltz & Passerini,2007).

What is security in social networking
 Privacy in social networking refers to the
process through which dynamic social
networks data is analyzed in order to
safeguard social media users against
potential threats and security risks of
using social networks (Dwyer, Hiltz &
Passerini, 2007).

Advantages of Social
networking
 Keeping In touch with families- It allows families to keep in
touch through direct messaging, sharing their day to day life
through posts, videos, and pictures as a way of connecting with
their families.
 Information sharing-Both individuals and organizations use
social media to share information on current events and news,
giving their social media audience an opportunity of staying
informed. Information sharing is also done through the
messaging options (Park, Kee & Valenzuela,2009).
 Connecting to people with common interests-Social networking
also allows people to meet and connect with people who share
similar interests and hobbies (Subrahmanyam, Reich, Waechter
& Espinoza, 2008). These connections may also occur through
social media dating, quite common in the modern world.

Disadvantages of Social Networking
 Cyber Bullying-Social networking has led to the increase in the
cases of Cyber Bullying, which has emerged as major Social
media problem across the world (Livingstone, 2008).
Cyberbullying is harassment, posting negative and defamatory
information about others on social media.
 Addiction- Social media addiction has also emerged as a major
disadvantage of social networking. An increasing number of
people have become social media addicts. For employees
especially, it is the major reason for time wastage during
working hours. This is also happening among students and
within the home setting. Social media has literally made people
withdraw from their social Networks (Livingstone, 2008).
 Social networking has also played a role in the spread of false
and unreliable information

Uses of Social Networking
 Creating Interest based connections
 Used as a marketing tool for businesses
 Used as a media for sharing information
 Connecting families and friends
 It has also been used in aiding arrest and
conviction of criminals (Buffardi &
Campbell, 2008).

Conclusion
 In conclusion, social networking involves
the use of social media sites to create
networks. It involves points such as
comment, like and social profile. Social
networking has both advantages and
disadvantages. It also includes issues
such as data privacy and security. It is
also majorly used in sharing of
information, aiding in arrest and
prosecution of criminals and connecting
families and friends

Results
 Social media has made it easy for
families to connect
 Social media has eased transfer of
information
 Social media has led to rise in Cyber
bullying
 It has enabled people to connect with
people sharing similar interests.

References
 References
 Buffardi, L. E., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Narcissism and social networking
websites. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 34(10), 1303-1314.
 Dwyer, C., Hiltz, S., & Passerini, K. (2007). Trust and privacy concern within
social networking sites: A comparison of Facebook and MySpace. AMCIS 2007
proceedings, 339.
 Livingstone, S. (2008). Taking risky opportunities in youthful content creation:
teenagers' use of social networking sites for intimacy, privacy, and self-
expression. New media & society, 10(3), 393-411.
 Park, N., Kee, K. F., & Valenzuela, S. (2009). Being immersed in a social
networking environment: Facebook groups, uses and gratifications, and social
outcomes. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(6), 729-733.
 Partridge, K. (2011). Social networking. New York: H.W. Wilson.
 Subrahmanyam, K., Reich, S. M., Waechter, N., & Espinoza, G. (2008). Online
and offline social networks: Use of social networking sites by emerging adults.
Journal of applied developmental psychology, 29(6), 420-433.