Social Networks: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Recommendations

This report delves into the multifaceted world of social networks, exploring both their benefits and drawbacks within the context of Information System Management. It begins by defining social networks and highlighting their role in modern marketing, emphasizing platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The report then meticulously outlines the advantages of social networks, such as increased brand recognition, enhanced customer loyalty, improved brand accessibility, and effective content promotion, illustrated with examples like Twitter's news feed. Furthermore, it examines the role of social networks in improving conversion rates, facilitating customer interaction, and fostering communication, while also acknowledging their ability to enable users to express themselves and raise funds for various causes. The report also critically analyzes the disadvantages, including reduced productivity among students, privacy concerns, diminished face-to-face communication skills, the spread of inauthentic conversations, and the impact on mental health, including anxiety, depression, and bullying. The report concludes by offering several recommendations to mitigate the negative impacts, such as avoiding negative comments, focusing on positive customer feedback, encouraging users to disconnect from social media, maintaining professional conduct, and avoiding sharing personal information. This report provides a balanced view of social networks, offering insights into their impact on business and society.

Running head: INFORMATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Information System Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Response to question 1:...................................................................................................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
Discussion....................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
Response to question 2:...................................................................................................................8
Introduction..................................................................................................................................8
Discussion....................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................14
References......................................................................................................................................16
Appendices....................................................................................................................................20

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Response to question 1:
Introduction
Social networks refers towards the utilization of several kinds of sites of social media
which are based on the internet for the aim of staying connected with their family , friends,
clients, customers or colleagues (Kim 2014). In addition to this, social networks could possess
any kind of business purpose or social purpose or in several cases might be both via several
kinds of sites like that of LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest as well as Facebook to name a
few.
On the other hand, what could be seen in today’s scenario is that the social networks
have come a long way and have become a notable base for several marketers who aim for
seeking opportunities solely for engaging with the customers (Issa, Isaias and Kommers 2016).
In addition to this, a tough competition among various kinds of sites of the social media could be
observed out of which Facebook still continues to remain one of the most popular social network
where majority of the population are mobile users.
This report aims to discuss the advantages of this kinds of social networks along with
focusing on the disadvantages which are linked with these particular social media. This report
also purposes to identify various kinds of ways with the help of which the problems or
disadvantages which are connected with the social media could be reduced to certain limits.
Discussion
Advantages of social networks

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Several kinds of advantages are linked with the social networks. In certain scenarios,
social networks are utilized by several kinds of marketers for the aim of incrementing the
recognition of their respective brands. In addition to this, social networks are also utilized by
huge number of marketers for encouraging the loyalty of the brand. The utilization of social
networks equally helps the company in becoming more accessible with respect to their old
customers as well as their new customers (Wong and Boh 2014). A certain company or a certain
brand starts becoming more preferable and more recognizable by people. Not only the utilization
of social networks helps the company in becoming more available to the customers but it also
helps in the promotion of the content along with the voice of a certain organization or a certain
brand.
An example of Twitter could be mentioned in this scenario where any random user of
Twitter might get to know about any company from the news feed feature of Twitter which he
never heard before from anywhere and could decide to buy any kind of product or service. The
exposure of the brand of the company towards its target customers helps the company in building
greater possibilities of finding new customers as well as retaining all the ongoing customers who
are linked with it (Shi-Chun et al. 2014). In addition to this, the other advantage of social
network why it is utilized by the marketers is it is accountable for the improvement of the rates
of conversion.
In other words, social network is utilized for installing a customer base such that the
company could interact with all its customers be it recent, old or new customers (Wölfer and
Hewstone 2017). Sharing of several kinds of images, blog posts, comments or videos over
several sites of social media helps the followers in reacting, visiting the websites of several kinds
of brands. With the utilization of the social networks, the customers get the privilege of

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complementing the products which are offered by the companies (Tomše and Snoj 2014). In
addition to this, others get encouraged by those customers for buying those particular services or
products.
In simple words, the more discussion occurs among the customers regarding any sort of
products offered by any sort of company over social networks, the more promotion of the value
of the brand authority takes place. Increment in the rates of sales of the brand takes place with
increment in the development and growth of any particular brand (Wang et al. 2015). On the
other hand, social network could act in the form of an effective tool for communication with the
utilization of which people could establish more and more contacts.
An example of LinkedIn could be considered which helps people in establishing
connects and searching for better carrier opportunities. These kinds of platforms could be utilized
for sending out of essential information regarding the new recruitments which are taking place.
In addition to this, social networks are also utilized by people for diffusing their social stigmas
(Bryan 2017). People can in turn express their individual views over several sites of social media
with respect to what they feel about a certain cause. Additionally, social networks could be
utilized for raising of funds for supporting certain causes.
Disadvantages of social network
Apart from several types of advantages linked with the social network, various kinds of
disadvantages also directly gets associated with the social networks. Several sites of social
networks are utilized by those who are still students. In this particular context, social media
becomes accountable for lowering the levels of the productivity of the students along with their

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individual academic performances (Cornwell 2015). The reason behind this is that the students
remain consumed by the utilization of the social networks most of the time.
This would further lead towards impacting their grades and the performances in their
respective academic field. In addition to this, confidential information is shared over several sites
of social network which could easily be accessed by several unknown people who could commit
unethical utilization of those information. In addition to this, social networks are accountable for
invading privacy (Bassett and Moore 2014). This becomes one of the major disadvantages of the
social networks. The disadvantages which are linked with the social media also comprises of
decrement in the levels of skills of face-to face communication. On the other hand, several kinds
of feelings are expressed in an inauthentic manner.
The conversations which takes place over several sites of the social networks comprises
are filled with several kinds of words which are very inauthentic in nature. Most interestingly,
the utilization of the social networks have been proven to be one of severe concerns of the
parents nowadays as majority of personal data is shared over various kinds of sites of social
networks. Sharing of personal and confidential data could also lead towards affecting privacy as
well as the safety of the children as these information is easily accessible to everybody.
In other words, the safety of the children gets hampered. Social networks are equally
accountable for affecting the mental health of the users which could even be the cause for the
occurrence of anxiety, depression along with loneliness. The levels of utilization of several sites
of social networks are going on increasing day by day which is not at all good. In addition to
this, among other part of the youth, Instagram is highly followed which is not always beneficial
for children as well as teenagers.

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Negative feedback could be received by the several users by several other users of the
social network with respect to the information or the content which has been shared (Al-
Tarawneh 2014). Several negative comments could also be received with respect to the
experience which has been shared over the platforms of various sites of social networks. This
would demotivate people not to share content or experiences and they could feel depressed about
the same. Nowadays, bullying too has become very common over several sites of social media
where people are open to being embarrassed and bullied upon (Al-Sharqi, Hashim and Kutbi
2015). In addition to this, the ongoing trends of hashtags have grabbed most of the attention of
the users.
Whenever any sort of hashtags trend, be it political or social, the users have to present
their reviews regarding the same hurting the sentiments of majority of the people with the
utilization of certain abusive words which are not really acceptable to occur within such social
platforms like these as it could be witnessed and is available to everybody out there.
Recommendations for overcoming disadvantages
Apart from the above mentioned disadvantages which are connected always linked with
the utilization of social network, some procedures could be applied such that several sites of
social media do not remain viable for hampering the safety of the people or demotivate anyone.
But, on the other hand, the most interesting fact is that the younger generations along with the
teenagers as well have now learnt how to handle every bit of social network be it positive or
negative (Vásquez and Escamilla 2014). The have mastered the art of being safe and away from
several sites of social media.

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The users have also learnt the art of limiting themselves from the social networks and
also have stopped investing much time over several sites of social media (Borgatti, Everett and
Johnson 2018). These kinds of disadvantages could be avoided if the users avoid responding to
the negative comments which have been received by them with respect to the contents which
have been shared by them over numerous sites of social media. In the context of any company
who is trying to increment the engagement of the customer should focus on the positive
feedbacks which are provided by the customers and work accordingly such that they could
become successful in meeting the demands of their customers.
On the other hand, sometimes the users should go offline and concentrate more on their
works apart from remaining addicted to several sites of social media. The users of numerous sites
of social media need to remain calm for handling certain kinds of situations and should never
react in a serious manner. The most important fact is that the users of several kinds of social
media should never communicate with several people whom they do not know or they have
never met in person (Nilizadeh, Kapadia and Ahn 2014). By taking these kinds of steps, the
privacy of all the users remain secured to a certain level which is good.
The users should follow and respect the professional conduct rules as to how they could
represent themselves and not involve in invading the privacy of the other users. In addition to
this, sharing of the passwords of several sites of social media with other should also be avoided
as these accounts could be hacked by other people without the knowledge of the actual users.
Confidential as well as personal information like that of the passwords should be kept secure as
sharing of the passwords could even lead towards impersonation where the other users could get
harassed or even bullied by the utilization of the accounts of other people without their
knowledge.

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Additionally, the conflicts of interest needs to be avoided as it is accountable for making
users more and more vulnerable towards exploitation. Whenever any social media user is
communicating with some other user, then he or she needs to maintain a good, polite as well as a
professional behavior (Gonzales 2017). A standard of conduct needs to be maintained which is
very necessary also. Making of wrong friends over several sites needs to be avoided as users do
not know them on a personal basis that whether they are harmful or are really of any importance.
Before accepting of any requests over several sites, it becomes very important to judge whether
the request should be accepted or not.
Conclusion
An essential role is played by social networks in promotion of the brands, organization
and also helps in incrementing the interaction among the customers and various brands. Several
advantages are linked with the social networks and its utilization helps people in remaining
connected with their colleagues, clients and friends from the entire world. The users could even
share their experiences over certain sites regarding several job updates which could in turn help
the aspiring candidates for getting jobs.
On the other hand certain disadvantages are also linked with it like bullying, harassment
and negative comments which could avoided by following certain recommendations which are
mentioned in the above report. The users should judge each and every aspect before accepting
any request which are sent to them by the people whom they really don’t know. The users should
limit themselves from being available over numerous sites of social networks as it would distract
them from concentrating on their work. Hence, the users should know when to limit themselves
from social networks.

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Response to question 2:
Introduction
A knowledge management system or KMS is basically a tool which is utilized by several
number of companies for the aim of helping in organization of the documentation, other
important information along with several types of questions which are most frequently asked into
a particular format which could easily be accessible for both external as well as internal
customers. Utilization of any software of management of knowledge is accountable for helping
in updating the documentation (Li, Jin and Wang 2014). It also focuses on assisting the
customers such that they could find their respective answers which they were searching for. The
utilization of any software of management of knowledge counts for managing the accesses as
well as permissions of knowledge across various kinds of the groups of the user.
This report aims to describe the KMS. In addition to this, this report aims to focus on
various kinds of problems which are experienced by several users of this particular system in the
context of management of knowledge. This report also purposes to present several kinds of
recommendations which in turn would be beneficial for countering of various types of problems
which are faced by the users with respect to KMS.
Discussion
Description of Knowledge Management System
It basically forms a tool which is equally valued by global enterprises which focuses on
distribution of knowledge with respect to a huge diversity of audiences. In addition to this, it is
also equally valued by several kinds of small businesses which have just started off or are in the
procedure of starting out towards a broader and diversified audiences (Lin 2014). This particular

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information system focuses on systematic organization and up gradation of sensitive and
confidential documentation of any organization.
An essential role is played by the portal of knowledge management irrespective of the
work culture of the organization be it a SaaS company which focuses on providing a support to
the business customers or be it a context of a manager of the help desk who is accountable for
dealing with all the internal customers. It could also be a consumer who is aiming for shipping
out of several retail items. In addition to this, the utilization of the portal of management of
knowledge would also help in delivering correct information in an effective manner to all the
people who genuinely need it.
An advantage of the utilization of this particular information system is helping out the
customers for finding their individual answers by the process of searching over the internet in
spite of waiting in long queues for those particular questions to get resolved by human beings.
The utilization of KMS becomes essential in deflecting of the tickets right away from inbox
along with decrementing the volume of the tickets which in turn is needed by the support team of
the customers for dealing with (Wang and Wang 2016). This particular information system is
accountable for proving with support the respective customers 24/7 such that they could gain
information according to their requirements could get back to their work.
In addition to this, KMS focuses on the identification of those particular terms which are
very frequently searched along with the articles which are visited the most. On the other hand,
KMS becomes accountable for updating the entire information and makes the information very
easy to find for its customers (Cho and Korte 2014). With the inclusion of the systems of rating,

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the customers could alert the organization regarding those particular articles which are no longer
useful for them to proceed with their work.
An advantage of KMS is that it possessing capabilities for converting the support emails
to those articles which are based on knowledge (Del Giudice and Della Peruta 2016). In addition
to this, it helps in improving the experiences of the customers in finding their respective
solutions by reducing the wait times. Reduction of the wait times helps the customers in
searching their answers in a much faster manner (El Said 2015). On the other hand, an online
help center always remains available 24/7 such that the customers could seek help whenever they
need any kind of assistance. In addition to this, this particular information system enables the
customers to help themselves also. KMS is also helpful as it provides help al its customers in a
more detailed manner (Liebowitz 2019). It involves pulling of numerous kinds of media together
for the aim of thoroughly helping the customers. It involves management of the knowledge
internally as it helps in the collection of the internal knowledge.
Problems experienced with respect to this system
Apart from the qualities of KMS which have already been mentioned above, some
problems are also linked with this particular information system which in turn are experienced by
its users. Numerous concerns regarding this particular system comprises of managerial, cultural
along with several issues which are linked with information (Xiaojun 2017). In the context of the
cultural issues, the manager who were accountable for KMS were mostly concentrating on the
implication with respect to the change management along with the capabilities of convincing
people for volunteering their own knowledge.