CFPBUS006 Report: Social Media's Impact on the Internet

This report delves into the profound influence of social media on the internet, examining both its positive and negative aspects. It highlights how social media platforms have increased internet usage and facilitated global communication, while also addressing the challenges of hacking and cybercrime. The report provides an in-depth analysis of security and privacy issues, including phishing, spyware, and malware attacks, along with preventive measures. Furthermore, it compares the features and applications of popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, discussing their sustainability and impact on communication and business. This report, contributed by a student, offers valuable insights into the digital landscape and its evolving dynamics, providing a comprehensive overview of social media's impact on individuals and businesses alike.

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Positive and negative aspects of social media on the internet.....................................................3
Challenges and measures of security and privacy.......................................................................4
Example of social media and its difference in features and applications....................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
In present times, social media has highly influenced on world economy. Many people like to
spend time on social sites and share their views and opinions. Also, internet is used by business
to communicate with people (Agnihotri, Dingus and Krush, 2016). However, internet is also
used in buying and selling of goods. In future social media will become a source of many
activities. People are easily able to socialise with others. Many applications are emerged or
develop for social media.
The assignment will describe about positive and negative aspect of social media on internet.
Moreover, it will be discussed about challenges and measures of security and privacy. Along
with it, 2 social media application and features will be explained.
Positive and negative aspects of social media on the internet
Social media refers computer mediated technologies which facilitates creation of data or
information. There are several businesses who are making an effective use of social media in
order to expand their business and operating business activities effectively. Not only businesses,
there are several other sectors and areas in which social media is being used such as education,
daily lives and other. Social media is having great positive and negative impact on internet to the
great extent. Internet is a network which allow social media to perform its activities. Without
internet or network, people cannot interact with each other or cannot make an effective use of
social media platforms (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). There are some positive impacts which
social media is having on internet such as:
Increasing use of internet and network: Social media and its platforms are one of the
main sources and factor which is increasing uses of internet. For example: There are many
people who use their network for running social media, or they spent their lot of network or
internet on social media. Many businesses make an effective use of internet on promoting their
products on social media platforms. So, it can be said that social media and it’s all platforms like
Facebook, Instagram are one of the main reason for which people use internet. So, it is one of the
main positive impact of social media on internet. Social sites have supported in increasing use of
internet, earlier people were not so friendly with internet but now social media has made them
engaged with the internet. They are using social sites with rapid speed an spending more time on
it hence it has increased use of internet to great extent (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017).
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Global access to communication: In the context of internet, it can be said that one of the
main purpose of it is to provide global access to communication to people and make them able to
interact with each other effectively. besides that, people are globally connected to one another on
single platform. For gaining access of any data or info, people can easily find it on internet. For
example – treatment of disease, precaution, recent news, etc. However, government and
companies share news and create awareness with help of social media platform (Allcott,
Gentzkow and Yu, 2019). So, it is positive impact of social media on internet as communication
has become easier.
Negative aspect of social media
Hacking – there is a high rise in cases of hacking through social media. It has provided an
opportunity for hacker to steal personal and confidential data and info of people. There are
number of cases been identified of hacking data. As more and more people are using social
media and share data with one another. So, for cases of hacking people as well as business, social
media is the reason (Anderson and Jiang, 2018). Thus, due to social media hacking has
increased on internet. It has impacted by interpreting privacy and stealing of data and
information.
Cyber crimes – It is another negative aspect of social media on internet. With rise in hacking,
cyber crimes are also increasing (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). So, it has resulted in negative
impact. In addition to it, crimes such as bank fraud, privacy issues, unethical issues, etc. has
occurred due to social media. Moreover, many businesses have also suffered from cyber crimes.
Therefore, now companies have taken strict measures related to prevent cyber crimes. Also,
people have decreased the use of social media and internet as they have become aware about
cyber crimes.
Challenges and measures of security and privacy
With increase in use of social media there are certain challenges and security issues
(Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). Also, it has provided a platform for hackers to steal personal and
confidential data of people and use it for financial gain. The users are not aware about their data
been hacked. Furthermore, security measures installed are of no use due to technological
development. There is various types of security challenges and each one impact in different way
(Social media threats, 2017). They are as follows :-
Cyber crime-
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It is a common security issue and challenge faced by people in recent times (Felix,
Rauschnabel and Hinsch, 2017). The cyber crime is computer related that involves use of
computer and network to steal confidential info. In this main purpose is to gain personal data or
info of any business or individual for financial gain. Here, hackers hack data through
unauthorised access in the network or in computer server. Currently, many countries are facing
issues of cyber crime and is not able to control it. Besides that, usually social media platform
such as Facebook, Instagram, etc. are been used for cyber crime. The hacker uses several types
of strategies and tactics. The strong passwords set are easily cracked. So, there are some
prevention measures that can be used to stop cyber crime. For example- setting of password with
special characters. In addition to it, use of firewall in order to prevent unauthorised access.
Besides this, use of personal e mail and ID and changing passwords frequently to ensure id is
protected (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017).
Phishing
This is also an issue as well as challenge in use of social media. However, it is been faced
by companies and individuals. It is a crime which involve stealing of information like credit card
details, PIN, account no, etc. while doing transactions. For this, hackers make a fake ID and ask
for details to customers (Harrigan, Evers and Daly, 2017). Basically, phishing is done for
financial benefit. Here, during transaction, the process is broken down with use of virus that
enable in stealing confidential data or info. This results in loss of money or ending up in failure
of process. Thus, there are some measures that can be taken. In this business or third parties can
use anti malware software to prevent hackers. Furthermore, anti virus software can be installed to
block any malicious attack.
Spyware
It is similar to phishing where hacker try to steal data and info and damaging the system
or server (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). Here, focus is on obtaining details of debit card, person
account info, password to gain it for financial purpose. In this personal records are been targeted
either on social media or large database. For this, hackers make a fake ID and ask for details to
customers. Also, trojans are installed by sending an e mail. It enables in accessing useful
information by sending a reply of that mail. There are certain measures available which can be
applied. By installing anti virus software will benefit in preventing spyware attacks (Hjorth and
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Hinton, 2019). In addition to it, by using updating OS and software will be useful in
automatically securing trojans to enter.
Malware attack
It is an issue and type of cyber crime in which data and info is steal or hackers try to
access it by entering it into computer systems or servers. For this they install malware software
in device or in applications (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). Thus, it becomes easy to make things
for hacker to gain access of data and info. Malware attacks has highly impacted on network and
social media. For preventing this, system software and application can be regularly updated. This
will be useful in identifying malware and removing it from system. Along with it, operating
system must be updated to improve security.
Example of social media and its difference in features and applications
There are many types of social media application used by people. Also, new and advance
application are emerging. Each one differs in features and use (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017).
The two application example is explained as:-
Instagram Facebook
Features Its main feature is people are
easily able to view and share
photos, videos, etc. here, news
feed can not be shared (Khamis,
Ang, and Welling, 2017).
This has facility of filter that
means person can filter their
photograph and can make it like
a professional photography.
This enhances quality of photo
and make it more attractive
(Shu, Sliva, and Liu, 2017).
Its feature is platform provide
latest news and details
regarding current world.
People are easily able to share
and communicate with others.
Instagram is fun app where
there are different pages of
many types.
It is used for sharing content,
news, connecting with other
people, etc.
Its search feature helps in Here, event feature allows in
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searching for any page related
to business, individual, etc.
Instagram helps in keeping tract
of followers and continuously
monitoring their activities. If
one posts on Instagram then it
can be easily look upon by
others and they can give their
reaction on it.
creating awareness about any
event. so, people are sent
notification about it (Allcott
and Gentzkow, 2017).
Application It only allows in sharing photo
and video but with no content.
This is used by start ups who
are able to promote their
products.
This is well through and
highly accessible application
of Facebook which helps large
number of people to become
entrepreneur (Shu, Sliva, and
Liu, 2017). It helps users and
rising entrepreneurs to connect
with other people and hence
market their products as well
as services online (Allcott and
Gentzkow, 2017).
Sustainability This App can be used for
promoting products by showing
its images and videos. It enables
in attracting people (Allcott,
Gentzkow and Yu, 2019). As
it has facility to share stories
and make video calls this help
business in promoting brands
more effectively. Videos have
good impression on consumers
rather than just still image. By
It is analysed that Facebook is
highly sustainable for
company as it will enable in
sharing news at global level.
Moreover, awareness can be
generated about new product
by providing entire details of
it. With help of it, business is
able to attract customers. they
can create official page on it
where all details are available
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using this application business
can easily raise number of
consumers and can generate
lead (Allcott and Gentzkow,
2017). This is considered as
suitable application which can
support companies in
generating more revenues.
(Shu, Sliva, and Liu, 2017).
In this way, firm is able to
compete in the market and
sustain for long term.
Yes, social media can be an effective communication tool. With help of it, people can
directly interact with others. They can share news, opinions, views, etc. of useful information on
various platforms (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). Apart from it, by accessing it all around the
world, communication can be done. In addition to it, news feed and other things can be shared
and viewed on single platform. Through this way social media is communication tool for people.
CONCLUSION
From report it is summarised that social media has allowed people to communicate with
others around the world. It has provided a platform for business to interact and engage with their
customers. The positive aspects of social media on internet are increasing use of internet and
network. increase in communication, etc. and its negative aspects is hacking, cyber crimes, etc.
Also, there are several challenges and measures of security such as phishing, spyware, malware
attack, etc. Moreover, Facebook and Instagram features differs from one another along with its
application.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Agnihotri, R., Dingus, R. and Krush, M.T., 2016. Social media: Influencing customer
satisfaction in B2B sales. Industrial Marketing Management, 53, pp.172-180.
Allcott, H. and Gentzkow, M., 2017. Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of
economic perspectives, 31(2), pp.211-36.
Allcott, H., Gentzkow, M. and Yu, C., 2019. Trends in the diffusion of misinformation on social
media. Research & Politics, 6(2), p.2053168019848554.
Anderson, M. and Jiang, J., 2018. Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research
Center, 31, p.2018.
Felix, R., Rauschnabel, P.A. and Hinsch, C., 2017. Elements of strategic social media marketing:
A holistic framework. Journal of Business Research, 70, pp.118-126.
Harrigan, P., Evers, U. and Daly, T., 2017. Customer engagement with tourism social media
brands. Tourism management, 59, pp.597-609.
Hjorth, L. and Hinton, S., 2019. Understanding social media. SAGE Publications Limited.
Khamis, S., Ang, L. and Welling, R., 2017. Self-branding,‘micro-celebrity’and the rise of Social
Media Influencers. Celebrity studies, 8(2), pp.191-208.
Shu, K., Sliva, A. and Liu, H., 2017. Fake news detection on social media: A data mining
perspective. ACM SIGKDD Explorations Newsletter, 19(1), pp.22-36.
Online
Social media threats, 2017. [online] Available through :
<https://www.calyptix.com/top-threats/social-media-threats-facebook-malware-twitter-
phishing/>
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