Redes Sociales

READING
By Valerie Tandoi

Social networking has become a major part of society. Even big businesses and celebrities are jumping on the social networking bandwagon. Many people wake up each day and check social websites first thing in the morning instead of reaching for a newspaper. According to Mashable.com, as of June 2010, American Internet users spend more than 22 percent of their onlinetime using a social networking site. Since people are spending such a large amount of time surfing social networks, it is important to point out some of the positive and negative effects that social networking can have on a society.
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Helping Small Businesses

Social networking can help small businesses in a big way. Traditional mediums such as print magazine ads and radio commercials cancost thousands of dollars that some small businesses just don't have in a down economy. Social networking allows small business owners to connect with prospects and clients for free, costing nothing but time and energy. Marketers at small companies can post coupons to Facebook groups or run promotions on Twitter. In addition to generating revenue this way, companies also can get positive andnegative feedback directly from consumers.

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Addictive

A negative aspect of social networking is that it can be addictive. Spending too much time on social networking sites can cause people to lose focus on tasks at work or around the house. Social networking needs to be used in moderation. If someone is spending so much time on social networks that they are not sleeping enough hours pernight or are ignoring friends and family that want to spend time with them in person, social networking can be a serious problem.

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Equalizer in Publishing and Marketing

Social networking sites are putting the worlds of promotion and publication on an equal playing field. Before social networking, much of the publication world and promotion world was dominated by industry leaders andcelebrities. Now anyone can create a product, image or brand and find a following online. Ebooks are gaining more respect and popularity thanks to electronic reading devices. In the days before social networking,

unknown authors would have to query big publishing houses and hope for a bite. Now anyone who believes in their book can create an ebook on their own and promote it on social websites.
Sharing Too Much

Another drawback to social networking is that some users are simply sharing too much information. People can lose their jobs or a friendship over leaking information on social networks. Even if a user of a social site has her privacy settings on the highest level, their information can still be passed on by someone on their friends list. It doesn't take much for an angryfollower to copy and paste a status or download a picture if they are looking for revenge.

ARE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES GOOD FOR SOCIETY?
Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are amongst the most popular destinations on the web. No doubt in some cases this has contributed to Internet Addiction Disorder, but have they on the whole had a positive effect in our lives?AGREE EXPERTS IN SOCIOLOGY

DISAGREE EXPERTS IN SCIENCE

NEUTRAL EXPERTS IN SCIENCE

Nicole Ellison
(Telecommunications Professor)

I believe the benefits provided by social network sites such as Facebook have made us better off as a society and as individuals, and that, as they continue to be adopted by more diverse populations, we will see an increase in their utility. Anecdotal evidenceof positive outcomes from these technologies — such as political activities organized via Facebook or jobs found through LinkedIn — is wellknown, but now a growing corpus of research on social networks sites supports this view too.

Aric Sigman
(Psychologist)

William Reader
(Psychology Professor)

My paper [Well Connected?: The Biological Implications of 'Social Networking'] has been...