social networking

Social networking sites such as face book have become ways of interacting and expressing ones interests activities and feeling. There are many ways these sites can be used, for example a company may use sites like face book to market their business and products for free, instead of creating a website and paying a fee. An example is my boyfriend that currently started his party picture company via a face book page, so instead of creating a website he started a page takes pictures and uploads for partygoers to see.  There are benefits that these sites have to society. For one they help people to learn more about others, topics, and worldly relevant issues. In the reading  “Being There: The subtle art of the Facebook update”, by Virginia Heffernan, she describes how we gain insight into the lives of our friend even when they are thousands of miles away. Social networks help people to engage and interact with each other 24/7. An example is the recent issue in Africa of the overthrow of Egypt’s leader, which started with the use of face book to gain and inform followers of the protests and problems facing the region. Of course there is also a dark side, in the article Knowledge@Wharton, "Leaving 'Friendprints': How Online Social Networks Are Redefining Privacy and Personal Security illustrates that people leave finger prints of behavior in which we leave information for predators and thieves. Privacy has become an issue as well as personal security. It is not that we do not try to be safe but important information is often leaked through various sources. It has become harder and harder who to trust and what sites are safe. Hopefully in the future social networking will be easier controlled and safer.