Effects of Social Networking

Social Networking can be very effective if used the correct ways according to bloggers Christine Laird and Angela Barnes. In their blog article, The Effects of Social Media on Children, they believe their are five aspects of the use of social media. 

Five aspects of the use of social media:

• Not many restrictions on creatively expressing oneself.

• Easy way to share information.

• Informal support of other’s work.

• General understanding and respect of other people’s forms of expression.

• An alternative way of socializing.

I personally agree to most of these effects, but one I disagree with. I agree with effect number one, two, three, and five. I personally have my parents on my social media and we have a great connection outside of social media because we had a close-relationship before social media and I hope we will continue even after social media. Personally I love my social media and myself, so I agree with number two. Effect number three, I disagree with because I use several forms of social media multiple times of day such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; and I do not struggle with low grades, depression, or psychological disorders. If you want to tell me that students who use social media all have bad grades; I will inform you that I have a 3.22 cumulative GPA and currently this semester I have a 3.40 GPA, so get your facts right! Number five can is true because many parents do not monitor their child's social media and many children add people just because they liked their photo, know their friend, etc. As a parent it is your job to monitor your child's accounts because they could be adding someone with criminal intentions. 

According to Angela and Christine's blog, the teen years can be a challenging time, and social networks can be places for teens to turn to for support and advice when going through challenging experiences. Adolescents who use Facebook have been shown to demonstrate more “virtual empathy.  Social networking can be a positive and somewhat easier way for adolescents to get to know and become accepting of others from “diverse backgrounds”.  As well as providing social support, social media sites can also provide medical support.  Adolescents can easily and anonymously seek medical advice.

I personally believe they are correct because social media is not just an way for socializing; kids and teens can be creative, interact, and learn in a positive way. Social networking provides an alternative way for students to become interested in learning, and provides a great tool for "homework and group-work." Even though social media is not only used for social interaction, it is an important aspect of adolescents’ lives.  Social media provides an avenue for them to stay connected with peers they have met through school, sports teams, church, etc. Social networking can also help shy adolescents have a more non-threatening way to interact with peers because they are not interacting face-to-face. 

On Singyin Lee's blog, Five Effects Social Networks Have on You, he states that their are five effects social networking has on teens. One being that teens who connect with their parents in social media networks like Facebook and Twitter have a better connection with offline. The second one is if you love yourself then you love your social networking. The third effect is the harmful side of Facebook according to Larry Dosen, Ph.D., teens who are on Facebook are more prone to depression, lower grades, psychological disorders, and future health problems if they are on Facebook too much. A fourth effect is that a quick five-minute check of Facebook profiles can significantly boost the self-esteem of others. The final effect is social networking could get you mixed up with individuals with criminal intent.

Social networking phenomenon has impacted my life because I am able to connect with friends and family who live out of the state. I am able to ask on social media for prayers and within moments I know a certain number of prayers are lifted. I am able to connect with former classmates who have moved away, and in fact just this week I added 3 friends who I went to school with who I lost contact with on social media. Social media is a great resource tool, but you must watch how it effects you, your children, or your family.