One of the most interesting developments in the new millennium has been the explosion of activity on so-called "social networking" sites.
Social networking is not entirely new. As early as 1995 websites were attempting to use the model of connecting people for profit. The first real social networking success was myspace.com. In 2007, MySpace was reportedly getting more views than Google.
One of the most obvious arguments against social networking is how available it makes users' information to third parties. "MySpace stalkers" can find out almost everything about a person. Information such as pictures, name, age, and even address can be shared with a click of the mouse. The only thing we can do to protect ourselves is by choosing not to share information. However, with more young -users logging on, the risk of theft or abuse of personal data becomes greater and greater.
Another serious risk imposed by social networking is increased access to children by sexual predators. With the advent of social networking websites younger children are publishing not only pictures, but personal information. This creates an environment where a sexual predator can "shop around," looking at pictures and information to determine the best target. Nobody likes the implications of these possibilities, but once again the only way a child would be protected from a potential predator is by parental oversight and discretion in which information to publish.
One more criticism of social networking sites is the impact that they have on social interactions. In some cases, viewing a person's profile becomes an alternative to real, natural interactions. Some would say that this makes forming social connections easier and more efficient, but I present the following argument; most people who use social networking sites grew up in a society without them. How people act or react to one another is a very important part of an individual forming a unique social identity. The problem with social networking websites is they have the potential to take that interaction and substitute it with something artificial. When typing and staring at a screen becomes more comfortable than getting out there and interacting with real people then the problem becomes clear. If social interactions were widely replaced by online, artificial, interactions then users of such a system would be without the benefits of social learning.
Overall, social networking sites are not "evil" or "bad." However, it is my argument that they are, or have the potential to be, harmful. Exposing information to the countless eyes of the internet presents some very real risks to personal security. The increased use of social networking by children has increased the ease by which a pedophile could take advantage of children. Social networking sites have the potential to replace real social development with an artificial substitute that will hinder the social development of the user. A person without viable social skills is at a disadvantage when attempting to be successful in society.
2008 Woodie Awards