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SOCIAL NETWORKING AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

Social Networking sites are termed as web based services that give an opportunity to individuals to create their

own personal profile with the choice of their own list of users and thereby connect with them in an altogether

public forum that provides them with features such as chatting, blogging, video calling, mobile connectivity and
video/photo sharing. People spend time on social networking sites to download pictures, browse through updates
seek entertainment and chat around with friends to keep themselves connected to one another. Facebook,
YouTube, Yahoo Answers, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Reddit are some of the most famous social
networking websites. Do you know that teenagers are using these sites the most! If we wish to judge the impact
of social networking on our present and future generations, we need to evaluate its effects on education, business,
society and behaviour pattern of our youth.

From the perspective of education social media has given way to the students to effectively reach each other in
regards to class ventures, bunch assignments or for help on homework assignments. Teachers may post on social
media about class activities, school events, homework assignments which can be accessed by students very
easily. Another positive effect of social networking site is that it unites people on a large platform for the
achievement of specific goals. This brings positive change in the society. Social media provides awareness in the
society through various campaigns, advertisements and promotions.

So, we can say that Social networking has changed the way we communicate. But it depends on who you talk to
and how you're using it. There are pros and cons to everything in life — and that includes our social networking
habits too. Like one of the most obvious pros of using social networks is the ability to instantly reach people from
anywhere. Use Facebook or Google Hangouts with relatives who live halfway around the world or meet brand
new people on Twitter from cities or regions you have never even heard before. Gone are the days of waiting
around for the six o'clock news to come on TV or for the delivery boy to bring the newspaper in the morning.
If you want to know what's going on in the world, all you need to do is jump onto social media. An added bonus
is that you can customize your news and information by choosing to follow exactly what you want.

YouTube
But
with so much sharing going on, issues over privacy will always be a big concern. Isn’t it? Whether it's a question
of social sites owning your content after it's posted or becoming a target after sharing your geographical location
Online - sharing too much with the public can open up all sorts of problems that sometimes can't ever be undone.
For people struggling with peer pressure — especially teens and young adults — the pressure to do certain things
the
even
depression. Also, it's a lot easier to use online communication as a substitute of face-to-face interaction. Some
people argue that social media promotes anti-social behaviour. How often do you see someone looking at his/her
mobile? People get distracted by all the social apps, news and
conversation, procrastination and can lead to avoiding certain
tasks or responsibilities. I conclude by saying that it entirely depends upon ‘How we use it?’, that social
networking would turn out to be ‘a blessing’ or ‘a curse’, It can give us excellent returns if we use it wisely.

Riddhima Malhotra
IX B