Introduction

Social Networking 

Social networks are everywhere; they are internet-based and allow people to share information as a group or individual and communicate. With the upgrade of technology, social networking sites has also changed peoples lives, finding a new way to show case their many talents, promote their products and services and simply creating a positive self-image on Facebook, Twitter and many other social networking sites.

What is Social Networking?

Social networking sites is a good place to meet people that share similar interest as you as well as keeping in contact with old friends and family. It is also a good way to share memories with others, sharing photos via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

It is a big bad world out there, if an idea is brought to the surface and not successful it can be a set back. Social networking is a great way for small home grown businesses to promote their products and services to the public. They can test out their ideas and receive personal feedback from their customers, to excel and become successful.

Obsessed with Facebook?

According to sources, Twitter and Facebook are the top two visited sites in the world. In 2011 an online survey was carried out by an online school and statistics show that over700 billion minutes are spent on Facebook a month.  Doing what you ask? Good question. 700 billion minutes spent on Facebook uploading photos, updating statues about how the weather ruined your day and sharing news links for your friends to read. 

There are over 500 million active Facebook users and 57% of those active Facebook users make conversation with people more online than they do in real life. People would rather sit behind a computer and make conversation, than a face to face conversation.

Society and Social Networking

Vulnerability/Scams

Facebook, founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, has 48% of 18-34 year olds checking their personal profiles right when they wake up and 28% on their smart phones before getting out of bed in the morning. Youth today, live in the 24/7 ‘digital world’ and it practically affects every aspect of their lives, whether they post photos of themselves or of their peers and/or decide to make fun of others, they will eventually end up emotionally affected, however teens don’t always “…self-censor online…”.

You would easily find people of all ages on different social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Bebo and more. Yet our children become vulnerable they want to be part of the ‘fast paced’ world, keeping up with what is cool and what’s not. 

In saying that it is easy to manipulate the system, where our under age children can easily make a profile without their parents knowing giving out private and personal information such as their phone number, home address and publically posting photos. As easily as a child can fool the system, without any difficulties a potential predator could create a ‘fake profile’ and use interests similar to that of the child to lure him/her into danger.

Among the rapid transformation in technology, social networking sites are in danger. With a numerous amount of scams and scammers on social networking sites you must be extra cautious. For example 'Phishing' is an fake email sent to someone posing as an organization/persons that actually contains a link that gives the hacker access to your password and account putting you in danger.

Cyber Bullying/Youth Suicide 

Facebook and Twitter are seen as an all-important part of life for millions but people forget is the permanent devastation they can cause to an individual with just a click of a button.

The social networking sites allow individual profiles to be created which easily gives someone the momentum to create ‘anonymity’ thus begin targeting others, posting hurtful comments. Social media harassment is said to be the “…background factor in suicides…” where New Zealand was found to have the second highest overall death rate of young people aged 10-24 on that account majority of these deaths had links to “cyber-bulling”.

‘Cyber-bulling’ has taken bullying to a whole other level, because there is no face-to-face action the shackles of responsibility have been removed and adolescents become bolder. Things are said/posted online without being thought through hence has negative outcomes such as depression or worse, death. 

According to BBC article “How dangerous are networking sites” a women was accused of bulling a 13 year old into committing suicide. Yes, teenagers are not only the victims and vultures of ‘cyber-bullying’, adult can be just as cruel. They are often referred to as ‘internet trolls’ someone who purposely put together agitating posts on social networks, but the abuse does not stop there, tribute pages are also 

overflowing with numerous hate comments produced by these ‘internet trolls’ 

Conclusion

Be Sensible, Be Smart, Be Safe!

Social networking sites are a good way to ‘connect’ or ‘meet’ with people but how do we protect ourselves from becoming victims of such cruelty? Simple, be aware and be smart.

Parents have to be aware of what their children are posting up online, just as easy as a child can fool the system, a predator can fool a child with literally anything.

Todays youth is so caught up with the latest trends that their safety is last of their worries therefore parents need to put their foot down and create some kind of boundary. Carefully evaluate who you would like to view your profile, do not post private information such as your address or mobile number and always check your privacy settings for safety reasons.

There is no real way of stopping the abuse online but understanding the technology also helps, but most of all ‘be sensible, be smart and be safe’.

References

Hepburn, A. (2011, January 11). Facebook Statistics, Stats & Facts for 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2012, from Digital Web Buzz Blog:

http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/facebook-statistics-stats-facts-2011/

Masters, C. (2012, May 19). Victims of the anti-social network. Retrieved September 2012, 2012, from The New Zealand Herald : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10806897

Online Social Networking Dangers and Benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2012, from University of the Pacific: http://www.pacific.edu/Campus-Life/Safety-and-Conduct/Safety-and-Security/Online-Social-Networking-Dangers-and-Benefits-.html

Social Networking Sites and Changing Society. (2012, June 7). Retrieved September 10, 2012, from The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/7/3069744/social-networking-sites-changing-society

Tucker, J. (2009, August 10). Social Networking has hidden dangers for teens. Retrieved September 13, 2012, from SFGate: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Social-networking-has-hidden-dangers-for-teens-3289805.php