Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom FRIDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2012 14:59 There's an ongoing debate about

the role social media should play in education. Advocates point out the benefits that social media provides for today's digital learners while critics call for regulation and for removing social media from classrooms. Finding a middle ground has become a challenge. As an educational tool, social media enriches the learning experience by allowing students and teachers to connect and interact in new, exciting ways. Web sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide a platform where users can dialog, exchange ideas, and find answers to questions. These sites are designed to foster collaboration and discussion. Despite these benefits, critics argue that there are serious risks to using social media in the classroom. What are these risksand do they outweigh the potential for opportunity? PROS Educational Tool Today's students arrive on campus, fluent in Web and social networking technologies. Educators can leverage this knowledge to enrich the learning experience. With social media, instructors can foster collaboration and discussion, create meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and boost student interaction. Enhance Student Engagement Social media is an effective way to increase student engagement and build better communication skills. Students who rarely raise a hand in class may feel more comfortable expressing themselves on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Social networking platforms enable teachers to establish "back channels" that foster discussion and surface ideas that students are too shy or intimidated to voice out loud. Improve Communication Among Students and Teachers Facebook and Twitter can enhance communication among students and teachers. Educators can answer students' questions via a Facebook page or Twitter feed, post homework assignments and lesson plans, send messages and updates, schedule or announce upcoming events, and share interesting Web sites and multimedia content. Students can use Twitter to get help from instructors or other students. A great way for instructors to give participation points in addition to in class participation is by having students tweet about something that was discussed in class. Preparing Students for Successful Employment Students entering the workforce can use social networking sites to network and find employment. With LinkedIn, students can establish a professional web presence, post a resume, research a target company or school, and connect with other job seekers and employers. College career centers and

alumni associations are using Twitter to broadcast job openings and internships. Students should follow businesses or professional organizations on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new opportunities and important developments in their field. CONS Social Media can be a Distraction A common complaint among educators is that social media is distracting in the classroom. These instructors maintain that tools like Facebook and Twitter divert students' attention away from what's happening in class and are ultimately disruptive to the learning process. With the possibility that the use of social media tools can be an invitation for students to goof off, instructors should make sure they won't be abused. Cyberbullying While social networking sites provide a way for students and teachers to connect, they can be a weapon of malicious behavior--even on college campuses. In a study about cyberbullying at Indiana State University, researchers Christine Macdonald and Bridget Roberts-Pittman found that almost 22 percent of college students admit to being harassed online. Of this group, 25 percent report they were bullied through a social networking site. Instructors who use social media as part of their course activities should be aware of potential dangers and plan to intervene on minor incidents before they become more serious. "By intervening at minor behaviors, we can stop more severe negative behaviors," said Macdonald. "We must insist on civil and respectful behavior." Discouraging Face-to-Face Communication Some educators are concerned that while real-time digital stream may create a safe harbor for students who are uncomfortable expressing themselves, students are missing valuable lessons in real-life social skills. Students may find themselves at a disadvantage during college admission or job interviews when they need to command attention and deliver a coherent message. At social gatherings and in personal relationships, they need to be able to effectively express themselves and connect with others. Ultimately, while the debate continues over what role social media should play in the classroom, no one can argue the influence that social networking has on today's students. This tech-savvy generation conducts much of their life through social media channels. Not surprisingly, they're already using YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter as tools for learning and collaboration. They expect that their campuses will follow suit. With this in mind, it seems prudent for today's institutions to get on the social media train and find ways to successfully integrate these tools into the classroom.(By Karen Lederer) From: http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/01/19/Pros-and-Cons-of-SocialMedia-in-the-Classroom.aspx?Page=1 een Social Networking (Part 2 of 3) Ask the Experts by Mary Beth Garvey (Part 2 of 3)

Q. My middle school and high school children seem hyper-focused on social networking. It seems they have a constant preoccupation with texting, checking their cell phones, and being on the computer. Should I be concerned? What does this mean for parents? It suggests that we critically attend to the pros and cons of social networking and the impact is has on our unique family composition and personalities. Different children are going to need limits and guidelines tailored to them. We need to explore how technology and social networking serves our children and what are the pitfalls. Monitoring, education, and limits are critical, but equally as important is safeguarding your connection with your kids, maintaining family time and continuing to establish a trusting relationship based on respect, high expectations and accountability. The Pros of Social Networking

Social networks can help you find individuals who share similar interests or seek out specific information Social networking can be an extension of real world friendships and allows teens to enrich and manage their social lives, particularly in our overscheduled culture Social networking provides shy or introverted teens a comfortable way to communicate and practice their social skills. Social networking allows kids who have disabilities or other challenges to communicate with other teens with similar problems, lessen their isolation and provide mutual support Social networking provides an opportunity to promote artistic talent or experiment with other forms of content creation Social networking can provide a venue for activism and political engagement Potential Risks of Social Networking

Cyber bulling is a risk, including sending threatening messages, publicizing private messages, or posting photos that will cause embarrassment 29% of teens have posted mean information, embarrassing photos or spread rumors about someone and 24% have had private or embarrassing information made public without their permission Teens can become potential targets for predators because of the anonymity of social networking sites and their naivety about information they share 55% of teens have given out personal or identifying information to someone they don't know and 29% have been contacted by someone they don't know Teens may prioritize social networking over face-to-face family and friend relationships and withdraw from activities and more intimate relationships

Excessive use can have negative effects on health and mental health Social networking can negatively impact study time or family time Kids can become preoccupied with cultivating their on-line persona, isolating socially or ignoring real world obligations Texting and talking on cell phones while driving is an increasing concern, with 40% of teens reporting they have been in a car when a driver put themselves or others in danger while using a cell phone Plagiarism and cheating is widely available online It is worth noting, that the negatives are significantly influenced by the excessiveness of an individual's social networking. Technology use is not the issue as much as technology overuse. Therefore, it follows that parents and the family culture have an important impact on how social media is utilized and experienced. Dr. Larry Rosen, an expert in the field of Psychology and Technology, illustrated this in a recent study, "The impact of Parental Attachment Style, Limit Setting and Monitoring on Teen MySpace Behavior." Part of what Rosen wanted to assess was what role parenting plays in the online experiences of children. In addition to finding that pre-teens and teens were spending many hours per week on social networking sites and that many parents were unaware of how this had become a major focus for their children's social lives, he also found that parenting style had a critical impact on how kids used social networking. His study indicated that children of authoritative parents had the most positive impact on their children's networking experience. He defined authoritative as parents who set limits, but did so by talking about them with their children and getting input from their children. Children of this parenting style showed more intimacy with and attachment to their parents, had more social confidence, disclosed less personal information online, were less likely to meet someone who they first met online, viewed less pornography online, were less depressed, were less likely to become addicted to the internet and had more positive self-esteem. Authoritative parents set more clear limits, paid more attention to their teen's social networking activities, placed the computer in a common area, and were more likely to create their own social networking page. (Statistical Sources: Pew Internet and American Life Project and Pew Research) Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW, is a therapist in private practice in Grosse Pointe. She works with children, adolescents and families and can be reached at 313.408.2180 or mbgarvey@hotmail.com. Garvey is a member of the The

Family Center's Association of Professionals, Board and Program Planning Committee. The Family Center serves as the community's hub for information, resources and referral for both families and professionals. The Family Center is a nonprofit organization founded to promote a deeper understanding of the role of parents and others in supporting our youth to become competent, caring and responsible community members. Pakistani Youth Social Networking Sites Are Ruining Showbiz | Top Models Add comments Nov052013 Pakistani Youth Social Networking Sites Are Ruining

Pakistani Youth Social Networking Sites Are Ruining cyber crime affected pakistani giirlPakistan is among those countries where social Networking websites are leading visiting sites. People are using these websites for social networking with friends, family and relatives but many people are using it for wrong doings. A special report has been published by a media house which shows how culprits are using this technology. Though misuse of Girls Pictures on Social media websites is an old story but now some new methods have been exposed. The leading social networking website Facebook is becoming best communication tool for Pakistanis but on other hand it is using by perpetrators for friendship with girls, Kidnapping and other crimes. Kidnap of 13 old boy via Facebook friendship shocked law enforcement agencies. Due to no proper cyber crime laws and implementation, Pakistan has become paradise for criminals. Girls and Children Kidnapping are increasing through internet friendship. Its necessary to aware children and parents should also monitor activities of their kids. Friendship turns into love and ends on Physical abuse. First these crooks start friends with girls and it turns to love affair without knowing each other properly. Then they ask girls to meet in hotel or any other

location. Most of girls dont know about soiled minds of these boys and agree to meet them in any location. They sexually assault these girls and then they blackmail them, report revealed. Social Networking Sites Are Destruction Pakistani Youth Showbiz | Top Models Add comments Nov142013 Social Networking Sites Are Destruction Pakistani Youth

Social Networking Sites Are Destruction Pakistani Youth Pakistan is among those countries where party Networking websites are starring temporary sites. Group are using these websites for gregarious networking with friends, kindred and relatives but some group are using it for unjust doings. A unscheduled interrogatory has been published by a media accommodation which shows how culprits are using this discipline. Tho apply of Girls Pictures on Party media websites is an old account but now whatsoever new methods jazz been unprotected. The stellar party networking website Facebook is proper uncomparable act means for Pakistanis but on else manus it is using by perpetrators for relationship with girls, Capture and other crimes. Kidnap of 13 old boy via Facebook friendship shocked law enforcement agencies. Due to no seemly cyber transgression laws and effort, Pakistan has transmute heaven for criminals. Girls and Children Seizure are progressive finished internet friendship. Its needed to knowing children and parents should also guardian activities of their kids. Relationship turns into love and ends on Somatic assail.

Prototypal these crooks commence friends with girls and it turns to love involvement without lettered each otherwise decent. Then they ask girls to receive in hotel or any separate location. Most of girls dont undergo around soiled minds of these boys and hold to forgather them in any position. They sexually attack these girls and then they blackmail them, interrogation revealed. Pakistani Users' Behavior on Social Networking Websites Revealed By Aamir Attaa | 17, Jul 2012 | 22 Comments Effective Measure, an analytics and audience profiling firm that gather data of over half a billion internet users worldwide to assist publishers, advertisers, ad agencies, ad networks and researchers, has released first ever insight on behavior of Pakistani internet users on social networking websites. Report primarily covers users sentiments for social networking websites, usage and engagement of social networking websites and advertising potential available on social sites for Pakistani audience. This report, made available to ProPakistani, reveals that Facebook, Google+ and Youtube are most favorite online social channels for Pakistani internet users. Facebook is said to have 53 percent popularity amongst Pakistani users, followed by Youtube at 25 percent while Google+ managed to grab 14 percent love from Pakistani internet users. Report said that 38 percent Pakistani population on Facebook login almost everyday, while another 15 percent use Facebook at least once a week. Youtube showed similar but decreased engagement followed by Google+. On other hands, the report said, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn are least used social networking websites in Pakistan. Effective Measures said that almost 71 percent Pakistani internet users never clicked ads on social networking websites, demoing huge potential for CTR growth in local market if interesting and useful products are marketed online. Effective Measure Regional Managing Director Middle East Africa (MEA), Brendon Ogilvy, while commenting on the report said: Pakistan has emerged as a hotbed of social media activity in the region, with many forming communities bound by common interests to exchange ideas and enhance interaction.

By sharing our exclusive and latest insight on Pakistans social networking community, we hope to show the potential of social media as an effective way for advertisers to reach out to brand advocates. Check below screens taken from Insights on Local Consumers from Pakistan on Social Media:

Rela Social Networking - Pros and Cons Edit 0 42 Assignment #1 What is Social Networking? Expected time to complete written assignment: 10 minutes What is Social Networking Homework Assignment

After you have attended the webinar and read the blog pages about social networking, your individual homework assignment this week is to contribute to a list of Pros and Cons about the use of social networking media in a faith formation context.

Please sign in, select the "Edit" button, and add your thoughts below. When you are done, be sure to click on "SAVE." I have added the first bulleted item to get you started. Thank you all for your excellent contributions here to the pro's and con's of Social Networking! SC

PROS

Social Networking is where the young people are - and we need to evangelize them where they are! SN is where I can get help to recharge when feeling alone or overwhelmed.

Shared websites that one may not have known about otherwise. Personal consultation with individuals with first hand experience with specific technical tools and skills. Access to large experience bank. Use as opinion poll Provides support and encouragement. SN allows hidden connections to emerge. SN enables people to create or re-create relationships based on shared interests, common experiences, cultural or religious affiliations. SN is becoming essential to any group or business that wants to succeed with it's message - particularly with people who are tuned into the available technology. "In order to influence the conversation I must be a part of the conversation." Just picked up this quote from Twitter but I like it. Social networking is participating in conversations In addition to being a venue for your "message", SN can be used as a "call to action" where immediate response is required. SN can/is being used as a voice for change in the world politically, spiritually and personally. Good communication tools between parents and catechists. Good tools for teaching Faith Formation. Fun things to keep students interested. Familiarity with what students are interested in/doing can help us come up with ideas to better reach them.hl Helps by having multi levels of ties..core,significant and lose. They can help you see new avenues and ways of thinking. builds community by allowing folks to learn more about the people they pray with on sunday (like names, among other info :) Can maintain contact with friends and family who live far away both in words and pictures in an economical way. This seems to work better than a church bulletin! To reach people (a target audience) you may not reach through other means Can see the impact the teachings, relationships, connections have made when others quote what they heard just that day at Mass, at a FF session, parish picnic, VBS, SCC, etc. I am holding onto the hope that great homilies will be tweeted and the previously unreached will be moved to "Come and See!" The ability to reach out to a greater number of people in a quicker time of period. WOW! the world is now at our fingertips.

CONS

Cyberbullying could be a threat I have to manage my time wisely on social sites. Necessary to validate information for accuracy on specific subjects. Inappropriate postings. Lack of awareness of correct usage or purpose of a particular site. Engaging "friends" with people not known to you. Lack of supervision/guidance of young people who use SN either naively or inappropriately. I have other things I want to do in my life that aren't "wired". I sometimes regret the amount of time I spend on-line. Some people are so caught up in the technology they forget the value and rewards of direct contact with people. I agree that validating information for accuracy can be a problem on social networks. "Do not bear false witness" can be a serious problem if inaccurate information is rapidly spread from network to network. Creating the appearance of acceptable behavior due to overwhelming numbers of people with your same "belief". TEMPTATION People are uncomfortable having information about themselves on the internet. What you see isn't always what you get... requires a constant attention to be updated on security / privacy / etc Gives a sense of being anonymous so can write what would never think of saying face to face Technology changes faster than we do, so I and others always feel behind! Not all people have access to social networking and some just prefer not to Believing that personal contact is a thing of the past The ability to communicate faster also lead to information overload. It is easy to get lost in cyberspace; lost as in hours spent. While the community is now global, it could be difficult to maintain personal face-to-face relationships. Nothing is private. Like swimming in a fishbowl. Social Networking Tools What is a social networking tool? The internet is now a central part of the way we communicate with each other. Social networking tools drive this online communication as they create a webbased atmosphere for socializing with each other. Users interact within this online community via email, instant messaging or posts allowing for the sharing of ideas, interests and information.

Social networking Tools @ Queen's Facebook Facebook was originally designed by three computer science undergraduate students at Harvard University. Facebook was originally intended to provide college and university students with an online space to meet other students, share interests and social activities with each other. Facebook users can design a personal profile with information about them, join social networks based on school, city, workplace, etc. then add friends to view other profiles. Text-based messages, photos, and videos can be shared between users as individuals build their own profile and interact with the profiles of their friends. Wikis A wiki is defined as a collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it. Wikipedia is a popular example of a wiki an online encyclopedia that is written by anyone who chooses to edit it. Generally, no qualifications are required to add or change content on a wiki. A central concept of a wiki is that it is a collaborative, socially-defined collection of information continually edited to reflect society and understanding of given constructs. For a great example of a wiki here at Queen's Visit: https://wiki.queensu.ca/display/escb/Home. This wiki, "Engaging Students in the Classroom and Beyond", Provides a space for members of the Queen's Community to create and share thoughts with each other. MSN Messenger MSN Messenger is an instant messaging application that allows a user to sign into an account, create a list of contacts then chat with them by sending messages back and forth. Instant messaging means the moment a user sends a message to another online friend, the friend receives the message and can respond instantly. The result it a text-based, continuous online conversation between users. MSN messenger has proven to be useful in the academic setting: students often talk with other students, some professors sign onto MSN to converse with their students, and support personnel, such as library or IT Support, use MSN as a way to provide support over the internet. Blogs Blogs are a website or web-page maintained by an individual who makes regular entries similar to journals. The written content might be a commentary, description of events or report of experiences sometimes supplemented by photos or videos. Academically, blogs may be used to facilitate reflective

learning as students post thoughts, share resources, read, reflect and comment on the posts made by others. Through continued use of blogs, knowledge communities are constructed within which students interact and develop a collective understanding of constructs. Why use social networking tools? Social networking tools have developed as the internet has become imbedded in our daily lives. While originally not designed for academic purposes, the use of social networking tools in academia has been considered due to its popularity with today's generation of students. The chart below outlines some of the pros and cons being considered in the debate of social networking tools to academics. Pros Students engage with these tools every day. An academic application of these programs means they are available to students in a way that makes sense to them Social Networking Tools allow for interaction with a large population at once. For example, a Facebook post written once might be read by hundreds. Through the internet, social networking tools allow for discussion outside of formal environments any time anywhere. Cons These tools provide for social interaction outside of academics. Just like students wouldnt like their professors to be at the dance club on Saturday night, they would like to keep social networks social Online socializing does not allow for face-toface interaction and, for the most part, limits communication to text-based messages.

The quality of discussion is arguably decreased as text-based messages loose important cues that help us interpret information such as vocal intonation and facial expression.

Strategies for using social networking tools Strategies for blogging I their 2008 article titled "An empirically grounded framework to guide blogging in higher education", Kerawalla, Minocha & Conole, G., provide a clear guidelines for the use of blogs by both educators and students in their courses. Below are two adapted tables from that article that might be used for consideration of the application of blogs to the over-arching technological and pedagogical context of your course or developing your blogging behavior and skills either as an educator or a student!

Over-arching Technological and Pedagogical context of my course The relationship of my blog with other e-learning tools provided by my course (E.g. Moodle, email, podcasts)

How do I want to use my blog in relation to other learning tools I use? What can blogging offer that other tools cannot? Do I want a personal blog that I can use to meet my own needs? Do I need other students to motivate me to post? Is it easy to embed URLs? Is it compatible with my browser? Is it accessible from anywhere? Is it easy to include audio files? How can I organize and tag my posts? Can I search my tags? How long are my posts stored? What have I been asked to do in my blog? Are the posts assessed? Is blogging compulsory? My Presentation of my blog

The functionality of my blogging software

The requirements of my course (i.e. Pedagogical considerations)

My Audience

My Blogging Community

My Comments

Who are my audience? How large is my audience? Are my audience important/relevant to me? Why? Am I writing for my audience or myself? What do I want from my audience? To what extent am I worried about what

Do I want to belong to a blogging community? Do I want to actively create a community? What do I want to get from or give to a community? What level of

Do I want comments? Why? Do I want to seek or attract comment? What type of comments do I want? Will I read

To what extent does presentation matter to me? Do spelling and grammar matter? Do I want to exclude or check over any content before posting into my blog? Do I want to adopt a formal or

people think of my intellectual abilities?

emotional engagement with the community would I prefer? What level of intellectual engagement would I prefer?

comments I receive? What will I do with my comments?

informal writing style?

Creative use of social networking tools in the academic world While the appropriate place for social networking tools in academics is still being debated, here is a look at some of the creative ways social networking tools are currently being used.

Queens libraries currently run a live chat through MSN, AOL Instant messenger (AIM), or Yahoo! Messenger. Students, staff and faculty can connect via synchronous conversation for help and support. Library staff at Costal Carolina University each created their own Facebook profile and joined a common library group in hopes of updating students of new products, services and events, as well as providing as ask a Librarian: help feature. They found their efforts increase the libraries visibility across campus and enhanced interpersonal relationships between library coworkers. (Graham, J.M., Faix, A., & Hartman, L. (2007). Crashing the Facebook party: One Librarys experience in the students domain. Library Review, 58(3), 288-236.) Private wikis, similar to Wikipedia but limited to a class list, have been used to edit shared learning content such as projects, share reflections between colleagues, and facilitate brainstorming sessions. (http://eprint.qut.edu.au/5398/1/5398.pdf) Students often collaborate via MSN messenger when working together on course objectives.

The Social Networking Advantage "By placing this statement on my webpage, I certify that I have read and understand the GM on http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/ . I am fully aware of the following section Code, Responsibility of the Student and Penalty. In addition, I have received permission fr material that is displayed on my site. This includes quoting extensive amounts of text, any graphics/pictures that are copyrighted. This project or subject material has not been used in Finally, I certify that this site is not for commercial purposes, which is a violation of the G (RUC) Policy posted onhttp://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/1301gen.html web site."

Introduction Whats the recent technology that has students procrastinating and teachers yelling? Thats right social networking sites, this technology has exploded in growth over the last 10 years. These sites have connected users all around the world, allowing friends and family to keep in touch with each other, finding potential love on dating sites, and even finding jobs using social networking. With every new technology there is pros and cons, social networking is no different. Do the benefits of making connections, staying in touch, and business inquires worth the legal, ethical, social and security problems this technology faces?

Background So what is social networking? A social networking site is a site that allows users to share daily activities, share interests and expand their circle of friends. There are several different types of social networking sites most serve dating, friendship, and business related roles. Social networks allow users to post photos, interests, updates, and so forth on their own profile page. The top dogs of each category are Okcupid for dating, Facebook for friendship and LinkedIn for business. How did social networking come to be? The very first social networking site was sixdegress.com, it was a site that allowed users to list their friends, family, and acquaintances on a page (a primitive friends list). Sixdegrees.com ran from 1997 to 2001, then Friendster came along in 2002. The big moment for social networking was in 2003 when myspace came into existence.(Boyd, Ellison, 2008) This site set the standard for social networking sites. It drew in users by combining entertainment and customization with the social networking scheme. Bands could upload their music on a page with all their details then link to all their friends or anybody. The common user could put music on their page, set their mood with an emoticon, post on their on page, a friends page, or a group page. Myspace would later be overtaken in popularity by todays giant Facebook. In 2004 the current beast of social networking came into existence. Facebook started as a social networking site targeted at the college

student demographic, but when it became upon to everyone it exploded.(Phillips , 2007) Currently it has 955 million active users. Facebook is the go to social networking site because of ease of use, user base, and personalization. Facebook is very simple to use create a profile and start posting is pretty much all it takes, this really appeals to the older generations looking to stay in touch with their kids/grandkids. Part of the appeal is its user base, lets face it almost everyone in the younger generation has a Facebook and if you dont youre considered an outlier. The place where Facebook succeeds most is personalization, it allows users to like music, products, shows, etc and these interests are saved to their profile for others to see.

Potential Benefits Social networking has a plethora of benefits, the most obvious one being the social benefit. A user can connect with friends, and meet new ones based on information seen on their profile. In addition to this events can be set up using social networking. A host can set up a page for a event and see who is going and who isnt, RSVP cards are a thing of the past now. Social networks are a new medium for creative expression. They provide free photo storage, messaging, blogging etc to any user with an account and a connection to the internet. Social networking also assists in major life issues. 60 million Americans received help with major life issues (fining a job, a place to live, buying products, and caring for someone with an illness) (Raine, 2006) Social networking is also very helpful for educational reasons. 59% of students with access to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics such as college and career planning, in addition 50% of students report that they use social networks to discuss school assignments.( National School Boards Association, 2009) Social networks also help users learn new technologies as well as keeping users up to date on current technologies.

Legal and Ethical issues Social networking is not all peaches and cream though, like most technologies it has its legal and ethical issues. A big legal problem that

social networking users run into is the posting of third party content, this isnt really surprising due to the fact most social networks are used for posting content. Using any third party content (photos, videos, songs, etc.) is a punishable offense under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. Section 101, et. seq. This means whenever you post a photo/video/song that is not yours and dont have permission to use it, you the user are at risk of copyright infringement (Ossian, Miller, Canfield, Paddock , Stone, 2009).The most popular legal issue is the ownership/control of your content. Does the company or the user own the content he or she posts? Facebooks privacy page states While you are allowing us to use the information we receive about you, you always own all of your information. Your trust is important to us, which is why we don't share information we receive about you with others unless we have: received your permission, given notice... and removed your name (Facebook, 2012)So in effect the user owns all their info, but by agreeing to the terms of service youre allowing Facebook to use your info as they please. This can be seen by the ads tailored to your info/likes on the right hand side of your Facebook page. Can the content you post be used against you in the court of law? The answer Is yes here is a yahoo article shows how Accused gang member Melvin Colon had argued in court that investigators violated his constitutional right to privacy when they viewed his Facebook profile via one of his friends' accounts. But US District Judge William Pauley III ruled that Colon's messaged threats and posts about violent acts he committed were not private, and indeed fair game for prosecutors."(Tecca, 2012). This is just one case of many that shows what you post online can come back to haunt you. Ethical concerns for social networking mostly consist of the use of your information. A trend sweeping employers is to have the applicant log into their Facebook so the employer can preview it or simply just searching their profile. This is very unethical due to the immense discrimination that can take place, yet 56% of employers take part in this practice. (Protalinski, 2012)The next issue is whether or not is it ethical for social

networks to use your data/behavior for their own use. The user agrees to the terms of services so in a way a site like Facebook can do whatever they want with your data within the realm of Facebook. This means they can do better product placement, suggest friends, pages, etc. Opponents of this would say Facebook is infringing on your privacy and should let the user make its own decisions. The reality is that you agreed to the terms of services so that defense isnt applicable.

Security Concerns There are many security concerns when dealing with sites that have a mass of information. One of the most prevalent security concerns is phishing/scamming; this is due to the ease acquiring information on these sites. For instance on Facebook a completely random person friends you, and you accept. This person now has access to all your info that you have listed for them including phone numbers, location, and interests. A user can expect more junk emails and random phone calls if you let unknown people have access your info. Another common security breach occurs with links to other sites. This is very prevalent on Facebook when an account gets hacked the hacker posts a status saying go to this link and so forth. From this link you put in your info and to view some form of media and now they have all your account info. Most of the security concerns for social networking sites fall under scams/phishing due to the ease, it would be much harder for a hacker to take down a site as a whole then use all their info. (Poremba, 2010)

Social Problems The problem you see day to day with social networking sites is social problems like cyber bullying, social isolation, and verification. Cyber bullying has become a problem with the rise of social networks. A 2009 study found that 17.3% of middle school students have been victims of cyber-bullying. .( Hinduja , Patchin, 2010) This study shows a surprising amount of students have become victims of cyber bullying most likely due to social networks.( Hinduja , Patchin, 2010) This is to almost be expected due to the online persona and the fact many schools dont know how to handle such affairs. The next issue deals with social isolation. Is

social networking just another way to keep kids inside their homes and not go outside? According to a new study from Grunwald Associates LLC teens spend 9 hours a week on social networking sites. One would say this is awful, but according to the same study 59% of students usual social networking to talk education related topics (National School Boards Association, 2009). Another problem is proper identification; a user can make any profile under any name. Sexual predators have been using social networking sites to lure victims. In Feb. 2009, MySpace identified over 90,000 registered sex offenders with profiles on the site.( Zephoria,2009) This is a testament to how easy it is to use social networking for the wrong reasons.

Conclusion Social networking is a great tool for anyone to use. There are numerous benefits for the common user such as making connections with new friends and reconnecting with olds ones. One can now have a dating profile online and possibly find love that way. An unemployed worker can have his resume on a LinkedIn profile and find a job. All these great things can be accomplished using social networking sites. Like all things social networking has its drawbacks. A user can be sued for using 3rd party content; a users data could be used against them or even compromised by a scammer. A user is more likely to face cyber bullying if they are using a social network than one who isnt. So if there are all these issues why bother using one? Well, the majority of these problems can be avoided using proper precautions and just internet common sense. If you dont know the people dont accept their request, if the link looks fishy dont click on it, and if someone is bullying you block them. For social networking the benefits far out way the possible risks. A user can enjoy more connections with friends and family, making new friend/relationships and keep up to date with technology and news from posts. In conclusion in this day and age it would be silly to not take advantage of social networking sites the numerous benefits of social networking outweigh the easily avoided risks of it. References

Scholarly Paper/ Studies Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. (2007). Cyberbullying Research Summary. 1-2. Retrieved from http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_and_suicide_research_f act_sheet.pdf.

Provides stat of how 17% middle schoolers are victims of cyber bullying. National School Boards Association (NSBA) (2007, July). Creating and connecting: Research and guidelines on online socialand educational networking. www.ila.org. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.ila.org/pdf/creatingandconnecting.pdf

Provides stats on how 59% of students talk about educational topics on social networks, 50% of students use social networks to discuss assignments, and how 9 hours is spend browsing social networks.

Websites Ossian, K., Paddock, M., & Stone (2009, May). The Law Firm of Miller Canfield: An International Law Firm. Retrieved October 1, 2012, fromhttp://www.millercanfield.com/media/article/200120_LEGAL%20IS SUES%20IN%20SOCIAL%20NETWORKING.pdf

Discuses legal problems with social networking including ownership, copyright, and liability.

Phillips, S. (2007, July 24). A brief history of Facebook | Technology | The Guardian. Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian. Retrieved October 10, 1, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/jul/25/media.newmedia

Provides a brief history of Facebook, shows dates and order in which it grew as a company.

Poremba , S. (2010, April 7). Five Social Media Security Issues.EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet - News, trends and advice for network managers. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/netsecur/five-socialmedia-security-issues

Provides information on security problems associated with social networks.

Protalinski, E. (2012, January 16). 56% of employers check applicants' Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter | ZDNet. ZDNet | Technology News, Analysis, Comments and Product Reviews for IT Professionals. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/56-ofemployers-check-applicants-facebook-linkedin-twitter/7446

Provides of how 56% of employers check applicants Facebooks. Rainie, L., Horrigan, J., Wellman, B., & Boase, J. (2006, January 25). The Strength of Internet Ties | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2006/The-Strength-of-InternetTies.com

Shows that 60 million Americans have used to the internet for help with major life decisions.

Tecca, R. (2012, August 16). Facebook court ruling: What you share on Facebook is admissible as evidence | Technology News Blog - Yahoo!

News. Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/facebookcourt-ruling-share-facebook-admissible-evidence-165545087.html

Discusses case of Facebook being used in court of law. Boyd, D. (2009, February). danah boyd | apophenia doing the math on MySpace and registered sex offenders. Zephoria. Retrieved October 1, 2012, fromhttp://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2009/02/06/doing_the_m ath.html

Provides stats on sexual predators using social networking sites. Interviews The Facebook Effect with Mark Zuckerberg (2011, July). [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TuFkupUn7k

Interview with founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg about the life of Facebook.

Organizations : A we l l - t u n e d o n l i n e s o c i a l n e t wo r k wi t h i n a n o r g a n i z a t i o n c a n e n h a n c e t h e c o l l e c t i v e knowledge of the employee and share their experiences, their practices and their effort towards the job. In order to develop a strategy for its future, an $8-billion energy companyneeded to identify the forces that would influence its industry. Previously, the company hadused outside consultants to conduct a scenario building process with the top 15 corporateo f f i c e r s . R e s u l t s we r e d i s a p p o i n t i n g - f i n a l r e p o r t s s a t o n t h e s h e l f . To ma k e a r e a l d i f f e r e n c e t h i s t i me , t h e p r o c e s s h a d t o g o d e e p e r a n d i n v o l v e mo r e p e o p l e a c r o s s t h e company to get grass-roots buy-in for recommended changes. It wasn't feasible to convenean all-hands meeting, and the company was in a hurry. So they opened an

online network to connect people at all levels and from all parts of the company in a discussion about the business environment, economic trends, and technology developme nts that could affecttheir ability to succeed. In addition to the expected benefits of generating an abundance of i d e a s a n d e n g a g i n g a b r o a d r a n g e o f p e o p l e i n t h e c o mp a n y i n t h e s t r a t e g i c p l a n n i n g process, the online network had a profound effect on the organization. During the course of t h e p r o je c t , a ma j o r c r i s i s o c c u r r e d wh e n t h e r e w a s a b r e a k i n t h e p i p e l i n e A s o n e participant put it , "For the first time I know what's in the minds of my colleagues on a day-to-day basis ." [13] Public Sector: Social networking is also very useful for public sector. It creates the relationship among the publicly owned bodies and populace which are located in remote are as. Urban as well asr u r a l c i t i z e n s a r e a l s o b e n e f i t e d b y t h i s t e c h n o l o g y a t a l l . E x i s t i n g u s a g e o f s o c i a l networking by the UK government and other public sector areas includes the use of YouT u b e t o d i s s e m i n a t e i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e p u b l i c o n a r e a s s u c h a s T r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l Government and service consolidation. There is also the integration of CCTV systems intocommunity services, as with the West Lancashire Safety Partnership, where the communityis encouraged to help with watching live CCTV over the internet and reporting anything tothe police. Blogs are becoming heavily utilized by individual politicians (generally heavilymoderated and controlled via their central office), with the aim of getting more personalmessages out to the public in a shorter time than has historically been possible througho t h e r we b s i t e s o r d i r e c t ma i l i n g s ys t e ms .. S o c i a l n e t wo r k i n g c a n h e l p public s e c t o r bodies interact to a far greater extent with citizens as well as wi th internal and externalresources. Full policies are required to be put in place to mediate social networking, and backend technology needs to be chosen carefully to include support for the majority of clients likely to be found within a consumerfocused end-user environment, as well askiosks and other systems aimed at the non- computer owing citizen.

[5] T h e S o c i e t y o f Information Technology Management (Socitm) has claimed in its latest report- Socialmedia: why ICT management should lead their organizations to embrace it that most ICT managers in the public sector restrict or even block social networks and by doing this aretaking the wrong attitude to something that could improve the organization. Trying to block social media is an approach doomed to failure, simply because it is impossible tostop people using it, said the report. The report showed 90 percent of public sector bodiesrestricted social networking in some way, while almost 67 percent cut employees off fromi t c o mp l e t e l y. S e c u r i t y w a s t h e ma i n r e a s o n f o r b l o c k i n g s i t e s s u c h a s F a c e b o o k a n d Twitter, but employers were also concerned about straining their networks Social media will not go away, the report added . [11] Anti social & illegal activities on social networks platform: S o me o n e s a i d t h a t Ex c e s s o f e v e r yt h i n g i s b a d a nd t h i s i s a u n i v e r s a l t r ut h . S o c i a l networking is not apart from this saying.Some people most of them females are generallycomplaints that misuse of the personal information by other users, security problems arethe causes for the troubles arrived in their lives. Anthanasopoulos et al... stated that We d e f i n e a n t i s oc i a l n e t wo r k s a s a s o c i a l n e t wo r k , d e v i o u s l y ma n i p u l a t e d f o r l a u n c h i n g activities connected with fraud and cyber-crime .[7] Secret life becomes dangerous onlywhen combined with toxic elements such as severe psychological abnormalities or extremeantisocial behavior. Technology can enhance the secrecy, especially when parents remainuninformed or fail to articulate clear values and enforceable rules. Proper modeling by parents is also important, for example in the area of file sharing and c opyrightinfringement. A parent who demonstrates restraint in the face of

the gap that exists betweenthe law and technology provides implicit advice that one should be cautious when us ingnew technologies. [20] Also, most of the information put on the social networking sites isfake, concocted or half truths. While going through these informations, we feel annoyedon one hand and also develop the same habit of posting misleading information on theother. This way it adds negatively to socio-psychological behavior of the human being. The people are getting addicted to these sites day-byday. The numbers of users is on the rise.Th i s p r o v e s t h a t e - wo r l d i s t a k i n g i t s t o l l o v e r t h e r e a l wo r l d . Th e p e o p l e a r e g e t t i n g secluded. For the sake of numbers, they have lots of friends, but in reality they are devoidof good friends. This again, affects human behavior. People are becoming individualistic.Social values are vanishing.[ 19 ] Some points to be remember at the time of Registration on social network sites: Do not post personal information, Including your cell phone number, Residential address, Social plans, etc. unless you are ready for anyone to find you/track you down, any timeof the day or night. D o n o t p o s t a n yt h i n g t h a t mi g h t b e d i s c o mf o r t i n g yo u i n a p o t e n t i a l e mp l o y me n t s i t u a t i o n . P e o p l e h a v e b e e n d e n i e d wo r k b e c a u s e o f i n f o r ma t i o n f o u n d o n s o c i a l networking sites. Utilize the "Privacy" settings on your social network account you can adjust your privacy settings so as to control who has access to your personal information.

Findings: After screening the whole scenario it can be said that if Social networking is in control, itwill prove a boon for the entire

information world but on the other hand if it is uncontrolledi t c a n b e a c a u s e o f s e l f d i s t u r b a n c e , i n s e c u r i t y a n d me l a n c h o l y. I t w i l l p r o v e n o t o n l y unproductive but risky also. Conclusion: This paper concludes that in the digital information system, social networks are performingsignificant role. In fewer seconds, we can get the most recent information from the personsitting in the far country. So, Social networks are not only a boon, it proved panacea for thee n t i r e d i g i t a l i n f o r ma t i o n wo r l d . Wi s e l y u s e o f t h i s t e c h n o l o g y i s r e c o mme n d a b l e f o r achieving the all advantages it offers

THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING IN PAKISTAN

Home Random Thoughts The Use of Social Networking in Pakistan
Posted on May 3, 2013 at 2:18 am by Sabeeh ul HassanNo Comment

Well, this is an interesting one for sure. Youre going to like this read if youre a liberal at mind. Who doesnt know Facebook and Twitter? Well, almost everyone wholl come to this post know what these two social networks are but most of you will be fond of Facebook more then Twitter. I know Twitter is boring for those who are just trolling on the social network and Facebook is more of an appealing Social Network since it doesnt leave your life private even with those lots of privacy settings. I am going to criticize the way we use Social Network here in Pakistan so if youre a Pakistani and you dont like criticism, I would humbly request you to quit reading this post since this is seriously Adult stuff youre not going to like. People around here have nothing important to do after their university/professional life so all they end up doing is trolling across Facebook. They love sharing posts; off course the ones that are mostly share have least value to an intellect. Let me give you an example here. I recently came across a post on my Feed from one of the Network Administrators I know in a well reputed company here. I am not going to name him, neither the company so he doesnt come back yelling at me. He shared this post where the content was in Urdu but I am translating that into English The Android Market of the famous mobile phone manufacturers Apple has recently acce pted a Quran Application written by an Ahmadi, I condemn this sick act and if youre a true Follower, please share this post as much as you can to protest. I wonder if youve gotten my point from this or not, but I will post an explanation to this later.

The Network Administrator that shared this post apart from a lot of other Information Technology Graduates that I know of are all obviously at least Graduates in Information Technology so one should least expect stupidity from them. Did you read that shared statement closely? The Android Market of famous mobile phone manufacturer APPLE I mean when did Apple take up the Android Market. You dumbo, Apple owns the Apple Store and Android Market that is now known as Google Play is owned by Google, the developers behind the popular Android Mobile OS. Social Networks were meant to stay updated with whats happening around your friends circle but obviously not to set rumors on air. Ok, here is another interesting fact about people around me, obviously I am one of them but I try my most to search Google before sharing any rumor and if a credible source on Google confirms the news, only then I share the post. See! I started justifying myself but coming back to the fact, 60% of the information we use in a debate on a serious issue in the real life comes from Facebook and no authentic source. Isnt that interesting? No one even tries to confirm if that is genuine or not. I am not going to touch the Burma issue buzz on Facebook or the Nike controversy with their Air series logo resembling to Allah since that is something past obsolete. Still people keep posting these updates on the Facebook and amazingly get a lot of shares. Oh, another interesting one; your luck, fortune is all associated with posts on Facebook. There are posts scrolling on your Facebook feed for most of the time with good words written on them. These could be images made out of Hadith or Quotations from the saints or even Verses from Quran and if you share them, it serves like a fortune cookie. Youre going to have something really good the same evening and if you dont Curse be upon you. This one is serious people! I dont say one shouldnt share good words but there is no point of blackmailing people into sharing it and associating it with luck and fortune. The Almighty that I know of isnt inspired by the sharing of posts but instead He loves random acts of kindness. One last point before I quit writing and quit pissing people; ALL protests, may they be against the Governments, Religious Scholars, Armed Forces, Institutions start on Facebook, reach a climax and end on Facebook with practically no results at all but just a bunch of fools talking about it over dinners, gatherings and parties. You see an event on the Facebook Events Application and literally millions will be attending that event on Facebook and if you mistakenly go to Liberty Roundabout to see how many actually showed up, youll hardly find a few there. One example that I can recall is the protest against the Government of Pakistan against the dissolution of Higher Education Commission in Pakistan on the Mall Road. I dont remember the name of the girl from LSE who pulled a group of 40 people to participate in the protest where practically thousands were supposed to show up. Hardly 200 students showed up there and I wasnt even able to find that girl on the protest. Stop fooling yourself folks. Social Networks are nothing but more of a source to breakup these days. Lol. Friends have become enemies after looking at your relationship statuses with their exes. Lovers are breaking up because they see their partners trolling on the Facebook with other guys/girls. They were not meant to be this way. They were meant to share updates about your life and not just random stupid stuff or to protest against institutions. If youre so damn interested in protesting against something, stand up, leave your desk and go out so someone looks at you as more of an inspiration. Message of the day: Again, live it large, use your social network proactively so on the broader horizon, you appear as a mature individual with a say; not just a dumb fool with no common sense. And yes, professionally, you need a LinkedIn profile too apart from your super cool Facebook profile with a sexy cover photo, try making one for your future.Google+

Pros & Cons of Social Media

by Jessica, Needa, Beth

http://illegalimmigrationstatistics.net/illegal-immigration-pros-and-cons/
Put yourself out there in a good way Connect with students in other educational systems Make new friends/communicate or connect with old friends/family Get different opinions on things like surveys Get a fanbase/try to make a name for yourself You could help somebody with anything on a blog just by stating your opinion. Instead of mailing something and having it take a few days to get there or even paying to mail it, you can go right on the web and have it sent to someone in a matter of seconds. The social media can bring people together that are interested in the same things as you are. Ability to educate others in a different way 60 million Americans received help with major life issues (changing jobs, finding a new place to live, buying a car, and caring for someone with an illness) from people in their social networks in 2006. These people said social networking sites helped them connect with friends and experts who assisted in their decisions. Social networking sites bring people with common interests together Try to make an impact (helping with natural disasters and raising awareness) Social media sites are expanding from general interest to more specific uses that benefit society. For example, sites have been created for medical purposes such as dealing with life altering diseases, alcoholism, drug addiction, weight loss, and autism. Advertising yourself and a brand 59% of students with access to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics including career and college planning, and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments Blog about your opinions to express yourself in a non-violent way Colleges can recruit you on videos you put up on social media for sports. Convenience (mass invitation online to events)

The Pros and Cons of Social Media Automation

SOCIAL MEDIA

By Kaitlin Hawkins, Published December 19, 2013 2 Join the discussion! hare: 85Tweet 24 Share 18Share21
176

Social media gives people a unique opportunity to connect with others and share ideas all around the world. While individuals make great use of social media to stay connected with friends and family, businesses are also using social media as a marketing strategy. What makes some businesses effective with social media while others flounder in the vast sea of social media content? While some businesses may have the resources to hire someone to focus on their social media strategy all the time, many dont, and with all the other responsibilities employees have as well as the many tasks that need to be accomplished, it can be difficult to spend even a fraction of the time necessary to maintain an effective social media strategy. Social media automation is one solution for increasing social media effectiveness. It allows social media users to create content and schedule their posts to be shared on a variety of different social media platforms throughout the day. Sounds perfect, right? While there are many benefits to using social media automation, its important to also realize some of the drawbacks before committing to using it as part of a social media strategy.

The Pros of Social Media Automation

Convenience
Probably the most obvious benefit to automating social media content is the convenience. With programs like Hootsuite, Buffer, and even Facebooks own scheduling system, you can create content and schedule it to appear at a specific time on multiple platforms. This is great for companies operating on multiple social sites and need a way to quickly post messages to each of them.

Reaching More People More Often

With the added convenience of automation, users can schedule their posts for the most valuable times throughout the daythe times when their followers are most active and engaged. Automation allows businesses to post their content when it is most likely to be seen and make an impact, which is especially important for sites like Facebook, where when you post matters for your overall reach.

Delivering Content Consistently

The convenience also allows businesses to ensure that they are constantly updating their platforms with new content. Consistency in delivery helps a business to build a loyal following because theyve proven theyre reliable. Even if something unexpected comes up, automation allows a business to still meet their audiences expectations by ensuring that updated content is delivered on time.

The Cons of Social Media Automation

Potential for Neglect
When a business uses automationespecially if its business on the busy side of thingsit can be easy to let the social media aspect of the business to get neglected. If your automated posts arent monitored for their overa ll impact, posts can quickly become irrelevant and your audience could leave. Businesses also lose out on vital opportunities for human connection by using a third-party app instead of posting and interacting by hand.

Potential Loss of Human Connection

Social media is meant to be just that: social. An effective strategy is about building relationships. However, if a business falls into the trap of neglecting their social media strategy, human connections are negatively impacted because of the lack of interactivity between the brand and the audience. A complete reliance on automation can strip a business of the opportunity to respond to the questions and concerns of its audience in real-time.

Posting During Tragedies/Emergencies

Automating content can unfortunately create some negative opportunities when potentially insensitive posts are shared during a time of tragedy or emergency. Businesses need to remember that automation ensures consistency in their delivery, but this is an area where it can backfire on them. An example of a social media fail in the midst of tragedy was when Guy Kawasakis Twitter continued to post and re-post his content after the Boston Marathon bombing. The posts stuck out in the midst of a stream of other posts about the tragedy. When someone suggested he turn his tweets off, he responded negatively. Many people found this to be insensitive. Read more at http://www.business2community.com/social-media/pros-cons-social-media-automation0719791#B1hOHCma2iXRkMdd.99

Social Media in Education: Pros and Cons

Details Published on 09 April 2013 Written by Keerti Arora Hits: 12652
EdTech Data & Stats Facebook Social Media Technology in Education Tips for Students Tips for Teachers Twitter

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SOCIAL MEDIA IN EDUCATION: PROS AND CONS

We all agree that learning is not just studying a textbook but also interaction and communication. Until a few decades ago the latter aspect of learning was limited to the physical space of a classroom. Now however, social media has widened the dimensions of the available spaces for the social component of learning. Social media in education, being a relatively new concept has been the central concern of many educators, teachers and parents. In the short time that it has existed, people all over the world have welcomed it as an indispensible addition. In this article, we explore the role of social media in education, its benefits and challenges. While the adoption of social platforms has not been uniform globally, a study conducted by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has revealed that 100% of studied colleges have opened up their arms for social platforms in one form or the other. The Broad Picture The popularly used social media in education includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+message boards and blogging among which Facebook leads the rest. From a 61% usage in 2008-2009, it went upto 87% in 2009-2010 and reached 98% in 2010-2011, thus proving to be the most loved of all. Twitter although falls short of the loved-by-all mark, has shown tremendous increase in its usage. Educational institutes have been majorly using micro blogging to update students and teachers with latest announcements. From 0% use in 2008-2009, the growth graph marked 59% in 2009-2010 and finally 84% in 2010-2011. LinkedIn, best used by admission professionals began with only 0% usage in 20082009, covered 16% in 2009-2010 and touched 47% in 2010-2011. The popularity of Blogging has remained constant over the years. It has had 48%, 46% and 47% usage in the years 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 20102011 respectively. Likewise message boards enjoyed constant levels of usage starting from 36% in 2008-2009 to 38% in 2009-2010 and 37% in 2010-2011. Incorporation in the Existing System: How schools use social media For a generation who spends their maximum time in the virtual space, focus must lie on the key interests and needs of students while using social media in education. Also social media provide ways to enhance connection with students as it brings them closer by alleviating the necessity of physical presence. Here are some interesting ways in which schools use or can use social media in the 21st century teaching and learning.

Classroom Resource a) Sharing of important announcements and discussions to keep members updated through Twitter.(Using Twtter for Teacher Collaboration) b) Blogs and networking sites as a hub for links to important resources/articles/information. (Power of Twitter for Student Research) School Pride a) Mascot Facebook pages to popularize events, encourage participants, develop a school spirit b) Freebies like school swags and useful material shared online Reaching Out a) Through virtual platforms, many institutes allow not just a peek but a full navigation of the campus. b) Through name tags of institutes provided by students in their interactions via social media, institutes approach potential students via their online profiles. Professional Development a) Websites provide information about ones own industries directly from the source. b) Networking provides interaction avenues with colleagues.( Also see Google Hangout for Teacher Development ) Stay Connected a) Active, at times cost free promotion can be done on virtual groups, pages and blogs, also allowing feedback and further interaction at the same time. b) Schools can even interact with parents and keep each other informed. c) Alumni groups can maintain connection. The good and the better While many schools have adopted social media successfully, some have not been able to use it to its full advantage. Here are some suggestions for the good and ways in which others have made themselves better. Suggestions 1) Info-abled The manager of the virtual space must be equipped with the knowhow of both social media and the school. 2) Social yet mute If a webpage does not allow one to one interaction the very purpose of its being social is lost. 3) Update/Stagnate Frequent maintenance and updates are necessary to prevent the page being judged as inactive by co-online visitors. Successful strategies 1) Is it safe? Using tools such as monitoring, necessary pre-post approval, teachers have been able to maintain the social health of their interactive space. 1. Implementing Connection Through encouraging student participation, the social aspect of learning has been achieved. 2. Online Personality Management The schools online picture says a lot about the school. By allowing content space for students, faculty and prospective students, the virtual presence of the school is enhanced. The wide outreach and consumption statistics of social media shows that it is an addition to life that is here to stay. What do you think about the feasibility of

incorporating this resource for enhancing education? Have a look at this wonderful infographic by OnlineUniversities.com and drop in your views below.

Pro & Con Arguments: "Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society?"

PRO Social Networking Sites

1. Social networking sites spread information faster than any other media. Over 50% of people learn about breaking news on social media. [1] 65% of traditional media reporters and editors use sites like Facebook and LinkedIn for story research, and 52% use Twitter. [2] Social networking sites are the top news source for 27.8% of Americans, ranking close to newspapers (28.8%) and above radio (18.8%) and other print publications (6%). [1] Twitter and YouTube users reported the July 20, 2012 Aurora, CO theater shooting before news crews could arrive on the scene [3], and the Red Cross urged witnesses to tell family members they were safe via social media outlets. [4] 2. Law enforcement uses social networking sites to catch and prosecute criminals. 67% of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals surveyed think "social media helps solve crimes more quickly." [5] In 2011 the NYPD added a Twitter tracking unit and has used social networking to arrest criminals who have bragged of their crimes online. [6] When the Vancouver Canucks lost the 2011 Stanley Cup in Vancouver, the city erupted into riots. Social media was used to catch vandals and rioters as social networking site users tagged the people they knew in over 2,000 photos posted to the sites. [7] [8] 3. Social networking sites help students do better at school. 59% of students with access to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments. [9] After George Middle School in Portland, OR introduced a social media program to engage students, grades went up by 50%, chronic absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20% of students school-wide voluntarily completed extra-credit assignments. [10] [11]

CON Social Networking Sites

1. Social media enables the spread of unr and false information. 49.1% of people heard false news via social media. [1] On 2012 false rumors of fires, shootouts, and caravans of gunmen in a Mexico City sub spread via Twitter and Facebook caused p flooded the local police department with 3,000 phone calls, and temporarily closed schools. [79] Shashank Tripathi, tweeting a @ComfortablySmug, spread false inform the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy by post Twitter that the New York Stock Exchang flooding and that the power company wo off electricity to all of Manhattan; the bog information was picked up by national ne outlets including CNN and the Weather Channel. [80]

2. Social networking sites lack privacy an users to government and corporate intrusions. 13 million users said they had or did not know about Facebook's privacy and 28% shared all or nearly all of their p publicly. [81] The US Justice Department intercepted 1,661 pieces of information fr social networking sites and e-mails in 2011. [82] The 2009 IRS training manual t agents to scan Facebook pages for inform that might "assist in resolving a taxpayer 4.7 million Facebook users have "liked" a condition or medical treatment page, info that is sometimes used by insurance comp raise rates. [81] [83]

3. Students who are heavy social media u tend to have lower grades. Students who social media had an average GPA of 3.06 non-users had an average GPA of 3.82 an students who used social networking sites studying scored 20% lower on tests. [84] C students grades dropped 0.12 points for e minutes above the average 106 minutes s Facebook per day. [85] Two-thirds of teach

4. Social networking sites allow people to improve their relationships and make new friends. 70% of adult social networking users visit the sites to connect with friends and family [12], and increased online communication strengthens relationships. [13] 52% of teens using social media report that using the sites has helped their relationships with friends, 88% report that social media helps them stay in touch with friends they cannot see regularly, 69% report getting to know students at their school better, and 57% make new friends. [14] 5. Social media helps empower business women. Being able to connect on social networking sites gives business women a support group not readily found offline where female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are outnumbered by male CEOs 15 to 485.[15] Many social media sites are dominated by women: 72% of Pinterest users are women, 58% of Facebook users, 62% of MySpace users, 60% of Yelp users, and 53% of Instagram users. [16] Business women useTwitter chats to support each other, give and receive peer knowledge, and have guest "speakers" share expert knowledge. [17] One.org helps African women entrepreneurs connect on social media to grow their businesses. [18] 6. Social media sites help employers find employees and job-seekers find work. 64% of companies are on two or more social networks for recruiting [19] because of the wider pool of applicants and more efficient searching capabilities. 89% of job recruiters have hired employees through LinkedIn, 26% through Facebook, and 15% through Twitter. [20] One in six job-seekers credit social media for helping find their current job. 52% of job-seekers use Facebook for the job search, 38% use LinkedIn, and 34% use Twitter. [21] 7. Being a part of a social networking site can increase a person's quality of life and reduce the risk of health problems. Social media can help improve life satisfaction, stroke recovery,

believe that social media does more to dis students than to help academically. [86]

4. Social networking sites can lead to stre offline relationship problems. A Univer Edinburgh Business School study found t Facebook friends a person has, the more s the person finds Facebook to use. [87] Acc a Feb. 9, 2012 Pew Internet report, 15% o social network users had an experience on networking site that caused a friendship t 12% of adult users had an experience onl resulted in a face-to-face argument, and 3 adults reported a physical confrontation a result of an experience on a social networ site. [88]

5. Social networking sites entice people to time. 40% of 8 to 18 year olds spend 54 m day on social media sites. [89] 36% of peo surveyed listed social networking as the " waste of time," above fantasy sports (25% watching TV (23%), and shopping (9%). When alerted to a new social networking activity, like a new tweet or Facebook me users take 20 to 25 minutes on average to the original task. In 30% of cases, it took hours to fully return attention to the origi task. [91] 42% of American Internet users games like Farmville or Mafia Wars on s networking sites. [92]

6. Using social media can harm job stabil employment prospects. Job recruiters re negative reactions to finding profanity (6 poor spelling or grammar (54%), illegal d (78%), sexual content (66%), pictures of alcohol (47%), and religious content (26% potential employees social media pages. [21] Anthony Weiner, former US Representative, was forced to resign after Twitter sexting scandal in 2011. [93] Seve athletes were banned from the 2012 Olym because of their racist social media posts.

memory retention, and overall well-being by providing users with a large social group. Additionally, friends on social media can have a "contagion" effect, promoting and helping with exercise, dieting, and smoking cessation goals. [22] 8. Social networking sites facilitate face-to-face interaction. People use social media to network at in-person events and get to know people before personal, business, and other meetings. [23] Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project found that messaging on social media leads to face-to-face interactions when plans are made via the sites and social media users messaged close friends an average of 39 days each year while seeing close friends in person 210 days each year. [24] 9. Social networking sites increase voter participation. Facebook users reported they are more likely to vote if they see on social networking sites that their friends did. [25] During the Nov. 2010 elections, Facebook users who visit the site more than once a day were 2.5 times more likely to attend a political rally or meeting, 57% more likely to persuade someone about a vote, and 43% more likely to say they will vote. [26]During the 2012 presidential election, 22% of registered voters posted about how they voted on Facebook or Twitter, 30% were encouraged to vote by posts on social media, and 20% encouraged others to vote via social networking sites. [27] 10. Social media facilitates political change.Social networking sites give social movements a quick, no-cost method to organize, disseminate information, and mobilize people. [28] The 2011 Egyptian uprising (part of the Arab Spring), organized largely via social media, motivated tens of thousands of protestors for eighteen days of demonstrations and, ultimately led to the resignation of Egyptian President Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011. [29] A July 4, 2011 tweet from @Adbusters with the hashtag #occupywallstreet started the American Occupy movement, which gained traction in Sep. 2011 when protesters

7. The use of social networking sites is cor with personality and brain disorders, s the inability to have in-person conversa need for instant gratification, ADHD, a centered personalities, as well as addict behaviors. [81] Pathological Internet Use or exacerbated by social networking use) associated with feelings of loneliness, dep anxiety and general distress. [95] The 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual o Disorders (DSM) is evaluating "Internet Addiction Disorder," for inclusion. A 200 study revealed web users had fundamenta altered prefrontal cortexes [96] due, in part fast pace of social networking sites rewiri brain with repeated exposure. [97]

8. Social media causes people to spend les interacting face-to-face. A Jan. 2012 Ce the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg study found that the percentage of people reporting less face-to-face time with fami their homes rose from 8% in 2000 to 34% 2011. [98] 32% of those surveyed were on media or texting during meals (47% of 18 olds) [99] instead of talking with family or 10% of people younger than 25 years old to social media and text messages during
[173]

9. Criminals use social media to commit a promote crimes. Gangs use the sites to r younger members, coordinate violent crim threaten other gangs. [101] Offline crime, l robberies, may result from posting person information such as vacation plans [102] or gaining information about a victims whe from posts, photos, or location tagging services. [103]

10. Social media can endanger the military journalists. The US Army notes that che with location based services on social net sites like Foursquare or Facebook could e sensitive whereabouts and endanger milit personnel and operations. [104] In 2011 a M

gathered at New York City's Zuccotti Park and remained there until Nov. 15, 2011. [30] 11. Social networking is good for the economy.Social media sites have created a new industry and thousands of jobs in addition to providing new income and sales. [31] A McKinsey Global Institute study projects that the communication and collaboration from social media could add $900 billion to $1.3 trillion to the economy through added productivity and improved customer service. [32] Facebook posted $1.26 billion for third quarter 2012 revenue, up from $954 million for third quarter 2011 earnings. [33] Twitter, a private company, earned an estimated $350 million in 2012 revenue. [34] 12. Social media sites empower individuals to make social change and do social good on a community level. Social media shares popularized nine-year old Scottish student, Martha Payne, and her blog, "Never Seconds," which exposed the state of her schools lunch program prompting international attention that resulted in changes to her school and the formation of "Friends of Never Seconds" charity to feed children globally. [35] [141] Jeannette Van Houten uses social media to find owners of photographs and mementos strewn from houses by Hurricane Sandy.[36] Hillsborough, CA freshman varsity soccer goalie Daniel Cui was blamed for and bullied about a losing season until over 100 of his teammates and classmates changed their Facebook profile photos to one of Cui making a save, silencing the bullies and building Cui's confidence. [37] [38] 13. Social networking sites help senior citizens feel more connected to society. [39] [40]According to a 2010 Pew Internet & American Life Project study, the 74-year old and older age group is the fastest growing demographic on social media sites with the percentage quadrupling from 2008 to 2010, from 4% to 16%. [41] Seniors report feeling happier due to online contact with family and access to information like church bulletins that

journalist was murdered by the Zetas drug because she used Twitter to report on car crime. [105] A blogger was found murdered Mexican cartel in 2011 with the note "thi happened to me for not understanding tha shouldnt report things on the social networks." [106] [140]

11. Social networking sites harm employee productivity. 51% of people aged 25-34 social media while at work. [147] Two-thir workers with Facebook accounts access t during work hours [107] Even spending jus minutes a day on social media while at w would cost a 50-person company 6,500 h productivity a year. [108] 51% of American think work productivity suffers because o media. [109]

12. Social networking sites facilitate cyberbullying. 49.5% of students reporte the victims of bullying online and 33.7% committing bullying behavior online. [110 minors were harassed or cyberbullied on Facebook according to a June 2012 Cons Reports survey. [81] Middle school childre were victims of cyberbullying were almo as likely to attempt suicide. [46] Adults ca victims of cyberbullying, from social, fam workplace aggression being displayed on media sites. [111]

13. Social networking sites enable "sexting can lead to criminal charges and the unexpected proliferation of personal images. Once restricted to cell phone tex "sexting" has moved to social media with posting, or sending via messaging, risqu of themselves or others. In 2008 and 2009 law enforcement agencies saw 3,477 case youth-produced sexual images with 2,291 agencies seeing at least one case. [112] As teens and adults are being charged with possessing and distributing child pornogr even if the teen took and distributed a pho him/herself. [113] 88% of private self-prod

have moved online and out of print. [39] 14. Social networking sites help people who are socially isolated or shy connect with other people. [42] More than 25% of teens report that social networking makes them feel less shy, 28% report feeling more outgoing, and 20% report feeling more confident (53% of teens identified as somewhat shy or "a lot" shy in general). [14] Youth who are "less socially adept" report that social networks give them a place to make friends [43] and typically quiet students can feel more comfortable being vocal through a social media platform used in class. [44] Shy adults also cite social media as a comfortable place to interact with others. [45] 15. Social media allows for quick, easy dissemination of public health and safety information from reputable sources. The US military and Department of Veterans Affairs use social networking to help prevent suicide. [46] The World Health Organization (WHO) uses social media to "disseminate health information and counter rumours," which was especially helpful after the Mar. 2011 Japanese earthquake and nuclear disaster when false information spread about ingesting salt to combat radiation. [47] The Boston Health Commission used social media to get information to its 4,500 Twitter followers about clinic locations and wait times for vaccines during the H1N1 outbreak. [48] 16. Social media can help disarm social stigmas. The Sticks and Stones campaign uses Twitter to reduce stigmas surrounding mental health and learning disabilities. [49] The Stigma Project uses Facebook to "lower the HIV infection rate and neutralize stigma through education via social media and advertising." [50] Gay people speaking openly on social networking sites, like Facebook site Wipe Out Homophobia, help achieve a greater social acceptance of homosexuality. [51] [52] Jenny Lawson, author of the blog "The Bloggess" and New York Times bestseller Lets Pretend This Never

sexual images posted to social media are pornography websites and disseminated t public, often without the subject's knowle

14. People who use social networking sites prone to social isolation. Social network exacerbate feelings of disconnect (especia youth with disabilities), and put children risk for depression, low self-esteem, and disorders. [42]The "passive consumption" media (scanning posts without commenti related to loneliness. [115]

15. Social networking sites encourage ama advice and self-diagnosis for health pro which can lead to harmful or life-threa results. One in five Americans uses socia for health care information. [116] AnAmeri Journal of Public Health study revealed t "Social media may also pose a hazard to vulnerable people through the formation influence of extreme communities'onl groups that promote and provide support beliefs and behaviors normally unaccepta the social mainstream such as anorexia, s and deliberate amputation." [46] A North C blogger was criminally charged with "pra dietetics or nutrition without a license" fo offering potentially dangerous nutritional about the Paleo diet while posing as an expert. [117] Jeffrey Benabio, MD, searche "eczema" on Twitter and found, in the fir results, 84 were spam and several others g harmful and sometimes bizarre advice lik toothless fish to eat eczema affected skin.

16. Social media aids the spread of hate gr Summer 2012 Baylor University study ex Facebook hate groups focused on Preside Barack Obama and found a resurgence of slurs and stereotypes not seen in mainstre media in decades like blackface images a comparisons of President Obama to apes. [119] Social networking sites allow h groups to recruit youth and to redistribute propaganda. [120] According to the Southe

Happened, has made public her struggles with OCD, depression, and anxiety disorders, which has lessened the stigma of the diseases for others. [53] 17. "Crowdsourcing" and "crowdfunding" on social media allows people to collectively accomplish a goal. A mother was able to find a kidney donor for her sick child by posting a video on her Facebook page. [54] Planethunters.org, a science social media site, discovered a planet on Oct. 16, 2012 via crowdsourcing. [55] Crowdwise, a social network devoted to crowdsourcing volunteers and crowdfunding charity projects, raised $845,989 (as of Nov. 20, 2012) for Hurricane Sandy victims. [56] [57] Followers of Pencils of Promise on social media have helped the non-profit build 74 schools (with 26 more in progress and 7 more planned as of Nov. 19, 2012) and educate 4,500 children. [58] 18. Social networking provides academic research to a wider audience, allowing many people access to previously unavailable educational resources.Information previously restricted to academia's "ivory tower" can now be shared with the public who do not have access to restricted journals or costly databases. Researchers from a wide variety of fields are sharing photos, providing status updates, collaborating with distant colleagues, and finding a wider variety of subjects via social media, making the research process and results more transparent and accessible to a larger public. [59] [139] 19. Corporations and small businesses use social media to benefit themselves and consumers. Small businesses benefit greatly from the free platforms to connect with customers and increase visibility of their products or services. [60]Almost 90% of big companies using social media have reported "at least one measurable business benefit." For example, large chain restaurants are using social media to quickly disseminate information to managers, train employees, and receive immediate customer feedback on new items, allowing for quick

Poverty Law Center the Christian Identity religion, a splinter faction of the white supremacist group Aryan Nations, uses so media to recruit members. [121]

17. Children may endanger themselves by understanding the public and viral nat social networking sites. The 2012 film P about an out of control high school house due to social media promotion, prompted parties across the US resulting in arrests f vandalism, criminal trespassing, and othe offenses. [122] Up to 600 Dutch riot police be called in to break up a teen's birthday p which about 30,000 people were accident invited after a Facebook post thought to b went viral (quickly moving on to Twitter YouTube as well). As a result, at least thr people were hurt and 20 people were arre vandalism, looting, setting cars on fire, an damaging lampposts. [123] In 2012, a simi incident happened in Los Angeles and res the teen host beaten and hospitalized. [124

18. Social networking enables cheating on assignments. Students in California, New City, and Houston posted photos of stand tests to social media sites, allowing stude had not yet taken the tests to see the ques (and potentially find answers) ahead of time. [82] The SAT has had similar proble students posting parts of the exam to soci media. [125] [126]

19. Social networking sites' advertising pra may constitute an invasion of privacy. ExactTarget marketing strategy report tel companies, "When a user clicks on a [Fac like button belonging to your brand, you immediately granted access to additional information about this customer, from sch affiliation and workplace information to t birthdate and other things they like [M can access and leverage data in ways that truly alarm customers." [127] From social m sites, simple algorithms can determine wh

revision if needed. [61]80% of companies are expected to have customer service on social media by the end of 2012. [62] 20. Social networking sites offer teachers a platform for collaboration with other teachers and communication with students outside the classroom. [63] [64] [65] More than 80% of US college and university faculty use social media; more than 50% use it for teaching; and 30% for communicating with students. [66] Educators from around the world interact with each other and bring guest teachers, librarians, authors, and experts into class via social networks like Twitter and social networking tools like Skype. [67] [68] Edmodo, an education-specific social networking site designed for contact between students, teachers, and parents, reached over ten million users on Sep. 11, 2012. [69] 21. Social networking sites offer a way for musicians and artists to build audiences even if they dont have a corporate contract. [70] 64% of teenagers listen to music on YouTube, making it the "hit-maker" for songs rather than radio (56%) or CDs (50%). [71] [72] For example, pop star Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube when he was 12 years old, and, in 2012 at 18 years old, Biebers net worth was estimated at $80 million. [73] [74] The National Endowment for the Arts found that people who interact with the arts online through social media and other means are almost three times more likely to attend a live event. [75] 22. Colleges and universities use social media to recruit and retain students. 87% of colleges and universities use Facebook to recruit students, 76% use Twitter, and 73% use YouTube. [76] Colleges and universities use Facebook apps and other social media tools to increase student retention. [77] Social networking sites are also being used to give students a support system at community colleges that tend to be commuter based and can leave students with no in-person

live, sexual orientation, personality traits, depression, and alma maters among other information, even if users put none of tha their social networking profiles.[128]

20. Social media can facilitate inappropria student-teacher relationships. The Texa Education Agency opened 156 cases abou "inappropriate relationships" between edu and students in the 2011-2012 school yea cases were reported in 2007-2008 and edu experts blame the rise of social media for increase in cases. [129] Social media allow unsupervised interactions between studen teachers, which can easily escalate into se otherwise inappropriate relationships. [130

21. Unauthorized sharing on social networ sites exposes artists to copyright infring loss of intellectual property, and loss of income. Social media sites have copyrigh regulations but they can be difficult to enforce.[131] Pinterest relies upon the republication of images from the web and, do not use the site conscientiously, artists can be posted without license, attribution payment. [132] Vogue Spain was accused o stealing New York street photographer Si Fullana's Instagram photos and posting th their own Instagram feed without acknow the source. [133]

22. Using social media can harm students' for college admissions. College administ scan Facebook profiles for evidence of ill behavior by students. [134] [135] A 2012 Ka Prep survey found that 35% of college ad officers discovered information like essay plagiarism, vulgarities, or illegal activitie social media that "negatively impacted prospective students' admission chances" 12% in 2011). [76]

23. Social media posts cannot be completel deleted and all information posted can

social network. [78]

unintended consequences. The Library o Congress has been archiving all public tw from Twitter's Mar. 2006 inception forward. [136] Information about an affair p Facebook, for example, can lead to and b against someone in divorce proceedings b the information, once posted, can never b completely deleted. Facebook was named source of information in one-third of all d filed in 2011. [137]

24. Social networking site users are vulner security attacks such as hacking, identi and viruses. Social networks do not scan messages for viruses or phishing scams, l large-scale problems like the 2012 virus Steckt.Evl spread from Facebook's chat window. [138] 68% of social media users s their birth date publicly, 63% share their school name, 18% share their phone num share a pet's name; each of those pieces o information is frequently used for accoun security verification and can be used for i theft. [103]

Background: "Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society?"

(Click to enlarge image) Map of the world showing the most popular social networking site in each country. Source: Vincenzo Cosenza, "The World Map of Social Networks," Vincos Blog, www.vincos.it, June 2012

47% of American adults used social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Classmates.com up from 26% in 2008. [26] On social media sites like these, users may develop biographical profiles, communicate with

and strangers, do research, and share thoughts, photos, music, links, and more.

Proponents of social networking sites say that the online communities promote increased interaction with friends and f offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access to educational support and materials; facilitate social and politi change; and disseminate useful information rapidly.

Opponents of social networking say that the sites prevent face-to-face communication; waste time on frivolous activity childrens brains and behavior making them more prone to ADHD; expose users to predators like pedophiles and burg spread false and potentially dangerous information.

SixDegrees.com, which existed from 1997-2001, is considered the first social networking site because it allowed users personal spaces and connect to friends online. Friendster, created in 2002, popularized social networking in the United but was quickly outpaced by other social networking sites like: MySpace (2003), Facebook (2004), Twitter (2006), Pint (2009), and Google+ (2012). Facebook reported one billion monthly users worldwide on October 4, 2012, making it the popular social networking site with one in seven people on the planet using the site. [142] Every day, Facebook manag billion "Likes, 300 million photo uploads, and 2.5 billion status updates and check -ins. [143] Twitter, the second largest networking site, had an estimated 107.7 million users in the United States (as of Jan. 31, 2012) [144] and 500 million w users (as of Sep. 28, 2012). [172] Pinterest is the third largest social network with 23 million unique visitors in July 2012 by LinkedIn, Tagged, Google+, and MySpace [145] [146] 59% of all Internet users use at least one social networking site 56% of social networking users are female. [26]

As the sites have become increasingly popular, the user base has expanded from teenagers and young adults to inclu people over the age of 50. Although Facebook began in 2004 as a site for college students with log-ins restricted to th .edu e-mail addresses, as of June 16, 2011 33% of users were 23-35 years old, 25% were 36-49 years old, 25% were and only 16% were the traditional college-aged 18-22 years old. [26] According to a Dec. 2012 Nielsen "Social Media R 20% of time spent on a home computer is on social media while 30% of mobile Internet time is spent on social network Total time spent on social media via mobile and home devices totalled 121 billion minutes in July 2012 (compared to 8 minutes in July 2011). In July 2012 Americans spent 74.0 billion minutes on social media via a home computer, 40.8 b minutes via apps, and 5.7 billion minutes via mobile web browser for a total of 121.1 billion minutes on social networkin In July 2011 Americans spent 59.5 billion minutes via home computer, 23.2 billion minutes via apps, and 4.4 billion min mobile browsers for a total of 88.4 billion minutes. [147]

(Click to enlarge image) Facebook profile of Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook. Source: www.facebook.com/zuck (accessed Nov. 9, 2012)

Social media's largest source of revenue is advertising. Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook profit from advertising while L profits from ads, subscribers, and selling data to third parties. [148]Social media ad revenue is expected to reach $8.8 b 2012, an increase of 43% from 2011. [149] Gaming also accounts for a large portion of social networking revenue, with expected $6.2 billion in 2012. Predictions place overall social media revenue at about $34 billion by 2016, an increase

$11.8 billion in 2011 and the projected $16.9 billion in 2012. [150]

Social networking sites play a large role in shaping the political landscape. More than a quarter of US voters younger t (including 37% of those 18-24 years old) reported that they obtained information about the 2008 Presidential campaign social media.[151] On Nov. 3, 2008, the day before the US Presidential election, Democratic candidate Barack Obama 2,379,102 Facebook supporters, 38% more than Republican candidate John McCain who had 620,359 supporters. [15

On June 12, 2009, the White House announced, via the White House Blog, that it was joining Twitter, Facebook, MySp YouTube, and Flickr in order to "create unprecedented opportunity to connect you to your government in order to ob information and services and to participate in policymaking. [153] Joining the social media sites was part of the adminis efforts to meet President Obamas call to "reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and mo creative.[154] On Sep. 16, 2009, The Washington Times broke a story that the White House had begun collecting and comments and videos posted on social networking sites, bringing invasion of privacy criticism. Defenders stated that th House was simply complying with the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of all presidential reco

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo dubbed the 2012 election the "Twitter election. [156] All of the main 2012 presidential candid Facebook and Twitter accounts. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney maintained MySpace accounts, and Obama also ha Pinterest account. As of Sep. 8, 2011, 35 global heads of state had Twitter accounts; every US federal Cabinet agency 84% of state governors were active on Twitter; and more than 40% of global religious leaders like the Dalai Lama and were on Twitter. [157] The 2012 presidential election set the record for most-tweeted event with more than 327,00 twee minute being sent when Barack Obama was announced the winner. The image of him and his wife that Obama posted reelection with "Four more years became the most re-tweeted tweet with over 816,883 re-tweets as of Nov. 19, 2012 Justin Beibers record of over 200,000 re-tweets). [158] [159]

(Click to enlarge image) "Election 2012 Social Media Rankings: How the 2012 Presidential Candidates Stack Up in the World of Social Media" Source: Overdrive Interactive, www.ovrdrv.com, Jan. 3, 2012

The protests in Tunisia, which spawned the Arab Spring, were fueled and organized by social media [160] as were prot Egypt and Iran. The governments of those countries censored and attempted to shut down the social media sites. [160 response to the censorship, Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, said, "The United States believes passionately and in the basic principle of free expression... And it is the case that one of the means of expression, the use of Twitter is a important one, not only to the Iranian people but now increasingly to people around the world, and most particularly to people... [162]

Social media site growth has sometimes outpaced the development of rules, laws, and etiquette regarding their use. F example, in Feb. 2009 Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) tweeted his whereabouts as he traversed war zones in Ira gave rise to security concerns about the use of social media to post real-time locations. [163]

(Click to enlarge image) Twitter page of Jack Dorsey, Creator, Co-founder, and Chairman of Twitter. Source: www.twitter.com/jack (accessed Nov. 19, 2012)

Companies worldwide struggle to balance employee social network access at work for business purposes, which could revenue and the company image, versus employee access for personal use, which could lead to lost revenue from de productivity and security breaches. In 2012 64% of employees reported visiting non-work related websites, 41% visited Facebook, 37% visited LinkedIn, 28% visited Google+, and 8% visited Twitter. [164] Two-thirds of businesses fear that media endangers corporate security and one in four social networking site users unwittingly exposes him/herself to cri revealing personal details. Seven million households that use Facebook reported problems in 2012, ranging from som using a log-in without permission to being threatened online or in person, a 30% increase from 2011. Phishing, the act attempting to acquire personal information for identity theft, increased 240% on social networking sites from 2008 to 20

Illinois passed a law in Aug. 2009 banning registered sex offenders from using social networking sites. [165] However, 2008 Internet Safety Technical Task Force report presented to the US State Attorneys General found that adults lying their ages to initiate relationships with minors are a rare occurrence; 43% of online sexual predators were identified as 30% were adults between the ages of 18 and 21, and 9% were adults over the age of 21. [166]

On May 2, 2012, Maryland became the first state to pass a law prohibiting employers from asking current or prospectiv employees for their user names or passwords for social networking sites. [167] [168] Governor Jerry Brown of California announced via Twitter on Sep. 27, 2012 that he signed two bills into law to prohibit employers and universities from de passwords.[169] Other states have followed suit and have passed social media protection laws or have laws pending. [
[171]

Social media is now pervasive in our world with existing social networks expanding, niche social networking sites bein for educators, medical professionals, and other groups, and new social media sites popping up regularly, all accessible hours a day via computer, tablet, smart phone, and Internet-enabled devices.

Proponents of social media cheer on the benefits and possible advances to society while dissenters worry the dangers wasted time far outweigh any benefit.

[Editor's Note: Chat rooms and instant messaging (IM) are excluded from this discussion because they lack key chara of social networking sites, such as the ability to create profiles about backgrounds and interests, and to share thoughts Internet links, music, and more.]

Video Gallery

(click to watch video)

Social media statistics and facts are presented for 2013. Source: Erik Qualma, "Social Media Video 2013," www.youtube.com, Nov. 7, 2012

Artist ABOVE paints commentary about social media on a wall . Source: ABOVE, "#socialmedia," www.vimeo.com, Sep. 2012

CBS News reports on teens and their parents learning about the drawbacks of social Daily Show explains Twitter, shows how legislators are using it, and poke networking sites. media coverage of social networking. Source: "Toils of Social Networking," CBS News, www.cbsnews.com, Aug. 10, Source: "Twitter Frenzy," www.dailyshow.com, Mar. 2, 2009 2009

ProCon.org Notices (archived after 30 days)

12/18/2013 - Check out some great photos from our successful charity golf tournament which took nd place on Dec. 2 at the Calabasas Country Club. Thank you to all our players, sponsors, and organizers. In attendance were dozens of celebrities including: former NHL player Marty McSorley, former MLB player Royce Clayton, former NFL player Hank Baskett and his wife, reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson, senior golf pro Steve Pate, former NBA player Norm Nixon, and actors Patrick Warburton, Alan Thicke, Anthony Anderson, Ryan Merriman, Sheila Shah, Stephen Bishop, Chris Rich, Jeremy Sumpter, Christopher McDonald, Paula Trickey, Josh Morrow, Kato Kaelin, and others. Archived Notices (archived after 30 days)

Pros And Cons Of Social Networking Sites

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Social networking sites provoke extreme reactions. You either like it or hate it. There are no in betweens. The rise of social networking sites have been phenomenal partly due to the immense freedom it affords. While the internet made the world a global village, the social networking sites brought the world within the four walls. You can make friends, interact with them, get to know the various cultures and places through them and more while sitting at the same desk. These sites facilitates you to spread information and also to advertise and with the minimum cost. Due to such sites, you wont find yourself lost among the billions of websites. No wonder it is one of the fastest growing communication tool in the internet. From finding long lost friends to meeting likeminded people, these sites offer everything to facilitate your online life. However, under the mountain of advantages there are also a lot of disadvantages. Knowing them will hold you in good stead as you cannot know when this accessible-by-all tool becomes your worst nightmare. To know more read the article below on the pros and cons of social networking sites. Advantages & Disadvantages Of Social Networking Sites The Pros Of Social Networking Sites The best advantage of social networking sites is that these sites allow you to keep in touch with your friends, classmates, and relatives. It is also the most cost effective way to keep in touch with your people. Here geographical locations are no barrier to stay in touch. These sites allow you to send and receive messages, upload photos, and videos. As such, they are very interactive as you can get to see what your friends and relatives are up to. With social networking sites, you are not bound by any geographical and cultural differences. You get to meet and know a variety of people whose interests are similar to your own. These sites are a window to different cultures and places.

You can build a network of contacts and interact with a lot of people at the same time. As such, you can spread your thoughts and interests to a large number of people. The social networking sites also facilitate you to procure information on any subjects from anywhere. These sites also make it easier and faster to collect the information. Social networking sites can also be a tool to promote your business, services, products, or websites. Due to the huge number of people who regularly use networking sites it has found huge favors among advertisers. The Cons Of Social Networking Sites The most glaring disadvantage of social networking sites is the risk of identity theft and fraud. The personal information of users can be used by dubious people for illegal activities. Information like the e-mail address, name, location, and age can be used to commit online crimes. Also, many people pretend to be someone else and prepare their online profiles with false information, so as to dupe unsuspecting users. So, if you do not know the person face to face then it will be very hard for you to find the real identity. Another cause of concern is cases of online harassment and stalking. Since the social networking sites, are very poorly regulated so it can be a very fertile ground for people trying to get even with you. They can spread malicious humor among your friends and also download and morph your photos.

The Pros and Cons of Social Networking for Teenagers: A Parents Guide
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Email By KristinStanberry Updated on Jun 22, 2011

The phenomenon of social networking has taken todays youth culture by storm. At the same time, it has raised serious concerns among the parents of these tech-savvy teens. Media reports of online predators, cyberbullies, ruined reputations, and other dangers have parents fearing the worst and wondering how to talk to their kids about the issue. Whats a parent to do? First, take a step back and get to know the facts of the matter. Read on to learn about the proven pros and cons of social networking for teenagers.

What are the benefits?

Its not just teenagers who think social networking is cool. Researchers and survey groups have found social networking provides many benefits. For example:

Social networking is an extension of teens real-world friendships. It helps them enrich and manage their social lives. Socializing online can give shy, socially awkward teens a comfortable way to communicate -- one thats less intimidating than meeting face-to-face. This can boost their self-esteem and help them practice their social skills. Teens with unusual interests or hobbies find kindred spirits online, giving them a place to share information and enthusiasm. Kids who have disabilities or other challenges can communicate with other teens with similar problems.This lessens their sense of isolation and allows for mutual support.

What are the risks?

Studies and surveys reveal that social networking exposes teens to certain risks. For example:

Online bullying and harassment by peers, also known as cyberbullying. This may be the biggest online danger to kids. Its often an extension of bullying that takes place at school but can be just as damaging, if not more so. Learn more about cyberbullying. Online predators. While being harassed or stalked online by adult predators is far less common than cyberbullying, any incident is one too many. Less face-to-face interaction with family and friends. Researchers are studying the effect of this trend on kids social development, but the long-term effects arent yet known.

Teach Your Teen to Socialize Safely Online

It isnt easy to compete with your kids computer. She may consider Facebook her BFF, but it cant give her love and guidance. You can. Try these tips to guide your teens life online: Set (and enforce) reasonable rules and restrictions on your teens use of online technology. For example, dont allow her to use her laptop computer in her bedroom, out of your sight and supervision. Just knowing you might walk by at any time may motivate her to be more mindful of the house rules. Connect with your kid on Facebook or MySpace. If shes not be crazy about this idea, point out that it could be a fun way to share photos, posts, and memories with cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. Be proactive. Educate your teen about the risks of social networking and how to avoid them. From knowing what to do if shes bullied online, or using privacy settings for her online profile, teach your teen to protect herself online. Coach your teen to use caution and common sense online. Remind her to think twice before posting comments, photos, or videos all of which add to (or detract from) her reputation. Balance her online social life with face-to-face interaction. Encourage her to spend face time with friends, and keep family relationships strong by spending quality time together and by simply making yourself available to listen and talk. Dont allow her to play with her smart phone at the dinner table; instead, draw her into the conversation and do your best to keep her engaged. Give these tips a try, and fine-tune your approach as you work with your teenager to shape her social networking skills. If you succeed in some ways but not in others, dont despair! Raising a teenager even one more tech-savvy than you are is still something youre well-equipped to do. Related articles:

The Pros and Cons of Social Networking

Written by T.M. Gaouette

Posted on October 1, 2012 at 3:53 pm

Social networking has become a huge method of communicating between family, friends and even strangers. People are spending more and more time on social networking sites. Many of my friends use social networking for various reasons, PI uses it in conjunction with this website, and I use it also for promoting my ownfiction work and even the posts I write here. Whether its via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, social media plays a major part in many peoples lives. And as much as this can be a good thing, it can also be a bad thingprimarily because it takes us away from whats really important in life. There are disadvantages to using social mediado any of these instances sound like you?

You get so lost in social media that you cant seem to function if youre not connected to your electronic world.You offer play-by-plays of your life, rather than just living it. And this can be a dangerous and sad dependency. You get so lost in your electronic relationships that you dont have time to connect face-to-face without Skype. Sure, its great to keep in touch with friends and family who are on the other side of the country or world, but this can lead to you neglecting those who are close by, such as parents, siblings and friends. Social media can be so addictive that you willingly waste your time on the computer or phone, Tweeting or Facebooking all day long. If youre not updating your profile or informing people of your every move, youre checking up on what friends and even foes are up to. The process becomes such a waste of time. Your God-given life goes on around you, but you might be missing it. The biggest disadvantage of social media is that it leaves the door open for many dangerous encounters. Sharing private information is a very dangerous aspect of social media. If you missed our post on Internet safety, be sure to check it out.

As much as social networking can be disadvantageous, there are some advantages, but only if your intentions are to glorify God in everything you say and do. So, I urge you to consider the following when using social media:

By all means, use social media to promote or market your business assuming your business is pleasing to God, or at least, doesnt offend Him. Stay in touch with family, but make sure you are using caution and discretion with your personal business. Use your moments online to spread Gods word. You can do this by sharing scripture, positive news articles and inspirational blog posts. Restrict your time online. Never allow social media to interfere with your everyday responsibilities, your relationships with family and friends, and especially your relationship with God.

But remember these warnings also:

There are benefits to social media, but there also are many drawbacks. But if you learn how to control social media, rather than allow it to control you, you can actually use it to glorify God. Ladies, do you find you get lost in social media?

Social Networking - Pros and Cons

Social Networking is the grouping of individuals or organizations that have common objectives, interests and or activities. Social Networking exists as personal and direct social ties that link individuals who share similar values and beliefs. Social Networking also exists in impersonal, formal, and instrumental forms. However Social Networking of today has reached new levels. Before the Internet Boom, Social Networking was restricted to Festivals and Social occasions like Marriages, Birthday's, Religious Meetings, Conventions, Kitty Parties, Seminars, Exhibitions, Functions, Multi Level Marketing Meetings etc. It was common for people to interact with each other under such platforms. One came to know about their neighbours or acquaintances within such Social Congregations. Most Social occasions were then mostly meant for Socialising unless there was a specification for a Social occasion. However, in modern times Social Networking has got a new meaning and a new repute. Though the meaning or definition of Social Networking is still the same but it has acquired a 'New Avatar' and this 'Avatar' has been made possible by the Emergence of the Internet as a 'Communication Facilitator'. Initially Social Networking was promoted through Chat Rooms and Messengers which included the likes of Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger etc. and at the same time or so emerged Online Forums, Groups, Communities etc.

Types of Social Networking Social Networking Tools Top Social Networks Pros of Social Networking Cons of Social Networking The Conclusion

But this was just the beginning, what really took the Social Networking to new heights was the emergence of Social Network Service provided by various Social Networking Websites. One of the First Social Networking Websites was SixDegrees.com. It was named after

the six degrees of separation concept and allowed users to list friends, family members and acquaintances both on the site and externally. Soon, a number of Social Networking Service Providers followed. Theglobe.com, Geocities, Tripod.com etc. provided personal webpage facility through easy-to-use publishing tools and free or inexpensive web-space. While some Social Network Sites like Classmates.com - took a different approach by simply having people link to each other via email addresses. With more new ideas, emerged new Social Networking Methods which were developed by the end of the 1990s. Many sites began to develop more advanced features for users to find and manage friends. This newer generation of Social Networking sites began to flourish with the emergence of Friendster in 2002. Friendster was followed by MySpace and Linked and finally, Bebo. However it was MySpace that showcased Social Networking sites' popularity. By 2005, MySpace was reportedly getting more page views than Google. Finally Facebook, launched in 2004, has since become the largest Social Networking Site in the World. Today, it is estimated that there are over 200 active sites using a wide variety of Social Networking models.

Types of Social Networking 1. Friendship Social Networking - This is the basic Social Network Community. Friends orFriendship Social Networking is the most popular Social
Networking. People love to make friends Online from all around the globe and these sites facilitate that. These Networks use a variety of methods to sustain the interests of the member by providing online features like flirting, teasing, poking, truth or dare, photo shring and most of the things which make up a friendship in real life.

Some

of

the

Friendship

Social

Networking:

Friendster Myspace Friendsreunited Hi5.com Joomla

Social

Network

2. Dating Social Networking - Social Networking Dating is the new mantra in the online world. This type of networking is one of the hottest type of Networking based on attraction towards the opposite sex. Some of these Websites provide free Social Networking
Directory while others are paid. These Sites facilitate Dating especially for those who don't have the skill to propose a date in the real world.

Some

of

the

Dating

Social

Networking:

Date.com Passionsnetwork Datehookup Chemistry.com

3. Business Social Networking - Business Social Networking is a tool for Social Network Marketing. It is also referred as 'Corporate Social Networking' or Professional Social Networks'. These Networks help a person to advance within
his/her career or industry. Generally Business Companies or Corporates have their own online community where in employees can interact with each other. They can also answer questions or queries posted by customers, which can give a person a chance to impress his/her employer. If you're a freelance copywriter, you may want to get involved in one of the many online writing communities where publishers and literary agents also tend to hang out.

Some
Canon LinkedIn LPN, SixApart

of

the

Business

Social

Networking

Sites:
Community Network Network Community

Professional the

Photographer Business Latino Professional Professional Blogging

4. Hobbies Social Networking - People on the Internet are involved in various activities related to their favourite hobby or pass time. Such people use the Internet to conduct
research on their favourite projects or topics of interest related to personal hobbies. Such likeminded people either publish their own Website or join existing Websites related to their Hobbies and interact with people from around the world who share the same passion or interests.

Some
Automotive GardenWeb Music Sports Spout YouTube Flickr

of

the

Hobbies

Social

Networking

Websites:
Forums

Social Film Video Lovers

Network Pundit Community Sharing

5. Informational Social Networking - Informational Social Networking are those websites which provide answers to people on various topics. For example, if
someone is looking for starting a business, one needs to have information which involves a web search and it leads to the discovery of countless blogs, websites, and forums filled with people who are looking for the same kind of information. These websites offer possible answers and also offer to post a question. Informational communities are often linked to, from businesses like banks, retailers, and other companies that are using social networks as a way to interact with customers. In these social networks there is a lot of 'How-To' style information and advice columns written by professionals.

Some

of

the

Informational

Social

Networking

Sites:
Community Information Forums

Do-It-Yourself EHow HGTV Investopedia

"How-To" Discussion

6. Educational Social Networking - Educational Networks are mostly meant for

students, though anyone can use them. Students collaborate with other students on academic projects,research or to interact with professors and teachers via blogs and classroom forums. Educational social networks are becoming extremely popular within the educational system today. Most of the Colleges and Universities have their personal Websites wherein only the students of respective Institutes can join. Some Alumni also have their own respective Websites.

Some

Educational

Social

Networking

Websites:

ePALS - Connects school students from around the world to promote world peace. GoIIT - Community for Students preparing for their School & Board Exams. IIT Bombay Alumni - IIT Bombay Alumni can connect and network with each other online. The Student Room A UK-based student community. The Math Forum A large educational network for math students.

7. News Social Networking - These are large content websites where members publish news stories, commentary etc. These are involved in the dissemination of
community content which if left unmonitored turns into a promotional gimmick filled with advertisements and self-promotion.

Some
Yahoo! Helium NowPublic Suite Triond

of

the
Voices (earlier

News

Social
known as

Networking
Associated

Websites:
Content)

101

Social Network Sites are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordability and reach. Internet Social Networking is a Social Phenomena of the 21st Century and has become increasingly popular nowadays as there are a lot of sites that offer this service. Social Networking Companies are involved in Social Network Development through their sites that aim to build communities of people who share common interests and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Social Networking Websites not only provide Social Network Service for the people but they also enhance their services through Social Network Templates and Social Networking Tools. Some of

these are Open Source Social Networking Software available on the Internet which can be downloaded for free.

Some of the Social Networking Tools

Reference Tool Social Bookmarking Tool Online Event Registration and Ticketing Tools for Musicians Cataloguing Tool - http://www.librarything.com/ - http://www.connotea.org/ - http://www.del.icio.us/ - http://www.amiando.com/ - http://www.reverbnation.com/

Tool

Top Social Networks

Facebook Bebo Linkedin Stumbleupon Flixster Xanga Studivz MySpace Friendster Hi5 Care2 Classmates Badoo Del.icio.us Twitter Ning Orkut Zorpia Last.fm Migente Meetup

Pros or Advantages of Social Networking Websites

Inexpensive means for Socialising - A Social Networking Site is a virtual hub

where people can chill out and discuss about anything. The main purpose of general Social Networking Websites is to serve as a social platform where people can reunite with old friends; stay connected with current ones, and even make new acquaintances. Since most of these offer Free of Cost Membership, these are Inexpensive means for Socialising serving various personal needs.

Enhancement of Real Life Social Skills - When interacting with people

online, one acquires a unique perspective into the lives and problems of the people they interact with. While sending messages and chatting, one becomes aware of the textual communication which indirectly sharpens one's communication skills. These skills can be helpful in real life situations. When one advises and in turn receives feedback and trust, it enables mind-sharing. It also provides an environment of research and insight. Although people do not want to be told, forced, spammed or made to do anything but when you involve them, there is an environment of social exchange.

Creation of Positive Self-Image - Social Networking Sites requires a profile to

be created. When one gets the chance to create a profile, one wants to showcase the best image of themselves by putting their best qualities online. This attribute proves that

one cares about his/her reputation and to a certain extent what people think about them. These people can be peers, relatives, classmates or future employers.

Online Presence - These Sites provide a platform for an individual to show his/her
Presence Online. One can post his Personal Profile which may includes one's hobbies, descriptions, likes and dislikes, etc. With Online Presence one can flaunt his/her abilities and can also gauge his social stature which boosts one's self confidence or self esteem.

Source of Self Promotion - Some use these networking sites to promote their
blogs, to post bulletins and updates or to use them as a bridge to a future love interest. These also provide you the chance to showcase your talent which otherwise would remain confined to one's own self. For example if someone's good in Photography or Fashion, one can display his talent through these Sites. Those looking for a job can also create a profile wherein they present their online resumes to be recruited by a company.

Means to Promote Business - Though Social Networking Websites are meant

for Socialising, they serve another purpose. That purpose is the Promotion of one's own business. Social Networking Websites generate a lot of business. These Sites enable the establishment of one's business among a wide variety of prospective clients. One can have better promotional techniques by posting links to his/her business site, visit community boards to learn about the members' preferences, and even have ads only with minimal fees. One can truly maximize one's own business potential by participating in Social Networking sites.

Addressing Important Issues - Another important purpose which these

Websites serve is that one can use it to address various social, environmental, political and economical issues. One can create one's own social network for addressing issues which are not covered or considered less profitable by the mass media. The technology has made it possible that this can be done through Mobile Social Networking as well.

No Limitations of Physical Boundaries - Another advantage of Social

Network Service is that they dilute the international boundaries which separate friends, relatives, acquaintances etc. One can remain in constant touch with his near or dear ones according to his needs. The boundaries and formalities of race, caste, creed, colour etc. are also blurred as one can chose to friend with anyone in world without any hindrance or bias.

Cons or Disadvantages of Social Networking Websites

Social Networking Addiction - Social Networking has the tendency to become

an addiction. A lot of time and effort is consumed in establishing connections. Sometimes one is curious about others and starts to follow that person's online activity which is facilitated by many sites. Sometimes one wants to create a unique profile so that he/she can stand out in the crowd. This requires time and one doesn't stop unless one has finished the job. At times when one starts doing all this, he becomes addicted to these

sites because it becomes one of his primary concerns. This can have adverse effect on a person's ability to work efficiently and affects one's health as well.

Privacy Issues - Endangerment to one's Privacy is one of topmost concern of those

using these services. Social Networking Sites require or give a person, the option to provide personal information such one's name, location, and email address. When one provides all this information it can be used for identity theft. Any conman can copy one's information and pretend to be 'You' whilst engaging in illegal activities. This puts one's safety and security in danger. On needs to cautious as to what information he/she is providing as it can be abused when someone else pretends to be 'You'. For example, they might offer you a job or want to meet up with you just to get your money. This can lead to Cyber stalking, where the stalker uses electronic media such as the Internet to pursue or harass you.

Trolling - When Social Networking Sites are occasionally used to emotionally abuse
individuals, it is known as Trolling. This has happened in the case of Facebook. It is not rare for confrontations in the real world to be translated online. Trolling can occur in many different forms, such as (but not limited to) defacement of deceased person(s) tribute pages, calling "Australians" "Austrians", playing online pranks on volatile individuals and posting controversial comments with the intention to cause anger and arguments.

Spamming - Social Networking Sites can sell one's personal information to anyone
who wants to buy it, including spammers and on line predators. Even if the terms of understanding claim that no personal information will be sold, the site can change its policy at any time.

Copyright Infringement - If blogs or other original content is published at a site,

the site can take over copyright privileges in unlimited ways. Few writers, artists and musicians are aware of this and forget to read the terms of understanding in order to find out what can happen to their works.

Online Bullying - A common phenomena adding to the disadvantages of Social

Networking is Online Bullying. Also known as Cyber-Bullying, it is the virtual equal of the real-life Bullying. Some sites dont put enough limitations as to what individuals can post when online. Individuals utilise the improper limitations to their favour when they post offensive remarks or pictures that could potentially cause a great amount of emotional pain for another individual. In some cases one creates a profile for real life person in manner which can ruin that person's repute by publishing offensive material.

Spreading Negative Sentiments - Social Networking Sites have the potential of

having the potential of spreading Negative or Ant-Social Messages. This can happen when a person has some news or information item to share with an audience. This can spread like bushfire all around the world. And if this information happens to be negative

or in bad taste, it can be potential threat to peace as it may be hard to undertake damage control.

The Conclusion
As discussed above there are both Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking. One can either consider it a waste of time or consider it a great opportunity to socialise and leave the rest for later. Man is a Social Animal and it is tough to live life without any friends/boyfriends/girlfriends/bosses/workmates etc. In life we are often subjected to good and bad choices and it is only we ourselves, who can decide what we want, and it is us who also have to reap benefit or loss. Same goes with Social Networking. There is always the middle path and only we can choose how to find that path or how to utilise that path in the best possible way. We have all the time in the world to be careful in choosing whom to trust and whom not to trust, especially when it comes to socialising on the Internet.

The Pros and Cons of Social Networking

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Social Networking

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Chanel ClarkStockton Teen Issues Examiner

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July 7, 2011

Its no secret that social networking is addictive, but has it become too time consuming? Teens post their everyday lives on sites such as: Twitter and Facebook. Are you guilty of communicating with your friends 140 characters at a time? Does your friendship only consist of liking someones status but never talking to them

face-to-face? If so, then youve definitely got the social networking fever. There are many advantages, as well as disadvantages, to social networking. Pros: Advertisement/ Promoting: If youre running a business or throwing an event, then social networks are the perfect platforms to get the word out about your business. Communication: If youve ever lost contact with a family member or friend, youre more than likely to find that long-lost buddy on a social network. It helps you stay up to speed on all thats going on in their lives, with pictures to top it off. Job opportunities: If someone posts that they need a discount plumber on their Facebook, a friend of theirs might know someone who could do the job. That way you're helping out both friends. Cons: Identity theft: There have been many cases of people getting their accounts hacked into and false profiles made of individuals, as well as photos being copied and placed in advertisements without the owners consent. This is one of the many downsides to social networking. Cyber bullying: Cyber bullying seems inevitable, whether its being harassed through messages, bullied by a group of people, being threatened, or having sexual remarks being thrown at you. If you or someone you know is a victim of cyber bullying, be sure to tell someone. Isolation: If your everyday schedule consists of updating your Twitter and Facebook statuses every 5 minutes, then that can definitely lead to one becoming anti-social. Youre so accustomed to communicating behind a computer screen that you become awkward when it comes to actually talking to someone. Stalking: If your profiles and accounts are public, then theres a chance that youre giving someone an opportunity to become intrigued with your lifewhich can lead to some serious stalking.

All in all, social networking isnt so bad if you just develop good habits such as: managing the amount of time you spend on a site, reporting any type of abuse, and securing your pages privacy.

The Pros and Cons of E-Learning and Education Technology

5 August, 2011 inEducation news, Student News Leave a comment

EDUCATION SCHOOLS STUDENTS

E-learning and edtech are currently huge buzzwords in education, as the tidal wave of the internet and the digital revolution, already firmly ensconced in our homes and businesses, marches voraciously on into our classrooms and universities. From class blogs and school e-twinning schemes to scholastic apps and online courses, education is going electronic. For those who have yet to experience the e-learning revolution, there is a treasure trove of rich benefits and exciting advances just waiting to be discovered, but some believe that there are also major pitfalls that must be carefully avoided.

Pros Engaging Young People

The new wave of exciting online learning programs and educational games has brought teaching into childrens own territory like never before. Rather than associating school with boring essays and dusty blackboards, pupils are finding ways to learn whilst having fun, in the online world with which they are already familiar.

Social Media
The use of social media in education has been particularly successful in engaging and exciting young people about learning, allowing them to share and play with their peers and to use sites like Myspace and Facebook to set up and collaborate on projects in an exciting and immediate forum.

Education for All

The movement of education to the internet has opened up a whole new realm of opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world. Suddenly anybody with an internet connection can attend a series of world-class lectures at Harvard University using video streaming, whilst online universities and degrees invite pupils from the most isolated backgrounds to study alongside their peers. Thanks to education technology, the opportunity for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to self-educate has increased exponentially.

Worldwide Learning
The opportunity for young people to engage with other schools and students across the world has opened up a hugely rich insight into the lives and customs of different cultures and religions, providing a diversity of experience hitherto unimaginable in the school classroom. E-twinning allows profitable and exciting links to be formed between schools from different countries, sharing information about completely different cultures, lifestyles and traditions.

Sharing Resources
For teachers and educators, the introduction of personal learning networks and sites like twitter and web 2.0 have enabled the beginning of an exciting worldwide network. Here education resources, tools and ideas can be shared and spread at the click of a button.

Cons Getting Left Behind

There is a risk that the boom in online learning and education technology has shifted focus away from traditional teaching methods and classroom practice. While the advantages are enormous, there is also a risk that the injection of money and attention in one direction may leave a vacuum behind. Not all education takes place online, and it is important that we also continue to value and develop our offline teaching practice, to support those educators working in a more traditional environment.

A New Generation
It has been difficult for some older or less techno-savvy teachers to get on-board with the new media wave in education, with fears that their lack of experience with computers may leave them out in the cold and facing criticism for their old-

fashioned teaching methods. It is vital that governments and schools provide training and support to induct teachers into new e-learning programs and train them to use education technology effectively.

Expensive Electronics
Many well-funded schools and colleges have reported exciting strides in e-learning and fantastically successful conversions to digital courses and iPad-only lessons. However it is important to consider the dangers of excluding schools in more disadvantaged areas, where tight budgets and over-full classrooms make it impossible for pupils to benefit from access to the same kind of modern technology. In many inner city state schools in the UK, pupils still share old and faulty computers between a whole class, a far cry from the slick e-learning success stories of pupils using brand new laptops to bounce blue-ray questions and answers across the classroom. In addition it must not be assumed that all pupils are able to access a computer or the internet at home, putting some at a disadvantage outside the classroom too.

Distractions and Dangers

Whilst the internet provides a plethora of exciting and informative educational resources, it is also rife with less school-friendly distractions and even dangers. The temptation to slip off onto social networking or online gaming sites may make classroom control a challenge, and the ever-present threat of adults with ill-intent must always be considered. And alongside the meteoric rise of e-learning, internet bullying has sadly soared as well. Tight control of electronic parameters by teachers and parents is important, but can be difficult to enforce, and internet safety must always be a top priority.

Impersonal Teaching
With a lack of face-to-face contact may come a severing of the bond between teacher and pupil and the human connection that is so important to successful learning. The dangers of some pupils slipping off the radar or going unnoticed by a teacher in e-learning have been well documented and it is vital that face-to-face engagement and traditional teaching methods continue alongside new technologies. The new opportunities and resources presented by education technology are enormously exciting, but it would be a great shame if our excitement about them caused us to lose the valuable personal educational techniques built up by teachers in classrooms over the past decades. Do you think there are more pros than cons to e-learning? Have you used education technology successfully in the classroom or benefitted from online teaching? Let us know using the comments box below!
Post, Like, Share, Comment! While you are barely managing to log into Facebook, your children have spiralled into a new world where posting no longer requires a postman, sharing is no longer about values and tweets are not the sounds that birds make! Learn about the pros and cons of social networking for kids and how to keep them safe online here.

Your children have effortlessly built their lives on the internet with social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Google Plus, MySpace, Orkut, etc. You look out for your child and try to protect him or her from any danger that may harm them in their day to day lives, but what about their online lives? Have you done enough to keep them safe in the virtual world?

What is Social Networking? Social networking refers to the interaction of different individuals with a common interest. When different people who share a hobby, passion or even business interests come together, it is referred to as a social network. On the internet, there are many websites that promote such social interactions. Social networking websites allow you to create a profile and post information about yourself. Profiles can be kept private or public and you can choose what information your friends can see and what other site visitors can see. On these sites, you can find people who have things in common with you. People form groups on such websites and many discussions take place in these groups. You can even add friends to your friends list and regularly interact with them. Adding a person to your friends list gives him or her access to your personal profile, photographs, contact information, etc.

The Advantages of Internet Social Networking for Kids Joining a social network online is a great way to meet new people, learn about new things and find communities that encourage a hobby or passion. You may learn a vast amount of new things about your passions if you join a community. Talking to people on a common subject can be a lot of fun, as different or opposing viewpoints encourage further discussion. As for children, there is a lot for them to do on social networking sites. There are many games, puzzles, quizzes and team activities that they could try out. They can add friends and see what they are up to. A lot of intelligent discussion takes place on social networking sites as well. Joining these debate groups can be really advantageous for your child as he gains a different perspective and learns how to approach issues differently. Many learning tools are available on social networking sites, so that your child constantly learns something each day. For example, a 'History' tool may post one interesting historic fact daily, thus teaching your child something new. An 'art' tool that posts user-submitted art may get your child interested in artistic pursuits.

The Risks of Social Networking for Kids With all things good come its evils. Even though social networking is a great concept, there are many precautionary measures that you should take to ensure it is a safe experience. Though adults today are quite comfortable with website settings and preferences, children are not as familiar with privacy settings. Therefore, a profile which does not have adequate privacy settings can be easily accessed by any user who logs on to such sites. Most social networking sites put all user-submitted information on public view by default. This is to promote normal interaction. But this also means that people with malicious intentions can also access the profile. This is harmful as they have direct access to contact information and photographs as well. Another disadvantage of social networking sites is the fact that there is no verification procedure for people who wish to join the site. Almost the entire Internet allows you to remain anonymous if you choose to. But because of this there is no assurance that the person may actually be who he claims to be online. For example, a man can easily create a profile of a woman and befriend people. Similarly, an older person can pretend to be a child and indulge in immoral activities.

Censorship is another issue which has not been tackled effectively on social networking websites. Explicit language is not censored in groups and discussion boards. It is also possible to post expletives on somebody's profile page. There have even been cases where pornographic pictures were posted on certain photo albums. Often such cases go undetected until somebody reports it. There is also a lot of racist, violent, and sexist material that exists on social networking sites. Though social networking sites today do offer security and privacy options, activating and operating those options can get a bit complicated. Therefore, it is important that you understand a site's privacy settings completely before you let your child log on.

Safe Social Networking for Children As children are generally unaware of the repercussions of inadequately protecting their identity online, it becomes your responsibility to ensure that they do not face a difficult situation. It is common knowledge that there are many unscrupulous people online who try to prey on young children on social networking sites. It is also possible that your child may be exposed to explicit content through a site.

Top

10

tips

to

ensure

Child

Safety

on

Social

Networks:

1. Visit the site yourself and browse through it. Check for loopholes.

2. Check the site for privacy settings. Make an alternate profile and check how effective those
privacy settings are.

3. Enquire with your friends and relatives if they know anything about security issues on those
social sites. If they are regular users of the site, they should be able to guide you well.

4. Preferably avoid posting photographs in the photo albums. If you do decide to add photos,
ensure that appropriate privacy settings are applied.

5. Join the site yourself and add your child to your friends list. This way you can also keep an
eye on your child's activities.

6. Educate your child about social networking and safety. Preferably avoid letting him register on
a site if he is not old enough to understand the risks.

7. Installing security software is also a good idea. This way, you can prevent your child from
accidentally accessing links that have been classified as adult content.

8. Make sure you and your child discuss online interactions regularly. Keeping an open
relationship is always a good idea, as your child will inform you if he plans to meet anybody he met online, or if somebody said something inappropriate to him.

9. Regulate the amount of time your child spends online. It is possible that he may get addicted
to social networking and adopt negative traits.

10. Join some social network for parents online that gives you tips and updates on protecting your
child online in order to help you stay up-to-date with new privacy features, new social networks and apps that your child may be interested in.

Social networking is a boon but only if enjoyed responsibly. So make sure you make that extra effort to secure your child while he surfs the Internet.
Learn About Internet Safety for Kids Here