My first post is based on Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship by Danah M. Boyd.
It is simply amazing how quickly social networks have changed the way we connect as individuals and businesses. The author states that since their introduction, social network sites (SNSs) such as MySpace, Facebook, Cyworld, and Bebo have attracted millions of users, many of whom have integrated these sites into their daily practices.Blogs, to an extent, have evolved in the same way. The fact that we can intellectually socialize in the same manner and share our ideas with the anonymity and ubiquity of the internet has influenced this generation much like videos games of the 80's have enabled the gamers of today. The first recognizable social network site launched in 1997. SixDegrees.com allowed users to create profiles, list their Friends and, beginning in 1998, surf the Friends lists. Since then, thousand of sites, hosting million of members have established a virtual culture of their own.
Reference http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html
The second post is based on an article that helped me understand the first or at least the rationale behind the social network phenomenon. Signals in Social Supernets by Judith Donath.
Grooming, gossip, and online friending are some of the first characteristics that takes place online. My first experience with social networking was over a decade ago with online dating. No, I did not participate but I did find ways to market to local singles to attend parties at local bars. Chat rooms where the areas that the gossiping and establishment of friends took place. I am not sure how to evaluate grooming but I am sure that we all look better online. Communication technologies expand human social reach. Email makes communication more efficient: Sending a message to numerous recipients is as easy as sending it to one. Social sites also provide an certain amount of anonymity. There is a country song and it speaks of the different personality and fantasy world that many can create in these online environments.
Users represent themselves with a profile, which includes a self-description, comments from other users, and the technology's defining feature, a list of links to chosen other members. The self-description can include pictures, affiliations, career goals, and other personal details.
I saw an article in which models photos have been copied and represented as someone else, teenagers become adults and adults become teenagers. I guess I will just stay with my video games.
Reference http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/donath.html
Submitted by John H.
1 comment:
Social Networking Sites are breeding grounds for stalkers, pedophiles, and rapists. While that may seem like an extreme opinion. It's not really far fetched. Even if users have the option of being anonymous, most users seem to want to flaunt information about themselves. Parents have to be aware of what their children post here as it is quite easy to trace things back if stalkers get enough information.
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