Social networking is very common in the world today with the extensive technology that we are provided with. Today you can access Facebook and Twitter not just from your desktop computer, but from your smart phone and even older versions of cell phones. To an extent I feel like social networking has brought people closer but looking at it from a closer perspective it might have also separated people and society farther apart.
Facebook ever since it was created has been a popular social networking site and I can say that I’m on Facebook just about every day. I don’t even post too many statuses or write on people’s walls, but I always find myself on Facebook for hours chatting with people. Social networking sites can be addicting but lately I’ve been staying off of Facebook and been doing more productive things, like studying or working out. I don’t have a Twitter account since that would be another distraction, but I do have a phone from which I text people on a daily basis. I actually spend most of the day on my phone if I’m not at school or studying. At times I’m on my phone checking my Facebook and texting when I should be studying, so that is the reason why I have decided to stay off of Facebook. Even my I’m doing my homework on my computer I tend to go no Facebook to check what’s going on, but lately I have been able to control myself a little more. I feel like Facebook and texting can get a bit addictive and therefore aren’t so great in society, but at the same time it connects people in a different way.
I think that the cultural move towards social networking, constant access, and the loss of privacy brings about a positive trend since so many people are consumed within the technology that they don’t pay attention to privacy. We are so into our technology that we don’t even think about privacy but I think that is becoming a problem in our society. People don’t realize what they post on Facebook and Twitter and sometimes it costs them when it comes to getting jobs or other situations. Of course there are positives with the technology we have today such as being able to connect with others from around the world and keeping in touch with family and friends, but there are problems when it comes to privacy. Employers are able to access your page and see who you are online, whether or not it resembles your true self. There are many people who have problems with this but I think people should just be aware of what they post on Facebook or Twitter and then they don’t have to worry about their image. Honestly I haven’t “over-shared” anything on Facebook since I never put up any personal things or check in at locations. For me it is not a problem so therefore I don’t worry about it but with texting it is different. At times I have “over-shared” things through texting but it has been with close friends so it’s not too big of a deal since I have trust in them that they won’t spread the word or whatever. When posting on Facebook I don’t worry about privacy because there is nothing negative on my page, unless someone hacks my account which is an issue I’m worried about. I think people have the right to worry about their privacy online but a lot of people don’t even think about it and it ends up hurting them in the end.
