Social Networking Cons

Social networking cons exist because of an aspect of human nature

that seems prone to obsessive and addictive behaviors. There are
many advantages to the use of social networks, and many of the
greatest modern advances in business, science and education are due
to the benefits of social networks. However, there is also a downside to
this popular technology.

Facing Social Networking Cons Head-On

There are a lot of reasons why online social networks are fast
becoming an invaluable part of our society. Communities where you
can Interact with others online allow you to take part in education,
discussions and friendly banter in waysthat were never possible before,
due to distance and the limitations of other forms of communication.
However, in examining the advantages and disadvantages of social
networking, its important to take a very serious look at the social
networking cons, and ways that you can avoid or correct them.

The Mental Effects of Physical Isolation

In the book Social Consequences of Internet Use by James Everett
Katz and Ronald Rice, the authors point to an intriguing
study conducted by an organization called "HomeNet" in 1998 that
found that greater Internet use was directly related to an increase in
depression and loneliness. The explanation provided by researchers
was that when people replace stronger, offline and in-person social ties
with much weaker and non-personal online ties, they tend to feel
isolated. Research throughout the years draws a direct connection
between isolation and depression.
While it may seem counterintuitive that Internet users spending many
hours communicating on online social networks would experience
isolation, the fact is that the excessive computer use drastically
reduces the person's real-world social interactions with family and
friends. That direct in-person social interaction is critical to a person's
emotional and mental health.

Heath Issues Related to Social Networking

While it may come as no surprise to many people that excessive

computer and Internet use can lead to health problems, what may
come as a shock are the cause doctors describe for those health
issues. A 2003 study at the Harvard School of Public Health found that
social isolation has an adverse effect on cardiovascular health,
especially in men. The study examined how close the subjects were to
family and friends and how often they took part in social gatherings.
An obvious connection to the use of online social networks is the fact
that online social networks reduce real-world social interactions.The
study found no correlation between social isolation and cardiovascular
health, but researchers were not sure why. One reason may be that
when it comes to online social networks, women may be better able to
draw positive benefits from those online connections, while men may
require more in-person social interactions. In either case, this study
should draw attention to the fact that excessive use of the Internet and
social networks could potentially have negative long-term effects on
your health. As with many good things in live, online social networks
can be very positive, but they should be used in moderation.

Other Disadvantages or Cons of Social Networks

A number of past LoveToKnow articles touched upon other social
networking cons that deserve mention. All of these important factors
should be taken into account whenever you decide to spend a
significant amount of time deeply involved in an online community.
Social Networking Abuse - This article describes the may
ways in which some users of online communities can abuse
the system. Such abuse includes account hacking, identity
theft, child predators and cyber bullying.
Hate Social Networks - While there are many very positive
and beneficial online communities, there are also a growing
number of online groups with a mission to spread a message
of hate about other racial, ethnic or religious groups.
Security Issues With Social Networking Sites - This article
describes the security concerns you should be aware of
when you decide to start providing your personal
information to other people within these online communities.

 Online Social Networking Dangers - This article lists a few

additional dangers associated with online socializing
including the spread of viruses, putting your credit card
information at risk, or the possibility of compromising your
passwords.

Final Words
For the most part, the positive aspects of social networking still far
outweighs the negative. The powerful ability to connect with personal
and business contacts from around the globe can drastically increase
your effectiveness in business, academia and in education. However,
moderation is extremely important, and users of these networks need
to remind themselves the first priority should always be the family and
friends that are around you, love you, and want to spend time with
you.

Negative Impact of Social Networking Sites

Social media has changed the way people interact. In many ways, social media has led to
positive changes in the way people communicate and share information; however, it has a
dark side, as well. Social networking can sometimes result in negative outcomes, some with
long-term consequences.

People As Products
According to e-Marketer, global social networking revenues will exceed $10 billion 2013. Most
social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and many others offer their services to
members for free, yet still net significant income. In fact, according to Mashable Business,
Facebook earned $1.6 billion in revenues in the first half of 2011, and was on pace to achieve
more than $3 billion in revenues by year end.
If the services are free, then, how do social networking websites earn such staggering sums
of money? The answer is that you, the social network user, is the product these online giants
sell to generate revenue. According to BBC News, social networking sites are uniquely
positioned to make money by matching people to products. Since you generate content on a
social networking site that indicates your interests, social and work background, and a great
deal of other information about your personal preferences, the social networking sites can
target advertisements specifically to you, a service for which advertisers are willing to pay
significant amounts of money.

Diminishing Privacy

While many users feel their personal data is safe on social networking sites because they
have set high levels of security settings, research suggests this is not the case. According to
a 2010 Northeastern University and Max Planck Institute for Software Systems study,
researchers created an algorithm to discover an individual's personal attributes by examining
the one thing that most people leave public even when all other privacy settings are place:
their friend list. Using the algorithm, researchers were able to infer many personal traits
merely from friend lists, including educational level, university attended, hometown and other
private data. Many social networking sites regularly make changes that require you to update
your settings in order to maintain your privacy, and frequently it is difficult to discover how
enable settings for your appropriate level of privacy. Because of this, many users do not
realize how much private information they are allowing to become public by not re-evaluating
settings every time the network makes a change.
Tagging can also serve as an invasion of privacy. When social networking sites have a
"tagging" option, unless you disable it, friends or acquaintances may be able to tag you in
posts or photographs that reveal sensitive data.

Negative Health Consequences

A 2010 Case Western Reserve School of Medicine study showed hyper-networking (more than
three hours on social networks per day) and hyper texting (more than 120 text messages per
day) correlated with unhealthy behaviors in teens, including drinking, smoking and sexual
activity. Hyper-networking was also associated with depression, substance abuse, poor sleep
patterns, suicide and poor academic performance.

Isolation
While on the surface it appears social networking brings people together across the Internet,
in a larger sense it may create social isolation, according to a BBC News report. As people
spend increasing amounts of time on social networks, they experience less face-to-face
interaction. Scientists have evaluated social isolation in many studies, and have determined
that it can lead to a host of mental, psychological, emotional and physical problems including
depression, anxiety, somatic complaints and many others. In fact, a University of Illinois at
Chicago School of Medicine animal study showed social isolation impaired brain hormones,
which is the likely reason socially isolated people experience tremendous levels of stress,
aggression, anxiety and other mental issues.

,,

While the above studies show actual correlations between social networking and negative
consequences, others argue that many other negative consequences may exist that have not
yet been studied. Some of the harmful effects people suggest social networking has that have
not yet yielded conclusive study results include:

Encouraging poor grammar, usage, and spelling

Allowing the spread of misinformation that may be perceived as fact even in

light of evidence to the contrary

Exposing children to online predators

Creating a culture in which a single mistake such as a racy picture or poorly

thought-out comment can cause irreparable harm to your reputation

Decreasing productivity as workers habitually check social networking sites

while they should be working

Providing information that increases the risk of identity theft

Creating a platform for cyber bullying

Decreasing the Impact

It is inherent on the individual to use social networking constructively, and parents must be
especially careful to monitor their children's use of social networking to minimize the potential
for negative outcomes. Some tips:

Always use maximum privacy settings

Be cautious about what you share on social networking sites

Minimize the time you and your children spend social networking

Monitor your children's social networking use and friend lists

Make household rules about social networking and enforce them

Educate your children about the potential hazards of social networking

Do not allow strangers into your social networks

Build online networks of people you also interact with face-to-face, and
encourage your children to do the same

Here to Stay
While social networking has clearly demonstrable negative impacts, it is most likely here to
stay. Deciding whether you or your children will use social networking is an individual choice.
By using it responsibly and encouraging your children to do the same, you can harness
the benefits of social networking while avoiding thedrawbacks.

Raising a Teenager in the Digital Age

Suddenly, the Internet happened and it changed everything, including childhood. Whether this change was for the better or for
worse depends on how you look at it.
This is the first generation that cannot imagine life without the Internet and the various devices that connect us to it, and to one
another, by extension. Our electronic gadgets have become extensions of our bodies, like crutches. On the other hand, you
might also say that these powerful tools give us wings. Some people believe that the Internet and its various social networking
options affect us negatively while others beg to differ, and parents who cling to their pre-Internet way of life are scrambling to
make sure they have the right answers to guide their kids.

Writers and researchers have flocked in to fuel the flames of the controversy with rants and data (see footnotes below for
studies and articles referred to here). In this article, we'll explore both the advantages and the disadvantages of the Internet and
social networking for teenagers.

Social Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet

One of the most obvious negative aspects of social networking is losing face-to-face contact with other people. Teens are sitting
around with their gadgets in their hands all day long, tapping messages onto screens instead of communicating with real
people. Many teenagers feel more comfortable with virtual friends than with real ones. The majority think that it is easier to chat
on the Internet because they lack communication skills.
In his article The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers, Chris Crosby bemoans this negative impact on teenager's social skills
and alludes to evidence to back it up:
Various reports suggest that about eighty-three percent of American youth use their phones for email, mobile internet, and
texting [...] these American teens send and receive text messages 144 times a day. [...] Researchers have found that the
middle-school, high school, and college students who used Facebook at least once during a 15 minute period get lower grades
overall.
It is also true that parents often have no knowledge about what their kids do with their gadgets, oftentimes because parents are
new toand perhaps not adept withthe social networking scene. Crosby says that, "While kids are plugged in to social
media, only about 40% of parents are involved themselves." And because parents don't know the full picture, they also don't
know how to deal with a teenager's potential overuse of social media and might not even be aware that a problem exists.
Therefore, social networking can be much more immediately engaging and engaged with the teenager's life than parents are,
and this fact accentuates the illusion in which virtual communication feels more "real" than face-to-face communication. Since
the teenager and the parent live in different worlds, they both may experience feelings of disconnect.
However, shifting the locus of social connection to the gadget in the hand has its positive side. In her piece describing the
positive effects of social networking, Melissa Page cites eight:
1.

It educates. (Answers to any question at your fingertips. You can connect with teachers, coaches, and experts, and
collaborate with peers.)

2.

It facilitates communication (updates, chats, debates, discussion) and gives access to real-time understanding.

3.

It breaks down physical, geographical, and cultural barriers. (Even if you're in a wheelchair, you can make friends
with Minnesotans, Nigerians, and even your favorite authors.)

4.

It strengthens relationships. (You never have to lose touch with old friends. Who has time to write or wait for letters,
anyway?)

5.

It helps people find and connect with their community. (They can easily discover when, where, and what is happening
and how they can participate.)

6.

It boosts confidence. ("Likes" and nice comments are positive feedback.)

7.

It can help fight depression. (Page: "Recent studies show that many teenagers have not chosen the path of suicide,
thanks to these tools. Blogging can be therapeutic for teens who are confused, down, or need to vent frustrations.")

8.

It's a tool for claiming identity. (The personal profile and comment box are opportunities to be, say, and figure out who
you are.)

In addition, for shy people and introverts, the Internet can be a safe and controllable place to speak one's mind. The
anonymous aspect of the online experience can have both a negative and a positive impact, as well: sometimes, that
anonymity makes it easier for people with social problems to act out against others, but often, it is easier to find help for social
problems online, where there is no stigma attached.
Although it's true that many teenagers don't know how to communicate well, this has always been true, even pre-Internet.
Keeping the lines of communication open with teenagers is a timeless parental concern, but cutting teens off from social
networking might not be the solution. In moderation, social networking may even offer a solution to this problem by giving teens
more, not less, opportunities to "speak."

The Effect of the Internet on Education

One look at a teenager's texts is enough to give any parent hard evidence that this online language they use to talk with each
other threatens to erase the meaning of everything you have ever said to them and destroy everything they've learned in
school. Proper spelling, syntax, and grammar structures are replaced by all-cap abbreviations that, although they may look
"cool" to the teen, often appear illegible and even stupid to their parents, who may worry about permanent brain damage.
Your teen insists it is easier and faster to write this way. Teens have become quite adept at both thumbing and interpreting this
abbreviated and sloppy texted lingo, so adept that they begin to speak these non-words and even slip them into their
assignments for school. Knowledge of grammar and spelling is lost and this degradation negatively affects students study.
In Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites for Students, Steve Armstrong writes,
Students today have begun to rely on the accessibility of information that is available on the social media platforms specifically
as well as the web in general in order to get answers. This means that there is a reduced focus on learning as well as on
retaining information.
Many peopleteenagers and adults alikedo not know that the Internet is not always a reliable source for information. Teens
use their cellphones for social reasons during classes, and multi-tasking has become a major distraction in the classroom.
Many teens usually spend sleepless nights on social media without the knowledge of their parents.
On the other hand, there are many huge educational benefits when the Internet and social media are used wisely. Access to
diverse online communities opens the floodgates of experience, information, and data and allows students to develop more
informed personal, political, and cultural outlooks. Kids without access to libraries or experts can be as well informed as those
with access to every educational resource. Teenagers have more access to dialogues about politics, religion, racism, sexism,
and other cultural biases. Exposure to a wider variety of viewpointsand weeding through that information to gauge what is
relevant and reliablerequires that students think critically. In addition, students will need to be adept in modes of online
communication since many professions utilize and require knowledge of the Internet and social media.
Also, teens who can't attend a class for whatever reason can participate in online education (aka distance learning). For kids
who can't attend a class for whatever reason, they can go online to find a wide range of educational options that offer flexibility,
oftentimes at little or no cost.
At one middle school in Portland, Oregon, a teacher realized what a huge role the Internet played in her students' lives and
decided if you can't beat them, join them. Although 69% of American high schools have banned cellphones, her school didn't do
that: instead, they got every student's phone number and started calling habitually tardy kids to make sure they got to school on
time. She started a social media program at her school and one year later, grades had gone up more than 50% school-wide,
chronic absenteeism had been reduced by more than a third, and 20% more students were completing extra credit
assignments.
So students' grades definitely suffer with unrestricted and unfocused use of the Internet and social media. But when schools
embrace the Internet and other social media and use them for educational purposes, everyone benefits.

How Can Social Network Sites Affect

Teens?
Hundreds of social networking sites exist to support a wide variety of interests around the world,
according to a 2007 article in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. These social
networking sites connect strangers and friends together, and incorporate a wide variety of
communication tools such as blogging, mobile connectivity and photos or videos shared with other
users. Many of these social networking sites encourage users to upload personal information,
multimedia files and photos that can be shared with others although, often indiscriminately.

Negatives
Seventy percent of teens use social networking sites, according to an article on the U.S.
Department of Labor website. One of the most serious problems related to these sites concerned
safety issues and reports of sexual interactions between adults and minors on MySpace, according

to the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Other issues related to privacy concerns

include false information posted by online users and unwanted sexual solicitations. Regular use of
social media sites also increases the risk of teen alcohol use, according to information from the
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

Grades, Socialization and Behavior

Social media can be distracting, according to an article on the Psych Central website. Teens who
checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period had lower grades. In addition,
those teens who used Facebook more often are more likely to display narcissistic behavior,
antisocial behavior, mania, aggressive tendencies, anxiety and depression. On a positive note,
however, teens on Facebook were better at showing empathy to online friends, and social
networking can help provide tools to help teens engage with others. The Dept. of Labor also noted
that teens with disabilities can socialize anonymously, which may be beneficial in some cases.

The Online World

More than 50 percent of teens log onto a social media site such as Twitter, and they view video
sites such as YouTube or access gaming sites and virtual worlds such as Club Penguin, Second Life
and the Sims, according to a March 2011 article in "Pediatrics." The article notes that many teens
social and emotional development is now taking place online, which can be problematic because
teens are still developing self-regulation skills and are susceptible to peer pressure. Cyberbullying,
cliques and sexting may result from online use, and the article expresses concerns about Internet
addiction and sleep deprivation.

Risks and Benefits

Social media has positives, according to the Dept. of Labor. Social networking sites enable users to
keep up with their friends and can decrease feelings of isolation. Creating a profile or home page
enables creative expression. Regular use of technology promotes competence. Social networking
offers the opportunity to discuss school assignments or topics that may be more difficult to discuss
in person. These positives are counterbalanced by risks, however, such as sharing information with
the wrong people or sharing much more than one might in person. Once the information is posted,
it might not be possible to remove it, and inappropriate information could be problematic.

http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Social_Networking_Cons
http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Negative_Impact_of_Social_Networking_S
ites
http://simplyalde.hubpages.com/hub/social-network-to-teens
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/can-social-network-sites-affect-teens13459.html