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Eddie Yi

Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin

FYC13100

28 October 2010

Overall, Social Networking Web Sites have a positive impact in society

“Eddie! Take that picture down this instance!” My mom yelled. “Why? It says apple

juice on the bottle and anyone who sees the picture on my Facebook is going to know it’s just a

comical rip-off of the Captain Morgan pose,” I annoyingly responded. “College admissions staff

is going to see that picture!” My mom furiously replied. I reluctantly deleted the picture and sat

disgruntled on my chair in deep contemplation. How much do social networking web sites

actually affect society? The first social network site, SixDegrees, launched in 1997 and

ultimately failed as a sustainable or profitable business and shut down by 2000. However, the

demise of the original social networking site gave rise to many new and improved sites. As these

web sites became omnipresent throughout the decade, many people began to analyze the benefits

and disadvantages. Through research and empirical evidence, it is obvious that social networking

web sites have positively contributed to contemporary society by being vital to one's health in

that social interactions reduce mortality risk, recovery and support for fitness, fundraise for the

needy, increase social capital, create a self-identity, and demonstrate that bullying, privacy

issues, and immoral influences can be cautiously prevented. 

Social networking remains to be a vital part of one’s health and physical stature by

allowing an extensive process for recovery and support for cancer support groups, fundraising,

and social capital. Briceño, Gospodarowicz, and Jadad in 2008 conducted research on fighting

cancer through the use of social networking. Their research yielded that “more than 500 groups
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exchang[ed] information related to cancer, provid[ed] support to each other, and lobb[ied] and

fundraise[ed] successfully.” The communication provided from the social networking web sites

allows the world to support cancer patients and become aware of their existence. Michael

Horwin, founder of Cancer Monthly, launched a new web site called MyCancerPlace that

allowed cancer victims to communicate with each other. Horwin states that, “With a disease like

cancer, where information and communications [are] absolutely essential to have the best

outcome, this technology is incredibly robust.” The site attracts cancer organizations and allows

cancer patients to connect and network with each other. Here they can share information and

experiences, discuss medical information, and find out about cancer events. Social networking

creates limitless benefits of information and communication for cancer patients.

Another way social networking web sites contribute to society is the fundraising process.

Steve Case, the founder of AOL, established the Case Foundation, which ties together social

networking web sites and donations for charities. Club Penguin, an interactive social web game

site owned by Walt Disney, donates millions of dollars to three different charities. In this game,

kids control virtual penguins who earn virtual coins in the game, and Disney, proportional to the

amount of coins collected, donates the same amount of money to charities. Research has

ultimately proven that social interactions from social networking web sites have led to a lower

mortality risk. This remains true because of simple logic. Through Social networking web sites,

cancer patients can speak with nurses online, talk with other cancer survivors, ask hospital

questions, and other general health based questions. Here, it is logical to assume that social

networking sites reduce mortality risk because of the abundance of knowledge that can be drawn

out from these sites. Club Penguin also reduces mortality risks because through this game,

children in impoverished countries are being fed through the donations received.
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An interesting concept that comes out from social networking web sites is the emergence

of social capital. Social capital encompasses the concept of how social interactions and contacts

can positively affect the ability of people in a group. Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public

Policy at Harvard University, explains, “The networks that constitute social capital also serve as

conduits for the flow of helpful information that facilitates achieving our goals.” (289). In other

words, Putnam’s study demonstrates that an increase in social capital– social interactions– will

help groups of people resolve problems efficiently through a collective effort. Social capital from

social networking web sites can also be beneficial for our health because it incurs fluid

communication amongst people. When people trust one another due to an increase in social

capital, this situation allows business and social dealings to be less expensive. Finally, a key

health benefit from social capital is the reality that people who currently have strong ties to

others will become more understanding, less sarcastic, and more caring. An example is the

familial ties a person may have that allow them to act as a team player and not as an individual.

Social networking web sites provide ample information and help for cancer patients, allow

people to donate money, and increase social capital for the betterment of society.

Adversaries of Social networking web sites state that these Social networking web sites

are detrimental to one’s health because they attract sexual predators, offer bad influences, allow

online bullying, lead to isolation, and can make one very vulnerable. According to Attorney

General Gonzales on the New Jersey hearings states that, “one in five children from around the

world [has] been sexually approached from a stranger on the Internet”. Michael G. Fitzpatrick, a

U.S. representative, states at the hearings before the Committee on Energy and Commerce

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations that social networking web sites like Myspace,

Friendster, and Facebook are attracting sexual predators every day. Fitzpatrick also states,
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“[That] the freedom to connect to the world anywhere at any time brings with it the threat of

unscrupulous predators and criminals who mask their activities with the anonymity the Internet

provides to its users. And among its many applications, one of the most worrying developments

of late has been the growth in what are known as “social networking sites”.” Chris Hanson,

dateline NBC Correspondent, describes the negative influences social networking web sites can

have on the younger generation. Hanson states, “[Students] see other kids posing in their bras or

engaging in conversations with adults they think it is okay.” (Hanson 144). These websites often

offer graphic and vulgar images and ideas that encourage others to continue these illicit

activities. Hanson argues that kids think that these actions must be safe because of the whole

community phenomenon that is influencing the actual behavior of the population. These

exposures to vulgar and raunchy images lead to worse influences like the widespread distribution

of child pornography that occurs within social networking web sites. Parry Aftab, an attorney,

author, and executive director of WiredSaftey.org, points out, “[That] real child porn is present

on lots of social networks.” (Claburn). A concept that sprouts from these vulgar images

displayed on social networking web sites is the dehumanization of human nature. When people

constantly are exposed to these graphic images online, they are insensitive about it actually

happening in reality. This allows people to rationalize that child pornography and harsh things

like the sex trade is fine because it is common elsewhere. This mentality sprouts from social

networking web sites as they constantly expose users to sexually disturbing images.

One of the greatest and lingering consequences of social network sites critics argue is

online bullying or otherwise known as cyber bullying. According to senior research specialist

Amanda Lenhart, about one third (32%) of all teenagers revealed that they have been a target of

menacing online activities – threatening messages, uploading embarrassing photos without

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permission, or having rumors spread online. Cyber bullying has become increasingly popular as

more and more people start to use the Internet which leads them to social networking web sites.

A common misfortune is that social networking websites correlate to death because they create a

heavy burden and grievance from cyber bullying on the victims. One of the victim’s mothers

explained, “If someone is picking on you in the schoolyard, you can go home [but] when it’s on

the computer at home, you have nowhere to go.” Dehumanization of people once again comes

into play as cyber bullies become detached to the actual emotions of their victims. Stacy M.

Chaffin, a J.D. Candidate at Howard University, presents research that proves that when children

are regularly exposed to violence in the media and video games, they become desensitized to

violence in real life. Therefore, similar to the distribution of child pornography, the absence of a

physical presence, permits cyber bullies to perceive their victims as simply computer users

without shape or life. Because the victims lose the essence of a human being in the eyes of their

aggressor, it becomes easier for these bullies to continue their menacing activities without a

sense of remorse or compassion. Although social capital may embrace the ideals of social

interactions, urban sociologist Xavier de Souza Briggs properly warns society of the

interpretation of social capital in society. Brigg explains, “That social capital like human capital

can be abused and used more for selfish ambitions. Similarly, urban gangs and power elites often

exploit social capital to achieve ends that are antisocial from a wider perspective.” This argument

encompasses the negative influences that social capital may encompass. The idea of social

interaction is beneficial is completely based on the fact that both parties are trying to mutually

resolve the same problem. However, the problem lays within when one party attempts to take

advantage and utilize the trust and honest foundation to his/her benefit. Therefore opponents of
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social networking web sites argue that the increase in cyber bullying and misuse of social capital

lead to the negative impacts social networking web sites have to one’s health.

An increase of these social networking web sites has created an easier way for hackers

and other users to access other’s privacy and security. Sophos PLC conducted a study that

showed that 41 percent of Facebook users were willing to give up personal information to a

complete stranger—even to a person who was completely made up. The lack of security from

these social networking web sites allows scammers and hackers to browse these sites and exploit

potential victims. Social networking web sites are detrimental to one’s health because of the

endless number of dangers: sexual predators, mature content, cyber bullying, social capital, and

lack of privacy.

Overall, in a strong rebuttal, social networking web sites’ benefits outweigh the

disadvantages. Critics often point out that social networking web sites offer a playground for

sexual predators and emphasize that many kids are being harassed every day. However, a study

by the Department of Justice shows that the statistic that claims one out of five kids is sexual

solicited is overstated. While the statistic remains true, the Department of Justice states that,

“only 19 percent of those cases ended up in sexual contact or assault. More than 60% of those

sexual solicitations came from other teens and not from sexual predators.” The argument that

sexual predators will find victims on social networking websites may be true, but research and

empirical evidence have shown that the large majority of people immediately block/report these

incidents. Child pornography and graphic images can be censored by any responsible adult.

These immoral photos or influences can be kept under constant surveillance. There are mature

content locks and phishing filters that allow users to block any unnecessary images and

influences from ever appearing on their browser. In another health related study to disprove that
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cyber bullying is a growing and eminent threat to humanity, Amanda Lenhart, a senior research

specialist, disclaims this threat with vital statistics. Lenhart’s research states that, “67% of all

teens admit that bullying and harassment [had] happen[ed] more offline than online. 29% of

teens thought bullying was more likely to happen online and 3% agreed that they were roughly

equal. 71% of teens who have been bullied online state that bullying is more common offline

than online.” The importance of this information is showing that social networking web sites are

not the root and instigator for cyber bullying. Getting rid of social networking web sites is not

going to stop bullying from occurring; rather these sites are steadily advancing their protective

stance against harassment. Bullying is most effective when a victim has become infatuated with

his/her profile, and becomes an easy target for provocation due to an obsession to their online

reputation. However, there are more positive signs from social capital– social interactions– cases

of personal relationships being made, business communications and arrangements formed, and

information received, so the benefits from social networking web sites clearly outweigh the

disadvantages. The Department of Telecommunication at Michigan State University released a

study that indicates that social capital has been linked to a variety of positive social outcomes,

such as better public health, lower crime rates, and more efficient financial markets. Accusing

social capital to the formation of gangs and other power driven movements become trivial in the

beneficial availability of information, personal relationships, and the psychological well-being

for the health of a social networking web site user. While social networking web site opponents

reason that the web is full of unidentified perils, the proponents of this new age of the Web

present substantial proof that the arguments against these web sites are inconsequential and

flawed.
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The emergence of the web movement drastically changed the way people live and

communicate. One’s profile on social networking web sites becomes one’s identity and is

commonly used by job recruiters and college admission staff. Social networks have allowed

society to enhance their health and well-being with social interactions and social capital. In an

era where one’s daily schedule and events are publicly displayed, one leaves his/her identity in

jeopardy of sexual predators, negative influences, online bullying, isolation, and vulnerability.

However, the overall justified benefits from social networking web sites to one’s health clearly

outweigh the disadvantages thrown by critics by proving that social interactions reduce mortality

risk, help recovery and support, fundraise, increase social capital, establish a self-identity, and

prove that bullying, privacy issues, and corrupt influences can be safely prevented.
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Works Cited Page

Beck Jason, Nyland Rob, and Marvez Raquel. “Myspace: Social Networking or Social

Isolation?” Paper Presented at the AEJMC Midwinter Conference. Reno, NV. Print.

Briceño Andrea C., Gospodarowicz Mary, Jadad Alejandro R.. “Fighting Cancer with Internet

and Social Networking.” The Lancet Oncology. Web. October 28, 2010.

Claburn Thomas. “Online Child Pornography Defendant Expected to Cooperate.”

InformationWeek.com. May 11, 2007. Web. October 28, 2010

Don Tapscott. Grown Up Digital. New York: McGraw‐Hill. 2009. pp. 65‐66. Print.

Fitzpatrick Michael G. “Sexual Exploitation of Children Over the Internet: How the State of New

Jersey is Combating Child Predators on the Internet.” June 10, 2006. Hearings Before

the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Print.

Gasser Urs and Palfrey John. Born Digital. New York: Basic Books. 2008. p. 84.

Hansen Chris. To Catch A Predator. New York: Dutton. 2007. Print.

Humphries LaJean. “The Impact of Social Networking Tools and Guidelines to Use Them.”

LLRX.com. Web. October 28, 2010

Lenhart, Amanda. “Cyberbullying and Online Teens.” Pew Internet & American Life Project.

PewInternet.org. November 25, 2010

Putnam Robert D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New

York: Simon & Schuster. 2000. p. 289. Print.

Tamar Lewin. “Teenagers’ Internet Socializing Not a Bad Thing.” The New York Times.

November 19, 2008. Print.