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Eddie Yi

Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin

FYC13100

October 28, 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 business in 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,

helping businesses to thrive, and increasing political participation.

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

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 its existence. Michael Horwin,

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

victims to communicate with each other. He 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 also 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. An interesting concept that comes out

from social networking web sites is the emergence of social capital. The core idea of social

capital is that social networks have value and how social contacts affect productivity and groups.
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 this study, social capital allows citizens to resolve

collective problems more easily through trust and concern for each other. Social capital from

social networking web sites enhances the human life because it allows for smooth

communication. When people trust one another, this allows for everyday business and social

transactions to be less costly. Another health benefit from social capital is the fact that people

who have active and trusting connections to others tend to become more tolerant, less cynical,

and more empathetic to the misfortune of others. 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.

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, one in five children from around the world

have 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 goes on to saying

that social networking sites as a technological breakthrough have been enormously beneficial to

society. However he also states, “[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 and

the growing number of users lead to the spread of these debauched influences. 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. The exposures to graphic images tend to lead

to worse influences like the widespread distribution of child pornography from social network

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). One of the greatest and

lingering consequences of social network sites 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 permission, or having rumors spread online.

Cyber bullying has become increasingly popular as more and more people start to use the

Internet. This has led to tragic deaths because of the immense pressure and grievance pushed

upon the victims. One of the victim’s mother 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.”

An interesting idea that sprouts from online harassment is the dehumanization of human nature.

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. In correlation, online bullying assumes the form of

anonymity. The absence of a physical presence, allows online bullying to thrive as their victims
form is faceless, nameless, and imaginary. Therefore, victims become dehumanized and it

becomes easier to continue the aggression without eliciting a normal sense of compassion from

those who witness the bullying. Social capital may embrace community, trust, and friendships

while giving off a very warm ambience, 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. Indeed, it is rhetorically useful for such groups to obscure the difference between the

pro‐social and antisocial consequences of community organizations. Web 2.0 technologies are

flourishing in wired cultures around the world, including China. An increase of these social

networking web sites has generated a breach in one’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 surf

these sites exploiting 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, social networking web sites’ benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Critics often

point out that social networking web sites offer a playground for sexual predators and 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, 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 one on social networking websites may be true, but

studies 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 cyber bullying is a

growing and eminent threat to humanity, Amanda Lenhart, a senior research specialist, disclaims

this threat with vital statistics. 67% of all teens admit that bullying and harassment happen 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

user becomes infatuated with his/her profile, and becomes an easy target for provocation.

However, there are more cases of personal relationships being formed, business transactions and

agreements being made, and information being drawn, 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. Associating social capital with gangs and other power driven

movements become trivial in the light of the 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 unknown dangers, the proponents of

this Web 2.0 movement present substantial evidence that the arguments against these web sites

are inconsequential and flawed.

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.
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

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.

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