Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FYC13100
“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,
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Investigations. Print.
Gasser Urs and Palfrey John. Born Digital. New York: Basic Books. 2008. p. 84.
Humphries LaJean. “The Impact of Social Networking Tools and Guidelines to Use Them.”
Putnam Robert D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New
Tamar Lewin. “Teenagers’ Internet Socializing Not a Bad Thing.” The New York Times.