Analyzing the Advantages and Disadvantages Of

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ADVANTAGESANDDISADVANTAGESOFSOCIALNETWORKINGWEBSITES

Analyzing the Advantages and Disadvantages of

Using Social Networking Websites

Abrar Khan

North Carolina Central University

Fall 2013 , Introduction to Information Systems

Dr. Deborah Swain

1 December 2013

Abstract

Millions of people use social networks like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The popularity of social networking sites is undeniable in today's world. Many users of the social networking sites create profiles, upload their photographs and communicate with friends and family. The main advantage of social networking sites is that they enable the users to connect with each other. However it is also true that social networking sites make people waste a lot of time, makes the children vulnerable to criminals and help spread false rumors thereby damaging someone's reputation and result in cyber bullying. In this research paper I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social networking sites and how it affects the lives of millions of people around the world.

Social networking websites is not just for friends and fun. Social networking websites have practical business applications. Social networking sites help recruiters find suitable candidates for jobs. People also use social networking sites to find jobs by getting information about a company from friends and families. Social networking sites empower women. Women are the majority user in most social networking sites. Many business women share their knowledge and communicate with their peers using social networking sites. ( Moorhouse & Backer, 2012)

Socialnetworkingsitesbenefittheeconomy(Nathan,2011).Newjobsarecreatedtorunthesocialnetworkingwebsites.Socialnetworkingwebsitesearnbillionsofdollars.Facebookearned,(Crum,2012)Twitterearnedthisamountofmoney.Productsandservicesareadvertisedonsocialnetworkingsiteswhichincreasethesalesofmanybusinessestherebyimprovingtheglobaleconomy. (Hardy,2012)

Manybusinessescangetinstantfeedbackoftheirproductsandservicesbyanalyzingthefeedbacksandratingsleftbysocialnetworkingsiteusers.Thisdatacanbeusedasasourceofintelligenceforbusinesstodevelopandimprovetheirproductsandservices.(Mullaney,2012)

Consumerscheckoutthefeedbackandratingsleftbyotherusersonsocialnetworkingsitesbeforetheymakepurchasingdecisions.Thisenablesconsumerstoavoidbadproductsandservices.Thisalsoenablesthecompaniestogaininsightintotheirweakpointsandimprovetheirreputationbydeliveringbetterproductsandservices.(Mullaney,2012)

Businesspeoplecheckouttheonlineprofilesofindividualsbeforetheymeetthemfacetoface.ProfessionalslearnmoreabouteachotherthroughwebsiteslikeLinkedInandFacebookbeforetheymeetthemfacetoface.(Morgan,2012)

Socialnetworkingwebsitesalsohelppeopleimprovetheirhealth.Theincreasedsocialinteractiononsocialnetworkingsitesmakepeoplehappierandimprovetheirlifesatisfaction.(Jayson,2009)Manypeoplecommunicatewitheachothertoachievecommongoalslikeweightloss,exercise,anddieting,smokingcessation.Socialnetworkingsitesalsoenablepeopletoshareusefulhealthinformation.WHOexampleandBostonH1N1(Tucker,2011)exampletypehere.(“MixedUptakeofSocialMedia” ,2011)

Socialnetworkingsitesenableshypeoplecommunicatebetteronline.Peoplewhodonottalktoomuchinreallifecancommunicatemoreopenlyonsocialnetworkingsites.(BackerOswald,2010)ManytopicsthatareconsideredtabooorsocialstigmasareopenlydiscussedonlineonsocialnetworkingwebsitestherebyenablingpeopletoovercometheirshynessaboutHIV,Gay,andLesbianandTransgenderissues.(“StampOut”,2012)

Socialnetworkingsitesenablepoliticalchange.Peoplewhoareactiveonsocialnetworkingwebsitesaremorelikelytovote,becausetheydiscussaboutcandidatesonline.(Bond,Farris,JonesKramer,2012)

SocialnetworkingsitescanbeusedtooverthrowbadgovernmentasitwasdoneinEgyptbyoverthrowingPresidentMubarak.(Schaar,2011)TheOccupyWallStreetmovementwasorganizedlargelyusingsocialnetworkingwebsitestoexpresstheangeragainstthe1%ofrichpeoplecontrollingmajorityofworld’swealth.(Wasserman,2011)Socialnetworkingsitescanalsobeusedtocreatesocialchangebyfightingbullies.Forexample.Socialnetworkingsitescanbeusedtomotivatepeopletodonatetocharitiesandimprovethecommunity.

Crowdsourcingisanewphenomenonwherealargenumberofpeopledonateorraisemoneyforcharitiesandstartinganewbusinessstartup.Thisisgoodfortheeconomyofthecommunitiesworldwide. (Jesdanun,2012)

Socialnetworksenablepeopletolearnbetterbyimprovingtheeducationalexperience.Academicscancollaborateonsocialnetworkingsitestosharedataabouttheirresearchwitheachother(“GetNoticed”,2012)

.Teacherscancollaboratewithotherteacherstodevelopnewcurriculum.(Childers,2011)Studentscollaboratewithotherstudentsondoinggrouphomeworkassignmentsandprojects.(“CreatingandConnecting”,2007)CollegerecruitersreachouttopotentialstudentsonsocialnetworkingsitesbydevelopingsocialnetworkingapplicationsandFacebookpages.(“KaplanTestPrep” ,2012)

Socialnetworkingwebsitesimproverelationshipamongpeople.Peoplecanconnectwithfriendsandfamiliesonsocialnetworks.Peopleimprovetheircurrentrelationshipsbyknowingmoreabouttheirfriendsandcolleagues.(“SocialMedia”,2012)

Socialnetworkingsitesenablepeopletostayintouchwithlongdistantfriendsandrelatives.Seniorcitizensusesocialnetworkingwebsitestolearnmoreabouttheirgrandchildrenbyseeingtheirphotosonline.(“MoveOverYoungsters”,2011)Socialnetworkingwebsitesenablepeopletofindtheirfuturespouseandenablepeopleofoppositegendertodateeachotheronlineandultimatelygetmarried.

Lawenforcementusetrackersonsocialnetworkingwebsitestofindcriminalswhobragabouttheircrimesbysearchingforspecifickeywords.(Evon,2012)Criminalsareoftenfoundwhenuserstageachother’sphotosonsocialnetworkingsites.ForexampletheBOSTONmarathonbomberwasidentifiedonsocialnetworkingwebsitesafterFBIpostedthephotosontheirwebsites.(Evon,2012)

Socialnetworkingwebsitesalsoishelpfulindisastersandmassshootings.ForexampleintheAuroraCOshootingpeopleknewthecrimeevenbeforenewsmediacouldreachthescene(Sutter,2012) RedCrossencouragedpeopletousesocialnetworkingwebsitestoletfriendsandfamilyknowtheyaresafe.(HughesPesce,2012)

DisadvantagesofSocialNetworkingsites

Socialnetworkingsitesspreadwronghealthinformation.Manypeoplepostandsharehealthinformationonlinethatcannotbetrusted.Otherpeople’sopinionscanbemisleadingandcandamageone’shealthifanyactionistakenbasedonthesewronginformation.(Garber,2012)

Whenapersonhavetoomanyrelationshiptheirlifebecomesstressfulbecausetheyhavetocommunicatewithsomanypeopleandsmallthingscandamagetheirreputationonline.Thismakeslifestressfulformanypeople. (Gutierrez,2012)

Falserumorspreadsfastonsocialnetworkingwebsites.(Marino,2012)

Rumorsrelatedtocelebritiesspreadfastonline.Forexamplerumorlike “JustinBeiberstabbed” wassharedamongmanysocialnetworkingwebsiteusers.

Socialnetworkingsiteseliminatetheneedtomeetfacetofaceandcanresultinisolationoftheindividuals.(“SpecialReport”,2012)

Whenstudentsusesocialnetworkingsitestoomuch,itaffectstheirgrades.Beingoveractiveonsocialnetworkingsitesisadistractionandiscorrelatedwithlowergrades.

Socialnetworkingsitesenablestudentstocheatbysharinginformationtheyarenotsupposedtosharewithotherstudents.(McCullagh,2012)

Socialnetworkingsitesareawasteoftimeandcanlowerproductivity.(Dolliver,2010)Ifanorganizationof50peopleuseonly30minutesadayonsocialnetworks,itcanresultina6500hoursoflostproductivityfortheorganization.Manyemployersblocksocialnetworkingwebsitesonthecorporatenetworksforthisreason.(“SocialNetworkingatWork”,2011)

Postingphotos,videosorinformationthatisembarrassingcandamageone’sreputationonline.Manyrecruitersandcollegeadmissionofficerscheckoutthesocialnetworkingsitestofilterprospectivecandidatessousersneedtobecarefulaboutwhattheypostonline.(“2012SocialJob”,2012)

Manypeoplethinkthatsocialnetworkingsitesaresafeforsharingprivateinformation.Butitisnotasafeplacetosharingprivateinformationbecauseonceinformationispostedonlineitbecomesrecordedandremainsstoredontheserversevenwhentheuserdeletestheinformation.Governmentandcorporationscanaccessinformationonsocialnetworkingsites,thereforesocialnetworkingsiteslackprivacy.Advertiserscollectdataaboutpeoplebytrackingtheactivityofeachuseronsocialnetworkingwebsitessotheycansellmorethingstothepeople.Thisisaninvasionofprivacyandmanypeopleareangryaboutthisissue.(“FacebookYourPrivacy”,2012)

Criminalsusesocialnetworkingwebsitestogetinformationabouttheirvictims.Identitythievescancollectalotofinformationabouttheirvictimsusingsocialnetworkingwebsites.Homerobbersandonlinestalkerscanfindoutthelocationoftheirvictimsbycollectingdatafromthelocationtaggingfeatureofsocialnetworkingsites.Thisendangersmilitaryemployeeandjournalistswhoaretargetsofcriminals.(“SocialMediaRoundup”,2012) Childrenandadultscanbevictimofcyberbullyingwhenusingsocialnetworkingwebsites.Teenagersoftenusesocialnetworkingsitestoshareexplicitphotoswhichcanresultinsextingchargesiftheuserisunderage.(Gifford,2012) Peoplesharecopyrightedcontentlikemusicandmovieswhichcanresultincopyrightinfringementandlessrevenuefortheintellectualpropertyowners.(West,2012)

Hackersusesocialnetworkingsitestospreadvirusandothermalicioussoftwarebecauseusersoftenclickonlinksfromtheirtrustedfriendswithoutthinkingaboutthedangersofsecurityissues. (Waugh,2012)

Peopleusesocialnetworkingwebsitestobeapartofagroupandtohavesocialinfluence.Usingsocialnetworkingsitestoshareinformationandphotoisentertainingtomostusers.Butthisoversharingcanexposeuserstocriminalsandcyberbullieswhotakeadvantageoftheopennessofthecommunicationmedium.(“WhySocialNetworking”,2013)Childrenareexposedtoonlinepredatorswhowanttomolesttheminreallife.Realcrimecanmakeanactivesocialnetworkingsiteuseraneasyvictim.(“Cyberbullying”,2013)

Cyberbullyingoccurswhensomeoneisbulliedovertheelectronicmediumlikesocialnetworkingsites,webchatandtexting.Thiscanhappentobothadultsandchildrenanytime24hoursaday,7daysaweek.Peoplewhoarebulliedonlinearealsobulliedinreallife.Cyberbulliespostharassingimagesandmessagesanonymouslywhicharesometimesimpossibletotrace.Thevictimsofcyberbullyingusealcoholanddrugstocopewiththepainofcyberbullying.Manyskipschools,getpoorgrades,anddeveloplowself-esteemwhichcanultimatelyleadtodevelopmentofphysicalandmentalhealthproblemslikeclinicaldepressionandsuicidalattitudeamongitsvictims.Themostdangerousthingaboutcyberbullyingisthatitisnotagame;peoplewhoarebulliedonlinearemostlikelybulliedinreallifecausingphysicalviolenceandvictimization.(“Cyberbullying”,2013)

Itisimportanttoreportcyberbulliestolawenforcementwhenanyonethreatensviolence,stalkstheindividualandpromotehatecrime(Johnson,2012) againstthevictimorsendsexplicitpornographicimagesandmessagestostalksomeone.(Topping,2012)veWhileitisimpossibletopreventcyberbullying,settingprofilesprivatecansomehowprotectindividualsfromcyberbullies.Reportingtheprofileofthecyberbullyisalsoaneffectivewaytodecreaseinstancesofcyberbullying.(“Cyberbullying”,2013)

Onlinepredatorsareadultswhooftenposeaschildrentoformunacceptableformsofrelationshipswithchildrenandunderageteenagers.Childrenareexposedtoonlinepredatorswhentheyareactiveonsocialnetworkingwebsitesandchatrooms.Theonlinepredatorposeaschildrenandpersuadethevictimtoexposethemselvesonwebcamorsendexplicitphotostoinitiatefriendship,butlaterthechildrendiscoverthatthepredatorisanadult.(“AParent’sGuide”,2005)

Itisimportanttoprotectchildrenfromonlinepredators.Parentsshouldeducatechildrenaboutthedangersofonlinecommunicationinsocialnetworkingwebsites.Itiswisetoinstallwebmonitoringsoftwareinthekids’ computerstotrackwhattheydoonline.Itisimportanttoletthemknowthatitisnotrighttogivestrangerstheirhomeaddressorphonenumber.Parentsshouldbesuspiciousiftheirchildrenreceivegiftsfromstrangers,quicklyturnoffthemonitororspendalargeamountoftimechattingwithstrangersonsocialnetworkingwebsites.Itiswisetokeepthecomputersinthecommonarea-notinthebedroomsothechildrenandteenagerscanbemonitored.Itisalsoimportanttomonitorthechildren’ssmartphonesbecausemostsocialnetworkingwebsiteshavemobilecapabilities.(“AParent’sGuide”,2005)

Socialnetworkingwebsitescontainahugeamountofpersonalinformationaboutindividuals.Scammerscanusesocialengineeringtechniquestohackintosomeone’sbankaccountjustbyusingsocialnetworkingsites.Manycriminalsusefunnyonlinequizzestogatherdataabouttheirvictims,andthenusethosedatatocrackthepasswordsbyknowingthesecretquestionsthatareusedtoauthenticateuseraccounts.(Snow,2010)

CriminalsalsosharesfunnyvideosorimagesthathaveembeddedphishinglinksthatdirecttheusertomaliciouswebsiteswhichcantriggermaliciouscodesorTrojanhorsestobedownloadedautomaticallytovictim’scomputer.Whenthecriminalgainaccesstothevictim’scomputertheycanusethecomputersasbotnetstolaunchdenialofserviceattacks,orinstallremotekeyloggerstogainaccesstobankaccounts,creditcardinformationandemailaddressesresultinginidentitytheftandfraudulentcreditcardcharges.(Waugh,2012)

Thereareforumsinthecyberundergroundwherecriminalsbuyandsellpersonalinformationofuserstheyvictimizeonsocialnetworkingwebsites.That’swhyitisimportanttobecarefulwhenclickingonlinks,imagesorvideosthataresharedfromfriendsandfamiliesonline.Itisalsoimportanttocallthefriendorrelativeiftheytellthattheyarestrandedandrequestmoneyforsomereason.(Snow,2010)

Becausemanyscammersposeasthefriendsorrelativesofthevictimandrequestmoneybysocialengineeringthattheyarestrandedinremotelocations. Itisimportanttoseethebrowseraddressbarwhenclickingonwebsitelinkstomakesurethatsomeoneisvisitingthelegitimatewebsitesharedonsocialnetworkingsitestoavoidphishingattacks.(Snow,2010)

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