Blog Project Assignment
Description
Social media has changed the life of many
people, it’s so advanced and quick at this day in age it’s frightening to
imagine what the future holds. I believe technology and media is at a current
stage where it could make you or break you. Meaning it’s very distracting
especially for teenagers and young parents, and it’s not being used to benefit
them instead it’s causing their brains to work slower. The internet could be
used to answer any question of yours that come to mind, a great study tool,
online banking and shopping through the internet, social networking that keeps
communication as frequent as you please, etc. Explaining the top ten thing s
concerning new media that people using the media should be aware of could be
difficult to narrow down to only ten, but I can get across the main points and
explain why people should be aware. A recent study
revealed that 94% of teenagers have at least one social networking account.
1.
To
begin with a important negative people should be aware of are the number of
kids that might be on social media websites without their parents knowledge. There are over 7.5 million preteens on Facebook – 5 million of whom are
on Facebook and under the age of 10. That means that more than 38% of
total Facebook users are under the age of 13 (Friend Guard). This is important because many of these kids
tend to lie about their age, and that can cause danger if they speak to the
wrong people on these online sites, such as rapist or pedophiles who aren’t
easy to point out online. Regardless of whether parents think that their
children are participating on social media sites or not, it is best that
parents have frank discussions with their children about social media and
online safety.
2.
Children posting a lot of
personal information on these social networks isn’t a good idea. Data shows
that 45% of teens post their school name and location online, 50% post their
real age, and 41% post the city in which they live (Fire guards). Multiple
reasons that personal information shouldn’t be shared on social networks, for
one people end up finding out to much of your whereabouts and track you down,
which can be dangerous. Two, for people who post inappropriate images online or
degrading information, you can be tracked or black-mailed because your
information is online. The schools or companies you worked at are listed on
your profile, they are legible to look your name up and see things that don’t
relate to what they meant to search up. It’s dangerous to share to much
information online because it could ruin you in the future.
3.
A positive effect concerning new media that people using media should be
aware of is how fast the news can be found online, even through your social
networks. News sites, and any other companies you could think of network on
these online sites we use. Twitter is
one of the social networks that update by the minute, with news and whoever
your choice of interest obtains. For example When Michael Jackson passed, news of his death
was all over. Flooding the timeline with
opinion tweets acknowledging the legend, the website temporarily crashed
(Examiner). Same for Nelson Mandela, both times of two tragedy’s the news on a
social network moved faster than a news reporter on T.V was able to spread the
information.
4.
Social media can also increase your business profits and this is
information people using social media should be aware of. Many people make personal accounts on networks
for personal blogging and posts, not so
much of business but everyone is still online surfing the net and
chatting. These
changes and current movements should not be taken for granted by people
involved in whatever kinds of businesses. One specific sector is Healthcare,
with more competition coming due to government breakup (obamacare) social media
is critical for deep customer/patient engagement (New Media Wise). Viewing this
online, seen as advertisement can influence more people especially young adults
to apply for health insurance and take advantage of the serious matter. Another
example is advertising fashion. Posting pictures of your clothes or clothing
you tend to sell can either bring you sales profit or increase popularity,
influencing other people to buy some outfits you where from these brands.
5.
What many people don’t know about social media, is that it can lead to
anxiety and depression for children. A lot of young people now base their
self worth on how many followers they have, likes they get, or comments their
posts receives. Many children now shape their lives and identities around
how well-received these will be on their active social media sites (Friends
Guard). Some of my friends are in this
category because they want to be online famous, a major focus on the wrong
material, leads to failing school, and a lack of focus in life . We need to
focus on what’s important on these networks such as helpful information, and
networking for businesses or better communication with others.
6.
Teens care about privacy from parents is a negative impact I disagree
with. When I was young, I felt teenagers deserved the most privacy but in fact,
parents viewing your social sites actually benefit and could prevent you from
talking to strange adults or viewing a profile that shouldn’t be seen at
whatever age. A lot of kids have at least one older relative
online; not to mention the volumes of parents who join Facebook each day( Fire
Guard). This makes kids look for
networks their parents aren’t on such as Kik and instagram. The up to date
social sites for teenagers and young adults.
7.
Social media can casue offline implications for children. Twenty-five
percent of children have experienced an interaction on social media that
resulted in a face-to-face argument. In fact, 22% of children have been
involved in an interaction on social media sites that ended a friendship (Fire
Guard). I too was involved in miscommunication online, which resulted into mini
altercations at school around junior high-school years. Half the time a group
of people know so what stirs up the controversy is the instigation around it,
as well as both opponents don’t want to be embarrassed around their friends or
bullied. These are also things that
parent’s wouldn’t know about and reasons why you should view your child’s social
network sites frequently.
8. When it comes to relationships with
friends, more than half (52%) of teens said social media has made them better
versus just 4% who said it has negatively affected those relationships (CNN). A positive light on social media is
bringing teenagers and their relationship with people closer than what it was.
Since everyone in your school practically is on Facebook, Twitter, or
Instagram, your able to add the people you know from school or your
neighborhood. You find out more about them reading their posts, and seeing
pictures they post, increasing or decreasing your point of view of the
individual.
9. Law enforcement uses Social networking
sites to catch and prosecute criminals. 67% of federal, state, and local law
enforcement professionals surveyed think "social media helps solve crimes
more quickly (Social Networking).” This
is beneficial because it’s more likely for Law enforcement to catch pedophiles
and criminals who surf the web and cause trouble online. This is what parents
should enforce because half the time they don’t know or see what their child is
doing online. The other half is telling the difference between a teenagers,
pedophiles, and adults profile page.
10. Last but not least, Social networking sites
help students do better at school statistics show. 59% of students with access
to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss
educational topics and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments
(Social Networking). If the media is
used properly, students could work better in school. The internet is so advanced and fast that your
able to find almost anything in less than a minute, typing a google search each
topic results in a million plus results.
Work
Cited:
·
Fire
Guard Social media can cause offline
implications for Children Top 5 Things Parents Don’t Know Their Kids Social
Media 8 August 2013
·
Fire
Guard Young Children might be on Social media without Parent’s knowledge 8
August 2013
·
Fire
Guard Children post a lot
of personal information on social media sites 8 August 2013
·
Fire Guard
Social Media use can lead to Anxiety and depression Top 5 Things Parents Don’t know their Kids
Social Media 8 August 2013
·
Fire Guard
Teens care more about Privacy from their parents Top 5 things Parents don’t know their kids
Social Media 8 August 2013
·
Pro
Con Social Networking Sites Social Networking 12 December 2013
·
Pro
Con Social Networking Sites Social
networking sites help students do better at school. Social Networking 12 December 2013
·
Pro
Con Social Networking sites Law
enforcement uses social networking sites to catch and prosecute criminals 12
December 2013
·
Wallace,
Kelly The Upside of Selfies Social Media
isn’t all bad for kids CNN 22 November 2013
·
New Media Wise
Internet & How it is Related to Social Media Internet and Social Media sites for your
Business 1 November 2012
