The Internet and Social Networking

Social Networking has become commercial sensation in the world today. It has really evolved to be the nucleus around which we orbit. Social networking is not just a social phenomenon for kids and teens, but a commercial tool for businesses, and in recent years, government campaigns as well.

The Internet has opened up the possibilities to do things more quickly and efficiently, like for example network with your friends on sites like facebook, twitter, Linked In etc. Our generation has grown up with these tools and that is why social networking has become so embedded in our culture. Businesses, organizations, government have begun to follow the trend not only because it makes sense but to not follow it would hurt them. Communication is key in everything, and the way to communicate with people in this day and age is through social networking, and advertising.

In many ways these innovations that have only recently come about in the past few years are really beneficial. They allow for instant communication with your friends and family, the ability to keep in touch with people long distance at virtually no cost, the ability to advertise a business or product or campaign in a way that millions of people will see faster and less costly than by any other method. Businesses have especially taken advantage of this tool, updating their promotions online on websites like facebook where their followers will get notified and spread the word to their friends. The result, a growing customer base in just seconds. There’s no wonder why everyone joining in on the trend. Now its not even a choice, if a business wants to succeed, they can’t compete without using these tools.

However, there are downsides to these tools. Today we have to worry about predators online who use social networking tools to communicate with innocent kids and teens, as well as websites that encourage the wrong kind of behavior such as the example from the video program, Growing Up Online, where one girl was accessing a website that encouraged her eating. People have to realize that the internet is a great thing but should not be abused. Since there are no guidelines on right and wrong internet usage, many people abuse it without realizing its bad. Teens especially post revealing and provocative pictures and post things on the internet they wouldn’t think to publicize in public. People today are really living there lives online, and becoming too dependent on the internet for everything.

Obama utilized social networking tools to his advantage by creating a website where his supporters could visit and view his campaign, blog, and send messages. With this website he was able to create a sense of community and really make people feel like they were involved in the process. This aspect made his campaign very attractive and he gained many followers in a very short span of time. Other candidates struggled to compete because it was virtually impossible to keep up with something that was changing perpetually.