Keywords: social media, media and networking, effect on communication

Social media and social networking seem to play an imperative part of peoples lives around the
world. There are some who debate whether it is improving or crippling communication skills.
Sitting behind a computer communicating with cyber friends can be easy and fun but can
weaken a person's verbal communication skills. I will not only focus on the negative impacts on
communication because there are some positive impacts on communication through social
media. I will explore how social media and networking strengthens and weakens communication.

Communication is defined as the act or an instance of communicating; the imparting or

exchange of information, ideas, or feelings. (Collins, 2009). Communication involves the transfer
of meaning or information from one person or group to others. (Baack, 2012). It is an integral
part of everyone's life.

"All communication areas are significant in that each area represents a system that operates
within a broader system of destination management, and contributes to its overall efficiency.
However, each area of communication has its own characteristics and the knowledge of these
characteristics will ultimately help establish an efficient communication pattern. There can be no
argument that technology has had a major impact on the world and how people communicate."
(Omrcen, 2009)

Accessibility that one has to the internet through smart phones, tablets, computers, and other
mobile devices has made accessing information and connecting with people a touch away in
some cases. People are communicating almost all day every day through texting, e-mail, and the
ever-expanding social media. Because it has had such a modern explosion in popularity and
usage, social media has become the new norm when it comes to communicating everything
from huge life events like engagements and the birth of children to minute particulars like what
one ate for dinner. Social media has had one of the most substantial impacts on how people
communicate within the past decade.

The internet has a greater impact on people today than ever before. It has been a continual
source of news, entertainment, and education for users around the world for more than 20 years.
However, the most innovative of its technologies, social media, did not achieve mainstream
popularity until about ten years ago. Facebook, Twitter, and similar services are becoming the
most visited destinations on the internet. These websites allow users to quickly and easily share
pictures, links, ideas, and messages with other users; theoretically facilitating social interaction.
These services, through a combination of accessibility, simplicity, and intuitive design promote
positive social behavior by encouraging interaction among friends, relatives, and co-workers;
facilitating communication between individuals, and fostering a profound sense of community.

Social media is a rising trends in the world today. Communication skills are exemplified by use
of social media networking. Social media networking allows for a communication outlet. Social
media is being utilized by students, parents, businesses, and religious organizations. It is being
used in many forms by many different platforms for many reasons. The transmission device is
anything that carries a message, including sound waves, light waves, pieces of paper, mobile-
phone signals and screens, the Internet, computer monitors, billboards, radio and television
signals, and an endless number of additional carriers (Baack, 2012). Social media is employing
many transmission devices, including mobile devices and computers.

I am interested in the role social media plays in communication because I use some form every
day and notice that it is becoming a rising trend. I have found myself checking my Facebook
page without even thinking about it. I have also noticed that some friends post frequently and
tell everything they are doing via status updates. The social network, Twitter, appears to be one
of their first choices with celebrities' tweets being the topic of many news discussions. At the
bottom of nearly every commercial, there is a Facebook/Twitter link.

Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have always encouraged their subscribers to come up
with an online persona. They then build a personal network of friends that connects to an open
worldwide community (Griffith & Tengnah, 2009). Information is now shared freely between the
two. These parties can communicate either publicly (writing on 'walls') or via the more discrete
personal messages.

Apart from connecting to a network of friends, a subscriber can join community groups with a
specific interest. Here, the subscribers discuss different issues touching on that interest. More
often than not, events are created where physical meetings are arranged. Briggs found out that
an average Facebook user is connected to around 80 community groups (Griffith &Tengnah,
2009). Most of these groups encourage the subscribers to give suggestions on how they should
be run and to engage in debates. They also provide a social forum for members to interact
amongst each other and with the leaders of the groups.

There are other social sites like YouTube that give users a platform to upload and share videos.
Here, users post videos of themselves for other users to view. YouTube has been a great
platform for musicians and film producers as their fans can easily access their music videos.
Other social sites like MySpace have also given users the platform to post videos on their
profiles. Such sites enable easy access to a variety of videos like music, sports, documentaries,
and movies.

Social media has lessened the use verbal communication and increased the use of online
messaging. People nowadays can have 'phone conversations' over their computers. This has
been enabled by the development of social sites such as Skype. Here, people that are connected
will communicate by word of mouth. This is unlike Facebook and Twitter where the mode of
communication is by writing.

Most of the social sites have now incorporated webcams for their subscribers. Webcams enables
'friends' to have a one on one conversation while at the same time watching each other. This
communication is more private and very effective as subscribers get to see each other. There has
really been an increase in popularity in webcam conversations.
Facebook, Twitter, and Skype are popular social media platforms millions utilize daily. It is
extremely rare to come across anyone in today's society who does not have an account on one
of these platforms. Social media is not only people used by people but by businesses and
organizations, as well. Most sites that I visit online has a link to their Facebook page,

Qualman, 2009 states:

"Social media touches nearly every facet of our personal and business lives. In business, it is not
just for Marketing and Public Relations department. Rather it is imperative for social media to be
a part of the company's overall strategy. Social media is living and breathing and it touches
every part of a company from Customer Service to frontline sales, even Human Resources and
Information Technology." (p.13)

With the rising growth of social media networking, businesses are turning to it as a means of
advertisement. It allows businesses and organizations to reach millions of users on a platform
they are using on a daily basis. Businesses and organizations reach numerous users on Facebook
by creating pages and offering promotions and discounts to get fans. If there is someone on
your page who is a fan of their page, your friends can share post that are displayed in your
newsfeeds. This allows the business to reach the fan and the friends of the fans.

It is important to realize that as social media evolves the realm of communication changes. The
technological advances added to social media changes the way we communicate with people on
daily basis. It has made communication quicker and more efficient. Social media sites like
Facebook send daily reminder of friend birthdays. Instead of picking up the phone and
traditionally wishing someone birthday greetings, you can simply type your birthday greeting on
their page. This has eliminated the need to make a phone call or send a greeting card

While receiving a birthday message from your friends online is okay, it feels impersonal. The
feeling of opening a greeting card and reading a message someone picked out for you, fills my
heart with warmth. That personal effect is not felt from a message left on a page I have created
online and in most cases, I do not read them.

Almost everyone young and old use social media in some fashion. Twitter is popular social
platform for celebrities. I often watch the news and there is a story of what some celebrity
tweeted to their fans or other celebrities. The use of social media and networking has elevated
communication to a higher platform. It has helped social organization, businesses, churches and
individuals reach audiences in which they could not reach before. It has even be used in politics
with President Obama using twitter to keep Americans posted on what is happening in the
government,

The negative effects of social media on communication are the effect it can have on kids
through cyber bullying and unwanted exposure. Younger people are using mass communication
without the without realizing the consequences. (Wallis, 2012). There has been instances where
young folks have committed suicide as the result of negative things that have been posted
about them on the internet, Parental controls are available to ensure website are access that are
inappropriate for certain age groups but they cannot protect young folks from what is being
posted by their peers. Social media and networking is often used as an outlet and peers can
post things that are potentially hurting to others.

With the emergence and growth of social media there are benefits and disadvantages to the
way communication is impacted. The real question is whether the benefits surpassed the
disadvantages. I believe that the benefits of social media are helpful to the world and we
communicate. As with anything, there will be disadvantages and it will be used to do things that
it was not originally intended.

Inmates in prison have access to social media and networking allowing them to stay connected
to what is happening in the outside world. The television is slowly becoming obsolete with
Facebook, Twitter and other sites providing news at faster rates then the local news at 10pm.
The news station and newspaper also have Facebook and Twitter accounts that provide new
stories, as they are unfolding.

The ability to access social platforms via computers, tablets, and cellphones allows you access at
all times throughout the day. The convenience and ease of access leads to social media and
network addictions. Anyone who has a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account have seen the
user who is logged in all the time. There are some users who post everything they are doing
throughout the day, which can be dangerous.

Facebook also lets you to make groups, have applications and have as many friends as you want
- this assists you with getting in touch with people who like what you like, play games online,
and make additional friends. One thing it lacks in is security from pedophiles. There is no 'report
button' to report users, even if they are irritating you. It also has a social bookmarking websites,
allowing you to keep your favorite websites in one place, as well as all your friends. Another
wonderful idea only integrated by Facebook is the friend finder. It permits you to find friends in
an instant, allowing you to connect to friends.

If you page is not private and can only be accessed by your friends, when you post your
everyday activities it allows users to know your location and what you are doing. If you post that
you will be going on vacation for the next couple of days, it lets potential burglars know that
you are not at home and can lead to your home being broken into.

There is no general rulebook on the do's and don'ts on how to effectively use social media
without making yourself vulnerable. Privacy has been become a rising issue in social media and
networking with the addition of locations and gps tracking. Recently, Facebook has made it
easier to understand and adjust your privacy settings but it is up to the user to ensure their
privacy is protected.

The best way to protect your privacy is to be mindful of what you post and who can access and
view what you are posting. I suggest not posting anything on the social media and networking
sites that you do not want broadcasting to everyone. Although you believe your family and
friends are viewing what you are posting, anyone can access it.

Communication has improved greatly by emerges and continual growth of social media.
Everyone from churches to schools use it to communicate with users. Social media has evolved
communication to new heights. The ease of access and growth makes it very beneficial to
everyone from pastors to politicians. As social media evolves, communication will improve and
continue to soar to new heights. The positive impact on communication definitely overcomes
the negative and makes it very beneficial.
Introduction of Social Media
The use of social media in our daily life has increased at a very high level. Especially the youth
is highly affected by the use of it. Our daily life, society, and even the human relationships are
affected by the social media. But one question always rises. Is the social media a blessing or a
curse? Is it a boon or bane for our society? These questions are debatable in many ways. There
are both advantages and disadvantages of it. So let’s discuss the pros and cons of social media.

What are the Advantages/benefits of social media?

Social media is a great way to connect with people in your life. It enables you to share important events,
information and the moments in your life with people that matter. Youth/young generation is highly
affected by the use of it. Today, students learning in schools and colleges use social media to share their
daily life with their friends. It creates a virtual network of your friends, colleagues, acquaintances and
enable us to see what is going on in their life and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Snapchat and many others are the ways to do it.

New ways to express yourself

Earlier there were very few opportunities available to express e.g. forums, debates, competitions etc.
But not all are well versed to express themselves at these places, social networking sites brought this
opportunity of expression to each and everyone in their palm. Now we can say what you want to say,
support what we like, thrash things we don’t like. We can support changes, petitions, social causes,
show sympathy to disaster, calamity survivors. On Youtube you can share your knowledge by making
videos, on Quora you can help others by answering their questions. Social media also gave medium to
raise voices against serious issues like eve-teasing, women safety, feminism etc. Facebook WhatsApp
communities helped a lot of people finding their lost children by circulating the ‘missing’ message. Social
networking sites gave us a channel to help others too.

Information Aggregator / Delivery Channel

Nowadays social media is the main distribution channel for news, updates, weather forecast; gone those
days when one has to wait till 10 PM for news. The real-time updates, news and the current affairs
definitely help us to stay up to date with the time and the situation around us. Social media sites like
Facebook is now becoming the main source for sharing news and updates. Safety check features on the
Facebook help us to update our status in natural calamities situation which can give a much-needed
relief to our loved ones and friends in a distressed environment. Last year a lot of people reported their
safety in Nepal Earthquake. These kind of things are not possible with traditional media this is only
possible with social networking sites and underlying technology.
Learning Across Oceans

Social media sites also expose us to information around the world, we can learn about different
communities, cultures and take best of out of it. It was not possible with old mediums as they were
controlled by corporations, they showed us only what they felt important. Social media content created
by people no corporation even Facebook cannot control it.

Employment Opportunities

Nowadays we can see job opportunities on the social networking sites like LinkedIn; it is the best and
biggest social networking site for professionals. Here you can show your talent, skills, experience on
basis of that you can seek the job opportunities. You can also create Alumni groups on LinkedIn, present
students can connect with alumni to get help and contacts. LinkedIn is also used by colleges and
universities for training and placement opportunities.

Sharing is Caring

You can share your knowledge on Quora, write blogs, post on community forums all these activities
show human social behavior. Digital media marketing, content writers, blog writers, these are the few of
the career choices today possible because of social networking culture and the Internet. Because of
social media networking sites, we are no more confined to boundaries, we can make friends across
oceans, we can share, express our thoughts, learn the cultures, etiquettes, habits behaviours. Social
mediate sites helping us to be a world citizen, it is very important in today’s world to know things about
the whole world.

Social media is also used for marketing purposes by the businesses. As people provide information
about them this information helps the businesses to serve the people by showing them what they want
or what they might need.

What are the Disadvantages/Dangers of Social Media?

As every coin has two sides even the social media has its own dangers and disadvantages. Let’s see how
social media influences our lives in a negative way.
Human To Human Touch

There is no doubt that social media brought new opportunities in communication but same time it
suppressed the old ones. After all, we are human beings and there is no better way of interaction than
face to face communication. Things which we can experience in face to face meeting like overall
environment, person’s aura, feel cannot be experienced in a Skype or WhatsApp Video Chat.

Virtual Friends

These Social networking sites enable us to make friends from all over the world but we tend to forget to
wish are real-life friends. We are more concerned about a number of friends we will have than the
quality of them. Social media sites changing the definition of friendship.

Over Exposure to Information at Young Age

On social media sites we can see the information, content in form of form of images, videos, animations
from all over the world sometimes good sometimes bad. Even terrorist organization, cult institutions
spread their propaganda over the social network sites. ISIS is the infamous example here, they used
social media like Facebook, Twitter to recruit people for their cause. A lot of people from the western
countries and some even from India joined then because of this social media campaigns. There are
possible parental controls available but still, those are not enough to safeguard your children from such
activities over social networks.

Today social media is highly used in daily life. Young boys and girls are seen with their smartphones
every time in their hands. It has become an addiction of checking the social media sites every now and
then. It also creates social media anxiety / FOMO(fear of missing out). Social media has also killed the
productivity in our daily life. Before social media, children and young generation used to spend their free
time reading books, playing on the playground, following their hobbies but now the picture has changed.
Now children spend their time checking the social media sites every now and then and it has also
become a reason behind a new type of crime called as Cybercrimes. The Cybercrime consists of
cyberbullying which is done by using social media sites to bully a person typically by sending messages of
an intermediate in a threatening nature.

Social media has also created a threat to our privacy as all the social media sites access your personal
information when you use them. We share our locations, pictures, events in our life, people we know
and such information that reveal necessary details about you on the Internet as it is a worldwide
network and anyone can see and access your information. Some might even say that it is a threat to our
culture too.

The perception about the social media, whether it is beneficial or dangerous for people can change
person to person and we cannot determine either it is good or bad.

Conclusion / End of the speech on social media

Like any other technology, solution, invention social media also have both brighter and darker sites. On
one side social media brings lots of opportunities but the same time they get used for cyberbullying
terrorist propaganda too. Better Parental Control features need to be implemented on these social
media sites so that younger children will be protected from such online harms. For adults, it’s up to
them, what to choose, what not to say and what not to say as they are free to make choices. In short
social media sites are not bad it’s up to us users to make it boom or bane.
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