SOCIAL NETWORKING PHENOMENA

INTRODUCTION

In the recent years, the internet technology has provided the powerful application such as blogs, instant messaging, e-Commerce, VoIP which includes peer to peer voice communication, web video sharing, online news, multiplayer gaming, photo sharing, online maps, GPS service and other communication technology application service. These entire services become more popular with internet user. The communication technology is also increasingly grown successfully through the internet. Besides email, the social networking revolution was born in this time; it is one of the communications technologies. Nowadays, the social network site becomes more popular among world community. The social networking is one of the communication technology have been created to give the easier communication to each other through the internet access. The communications among the people around the world become efficient, cheap and faster than even before due to the development of the communication and computer technology. The advancements in communication and computer technology nowadays, people all over the world can interact and communicate between each other with virtually anyone else through social network site with has access to a computer and internet. Besides that, these technologies in communication and computer technology have open up huge opportunities in a businesss sector through a social network and many more advantages in the future (Boyd & Ellison, 2008)

In generally, social networking can be define as web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others with the system. The natural and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site (Boyd & Ellison, 2008). The social networking websites is function like online community of internet users that allow the user share their common interests in hobbies, politics, religion, sharing the knowledge and also create businesses and commercial purpose through the internet. Social networking service was increasingly popular amongst the young people around the world regardless of geographical location, background, gender and age. It be seen as a global consumer phenomena in a last few years because have experienced an exponential rise in usage.

Nowadays, there are hundreds of social networking sites have been provide to the user and it operating through an internet all around the world, but there are certain social networking site are popular at the certain country only while other have global reach. Furthermore, the social networks focus on reflecting and building social relationship among people where the user will be share their interest and activity through the social networking service that have been provided. The social networking sites generally allow the user to maintain their profile and also update list of their friends easily. Besides that, the social networking sites encourage people to share their background media or real-life connection with person that knowing each other and personal experience with their friends through the photo, music, video and other. In 21 century, the most popular social networking site such as Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, MySpace, Blogger, YouTube, Google, Flickr, LinkedIn and many more.

THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

Since the late of years 1969 the social networking was started introduced to public in United States by the CompuServe which is the first major commercial internet service provider for the public in United States and the first email was delivered by using technologies know as dialup in years 1971. It was dominated the field through the 1980s and remained a major player until the mid1990s. The social networking service technology was improving in 1978 when two Chicago computer hobbyists, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess was inverted the bulletin board system (BBS) to inform their friends of meeting, make an announcements and share information through posting in the social networking site. It was the rudimentary beginning of a small virtual community. In the early stage, the technology was use on the bulletin board that connected Duke University and the University of North Carolina. In 1984, the Prodigy online service was introduced and it grew to become the second-largest online service provider with 465,000 subscribers compared with CompuServe was 600,000 subscribers. The technology become more grew and more of online service was opened in the early 1990s such as America Online (AOL) service and Tripod was opened as a community online for college students and young adults. After that, in the early 1993, several students from the University of Illinoise were developed and displayed the first graphical browser knowing as Mosaic. It is the first browser adapter to the general public. At this time more than two hundred Web servers were online.

The online service was continued with the launches of GeoCities by Beverly Hills Internet (BHI) in 1994. GeoCities is the internet service that allows the user to create their own web pages, until the end of year 1997 GeoCities has recorded about one million websites and about thirty eight million user web pages register on GeoCities before it was shut down in 2009 for United States users. In 1997, the revolution of blogging was begins and the AOL Instant Messenger was launches which allows internet chat for the users. At the same year, the major internet search engine which is Google was open. In addition, the first online social network known as Friends Reunited was founded in Great Britain and become popular among internet user in the early 1999.

The social networking become more popular and there are a lot of social networking site were opened started in the beginning of year 2000. The increasing numbers of social networking site causes more than seventy million computer are connected to the internet. After the introducing of Friendster to the public in United States, the next social networking website after the Friends Reunited causes of the rate of user that using social networking website become increase until reaches three million users in just three months and AOL has already reached thirty four million users. After that, in 2003 another social networking websites was launched as a clone of Friendster and MySpace surpassed Friendster in numbers of page view on the next year. Besides that, the social networking site for professionals was started at a same year known as LinkedIn. This social networking site was business-oriented.

The social networking becomes large phenomena all over the world after the next social networking site was born in 2004 known as Facebook. It was started for students at Harvard College and it was created by Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook become the most famous social network in the world and the unknown investor offer to buy the famous social network with 10 million dollars but Facebook founder declines the offer. In 2005, Facebook was launched another version for high school student and at the same time Viacom, another internet service company offers to buy Facebook for 75 million dollars, but once again the social network rejects the offer. Almost a year, there are many company include Yahoo and Google made an offer to take over the social network but Facebook still declined the offer. Twitter was born in 2006 as other types of social networking and micro blogging site. Twitter one of social networking site that allow their members to send and receive about 140 character messages called tweets. Additionally, the membership of Facebook was expended and also opened to anyone with age over 13 years old. Up until year 2011, Facebook was the

largest social network worldwide with more than 550 million users all around the world; 65 million tweets send per day through Twitter and two billions YouTube videos watches each day. At the same time, Facebook reaches annual revenue of 3.7 billion dollar. In order to compete with Facebook and Twitter, Google was launches Buzz as a social network built into Gmail.

SOCIAL NETWORKING ISSUE

Less than decade ago, the social networking website become most famous internet communication tools for everyone over the world. It is not only popular amongst the young people but also popular and used by the people with age twenty-something and even the old generations. Usually, the social networking websites is use to communicate, instantly connect and also share their activity with the other members including friends, family, colleagues, contacts and even the general public through comments on article and sometime through the live chat. Other than that, the user can share their photo, video sharing and invite people to events by using social networking. Commonly, the users not need to worry about the charge because most of the social networking websites are offered for free to everyone include a quick and easy registration process (Bennett, 2003)

At present, there are many varieties of social networking sites that offered to users with many applications such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube and etc. All the social networking websites have face their own challenges especially on the users. Sometime these challenges may be harm the user and it is important for users of social networking to consider all the challenges when using the social networking. The challengers are including addiction of social networking, privacy and security, information access, updated notification and misuse of social network and protection for children.

Addicted to social networks become one of the problem and challenges due to increasing number of social networking websites and their application. Generally, there are five different types of internet addition in social networking which are including computer and application addiction. This types of addiction is occur when the user addict on computer game for example. The user especially the teenagers be able spend their time about seven to ten hours to using the social networking in a day (Young, 1999). Some activity on the social networking will encourage the user to spend their time on the social networking especially

gaming application. The variety of activities may lead to the addicted problem on social networking. Other type of addiction is information overload which is the web surfing addiction. In this case, the user can spend their whole day to surfing the internet especially on social networking websites and do some activities such as live chat, read article, update their profile and status. At the same time they may waste their time on the internet without concern about their real life. Online shopping addiction is one type of social networking addiction. It happen when the user are excited to buy any product that promote in the website. The business advertisements and promotion of some product like clothing, beauty product, gadget and etc. with lowest price are encourage the user to buy the product. The networking websites addiction disorder can be recognised when the user have some addiction behaviour such as neglect of personal life, escapism, mental preoccupation, mood modifying experiences, concealing the addictive behaviour and also appear to be present in some people who use social networking excessively (Webley,2011).

Besides that, the general challenges associate to the social networking is the security and privacy of the personal information. The administrators of social networking have faced a security problem every day. It is because there are some irresponsible person will hack and spread some viruses, spywares and worms that aim to crawl through security protocols of social networking and constantly threatening the social networking websites. Other than that, the users also faced the problem and make their life in danger when identity theft is happen due to the lack of awareness (Hitchcock, 2008)

Additionally, sometime the social networkings have their own weakness such as the misuse of social networking may lead to criminal activity and other illegal purposes. Cyber bullying is one of example misuse of social networking where some of irresponsible person used the networking sites to spread rumours, lies or degrading messages that could give effect to the person reputation (Campebell, 2005),. Social networking is opened to everyone all over the world. Unfortunately, the easier access and get the personal information in the social networking may lead to the some criminal activity such as sexual predators may find their victim through the social networking website especially to the children and young people. It is important for users to be aware with the issue and problem that related to social networking to make sure they can use the social networking without any problem happen.

THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social networking generally will give many benefits for the user when the user applied this technology properly. Social networking has also become good platform for the education. It is because teacher, students and also professor can use these mediums to separate the information and form the forum or group to extend classroom discussion. Besides that, social networking use between students and teacher can improve their motivation and engagement or their rapport. Social networking also creates the opportunities for the young people to sharing the knowledge and information of their learning with their friends or public user. The online forum in the social networking that be created can use to support the continuation of learning and discussion outsides formal classroom and the students can access without limited time and at anywhere (Lieblein, 2000).

Furthermore, the use of social networking sites can improve and development of the media literacy for the user. Social networking site have the networked media environment that require the user especially young people develop new skill to participate and stay safe when using the media network because online media network environment requires a more complex digital or web literacy that is not explicitly taught in school. The user can get and learn the components of online network literacy. The components of network literacy are include of technical literacy which is the knowledge and skill required to use a computer and web searching or particular software program and their application. The second component is critical content literacy, it is the ability to get the effectively use search engines and understanding of information order that include the organisation of created or sponsor the information and where the information in web comes from. The following components is communicative and social networking literacy which is the understanding of the different spaces of communication on web pages that content formal and informal rules that govern, level of privacy and also the solution of unwanted or inappropriate communication through the social networking sites. Next component is creative content and visual literacy, it is part of the skills that use to create or upload image or video content including the understanding of how online video content are edited, constructed and how copyright is applies to all the online activity. The last components is mobile media literacy which familiarity with the skill of communication specific to mobile phone, understanding of mobile phone etiquettes and also mobile web literacy. In addition, the young people will develop the deeper understanding

of the production and use of the various forms of content when they use the social networking to written text, sharing photos and video or create animation on the web pages (Boyd ,2007).

The application of social networking can provide much advancement especially to improve the individual identity, self expression and also communication skills. Social networking sites can play an important role for the expression of identity especially for a young people. Generally social networking websites are designed to promote individual customisation and flexible for the user use the social networking website to find legitimacy for their political, religion, ethnic or culture background and some time sexual identity also. Besides that, social networking also can help the user to promote themselves for the job seekers. Using the social network websites the user can post their creativity work such as music, animation, photo and other work, with this way the other professionals can see their skills. Other than that, the user may use the social networking to connect to as many people for self promotion ( Hinduja & Patchin, 2008).

After the revolution of social networking was born everything can be done with just one click on the internet include promotion and business purposes. Social networking provides many benefits for the user to promote their product and service to reach their customer with many ways such as creating a profile on website, display business banner advertising and creating group and events. It easier and inexpensive to promote their product compare with conventional approach.

SOLUTION AND RECOMMENDATION

Every improvement in technology have many side impacts either bad or good impact. Therefore, the user must be take their action to make sure the technology that they use safe and secure from the harmful effect. Several action and precaution in a different stage are needed to be taken for safe online social networking by the user itself and parents. Before the users have to be decide to join any social networking website, firstly they must be aware with the danger that may be occur associated with social networking including data and personal information theft and also viruses on the websites. It is important for the user to keep some control over the information that will be post in social networking sites. It can be done by limiting the access of some information to family, friends, group and relative only. Besides

that, to avoid the problem and something bad happen to the user, generally the user is not recommended to post the full name, address and phone number on the social networking websites. It is because million of people around the world can access the profile easily and sometimes user didnt know who view their profile, it is too dangerous if the user post all the information on the website.

Parental supervision of children when using social networking is very important to avoid any dangerous problem exist when the child use the social networking websites. There are several steps need to be taken for the parent to make sure their children in a safe online. The parents must be always monitor their children when they using the internet. The parents are responsible to teach and showing their children the safe online surfing. Besides that, parents are responsible to teach their children with never to give out personal information easily through the social networking websites. Other than that, parents must tell their children do not to respond if they receive offensive or dangerous email, chat requests or other types of communication. Nowadays there many unsecure websites can easily access by using internet, the parent should be monitor their children, therefore parents should place the computer in a room that open and accessible to all family members and also can installing filters software to easily monitor their children.

Furthermore, the improvement of the social networking website itself will help the user to face with the major problem associate with social networking. There are several recommendation need to be taken to improve the social networking including maintain and improve the security of the information systems to protect users from illegal access to their profiles. Besides that, the system of social networking must allow the user to cancellation as a membership, deleting and published all the information at the network in the easy way. The last recommendations that can be done with improve the users control over the use of community members of their own profile data and the establishment of configurations which respect the user privacy by default.

CONCLUSSION

Social networking is the one of new development technology that is very important in the user social life and communication. The technology is significant in transforming in communication practices, opening new spaces and processes of socialisation and impacting upon traditional social structures. The new environment of communication technology sometime have poses certain challenges and their own risks to the users. However, with some recommendation, all these challenges and risk have been minimized. Nowadays, the rises of social networking website not only focus on the communication activity but it is include some other activity such business activity, creative activity and sharing information that can bring many benefit to the user.

Besides that, the user should be aware and take responsibility when using the social networking to avoid unwanted problem. The user, social network administrators and also parents should play the important role to ensuring the social networking website are not be manipulate or misuse by irresponsible person to do the crimes activities using social networking.

REFERENCES

1. Bennett, L.W. (2003) Communicating Global Activism: Strengths and Vulnerabilities of Networked Politics, Information, Communication and Society. 6(2): 143-168 2. Boyd (2007), Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of networked publics in teenage Social life in Buckingham, D.(ed) MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital LearningYouth, Identity & Digital Media Volume, MIT Press, Cambridge, pp 119-142 3. Boyd & Ellison (2008) Social Network Sites: Definition, History & Scholarship in Journal of Mediated Communication 13: 210-230 4. Burns,J.M. & Morey, C. (2009), Technology and young peoples mental health and well being, in Bennett D.L., Towns S.J., Elliott E.J., Marrick J., Challenges in adolescent health: An Australian Perspective, Trafford Publisher, Victoria BC 5. Campebell (2005), Cyber-bullying: An Old Problem in a new Guise? In Australian Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 15: 68-76 6. Ellision, N., Steinfield, C. & Lampe, C, (2007) The benefits of Facebook Friends: Exploring the relationship between college students, Use of Online Social Network & Social Capital in Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, 12(3): 1143-1168 7. Hinduja & Patchin (2008), Social Networking and Identity Construction: Personal Information of Adolescents on the Internet: A Quantitative Content Analysis of MySpace, in Journal of Adolescence, 31(1): 125-146 8. Hitchcock, J. (2008), Public or Private? A Social Cognitive Exploratory Study of Privacy on Social Networking Sites, in Master Abstracts International 46(5): 2364 9. Lieblein, E. (2000), Critical Factors for Successful Delivery of Online Program, in Journal Internet and Higher Education, 3:161-174 10. Parker, D. & Gemino, A. (2001), Inside Online Learning: Comparing Conceptual and Technique Learning Performance in Place Based, in Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 5(2): 64-74 11. Webley, K. Its Time to Confront Your Facebook Addiction; Time Inc: New York, USA, 2011 12. Young, K. Internet Addiction: Evaluation and treatment. Student Brit. Med. J. 1999, 7, 351-352

Additional media digital sources:

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The Brief History of Social Media Available online: http://uncp.edu/home/acurtis/NewMedia/SocialMedia/SocialMediahistory.html (accessed on 12 April 2012)

The History of Social Media from 1978-2012 Available online: http://socialtimes.com/the-history-of-social-media-from-1978-2012infographic_b89811 (accessed on 12 April 2012)

Addicted to Social Sites? Available online: http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/Addivted_to_Social_Sites.html (accessed on 25 April 2012)

What is Social Networking? Available online: http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com (accessed on 25 April 2012)

Social Network Related Issues Available online: www.exforsys.com/career-center/social-networking/social-network-relatedissues.html (accessed on 25 April 2012)