Social Networking Group 1 SU 09

From WikEd

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Challenges and Opportunities of Social Networking 3 How do these problems (with social networking) relate to activities across different areas of life, not only in formal educational institutions per se, but also to informal contexts and activities of learning? 4 How does the context of globalization influence each issue? 5 References/Links of Interest

Introduction

Social networking websites have become integrated into the way many people now act, think, and relate.

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Challenges and Opportunities of Social Networking

The Positives of Social Networking

Social networking sites provide a good way to make connections with people with similar interests and goals. They can be a way to connect with or "meet" people that a student may not have had the opportunity to before— including other students, staff, faculty and even alumni.

Most importantly, social networking sites offer students the opportunity to create a positive self-image. The profiles gives you a chance to create the image of themselves that you want people to see by putting you best qualities "out there." This shows that you care about you reputation and (to a certain extent) what people think about you—whether it’s your peers, University faculty and administrators, or future employers.

Some social networking sites offer advertising to its subscribers. Whether a student creates a "party" for an upcoming event or pays the $5 for 10,000 "hits" for an ad. Facebook is a great way to advertise as a student organization, club, Greek chapter, team, etc.

http://web.pacific.edu/x4989.xml

Teenagers may also benefit from databases such as YouTube. In her article, Tynes mentions research by Sonja Baumer of the University of California at San Diego centered around how adolescents learn global and political information through videos and dialogue on YouTube and various social networking sites.

"Educationally, the strongest point made by [Tynes] is that users of the social networks are more globally aware since they have immediate access to global issues, and the chance to read about global events from people in those settings," said Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, professor of communication studies. "That means at least on the surface, today's media-savvy young people know world events. And, emotionally, they can be moved to be caring."

"I don't think the average teenager thinks of anything from a political standpoint," said Erin Koolman, a senior at E. L. Meyers high school in Wilkes-Barre. But if adolescents had a special interest in political affairs or global concerns, they could certainly find the information that they were looking for online, Koolman added.

While Tynes believes that the benefits of online communication "can far outweigh the potential dangers," area high schools haven't seen anything that proves social networking sites can be used not only safely, but also for educational purposes.

Source: http://www.wilkesbeacon.com/news/online-social-networking-benefits-youth-study-says-1.826458

Lower Costs

It is significantly cheaper to employ online social networking strategies than to pay for advertising. When you social network, you can prescreen potential customers. You learn what your prospects like and what they don’t. That personal relationship you gain when you connect with your potential customer is more valuable than what you would get had you advertised. Advertising is impersonal: the “one size fits all” concept does not seem to work anymore.

It’s Who You Know

When you socialize, you meet others who know others. How are you going to meet the president of a large corporation? You start by talking to his friends. You ask your associates if they know someone who is connected with him, and on and on.

Social networking relationships are supposed to benefit both parties. Never take more than you give. When the opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to ask your contact to introduce you to a prospect. The old saying rings true: it’s not what you know; it’s who you know.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Network-Benefits&id=464645

Co-author Lisa Tripp, now an assistant professor at Florida State University, says technology, including YouTube, iPods and podcasting, creates avenues for extending one's circle of friends, boosts self-directed learning and fosters independence.

"Certain technical skills in the coming years are not going to be just about consuming media," she says. "It is also going to be about producing media. It is not just about writing a blog, but also how to leave comments that say something. Learning to communicate like this is contributing to the general circulation of culture."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/28/social-networking-benefits-validated/

Videos that explain the positives of social networking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCHKPYHuhA

Challenges / Negatives of Social Networking sites

As time goes on and more and more social networking sites are available more people are questioning if the positives outweigh the negatives.

Privacy Concerns

1) excess of players

2) as marketers move in, some users move out

3) no privacy

One recent phenomenon sweeping people of all ages and ethnicities is Facebook. Over 321.1 million by 2009 have Facebook accounts. Recently when interviewed by Barbara Walters, one of the creators of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg stated “the money to pay the four hundred Facebook employees has to come from somewhere.” He was defending the use personal information presented by members of Facebook for data analysis, marketing, and creating endorsement ads. This brings up one of the challenges or negatives of social networking sites: Privacy. How private is the information that you place on the sites? Who has access to the information and what is it used for?

For the full interview with Mark Zuckerberg :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UNrqz6X-AE&feature=PlayList&p=77F5DD2E635A9A2B&index=13

For more information on privacy and social networking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7gWEgHeXcA&feature=PlayList&p=77F5DD2E635A9A2B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4

More discussion on privacy issues recently presented in the article: 'Facebook Suicide' Only Way Out for Some Web Addicts Thursday, September 27, 2007, By Emma Justice, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298166,00.htm

"Self-disclosure can indeed be a problem on the Internet," said Axtell. "The fact that you can't see or hear other people makes it easier to reveal yourself in a way you might not be comfortable with. You become less conscious of the individuals involved (including yourself), less inhibited, less embarrassed and less concerned about how you will be evaluated."

"Once you realize that things have become too personal, you'll feel vulnerable — who wants everyone to know what you did on the weekend?" Axtell added. "Logging off becomes the only way to recover privacy."

Martin Cloake, 42, a sports copywriter from South London, said he left his Facebook life a few months ago because he also felt uncomfortable about putting his private life on public display.

FRIENDSHIP

1) untrustworthy member data

2) stalkers and other unwanted activity

Many people claim that social networking sites are a great way to find old friends, not only make new ones, but is this always a good thing?

More discussion presented in the article: 'Facebook Suicide' Only Way Out for Some Web Addicts Thursday, September 27, 2007, By Emma Justice, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298166,00.htm

“There more serious psychological issues that could be triggered by reconnecting with old friends or flames? Should the ghosts of the past remain just that? Over a lifetime it's normal to lose touch with people as interests and circumstances change, but Facebook may alter the natural ebb and flow of friendship."

Renewing old ties in this way can feel false," said Andrew G. Marshall, a marital therapist and the author of the recently published "I Love You But I'm Not In Love With You."

"Generally, people have just a handful of really close friends. If you feel the need to get in touch with someone from the past, you have to ask yourself why you do," Marshall added. "It could be indicative of a problem or unhappiness in your current self and, therefore, a desire to reconnect with a younger one. But once people realize this is not a solution, they'll leave and try to solve them another way."

Hodson agreed. "The idea of renewing old friendships is appealing, but it doesn't come without difficulties and dangers," he said. "You may still be lusting after the girl in 3B, but is she lusting after you?

"If you were bullied at school and suddenly the bully asks to be your 'friend,' all those bad feelings and insecurities you felt as a 10-year-old could come flooding back."

Patricia Rogers, a counselor and fellow of the BACP, even worries that the same feelings that lead to "Facebook suicide" could trigger the loneliness and lack of self-esteem felt by people who really do take their own lives.

"It could be incredibly damaging for the ego to realize that you haven't got as many friends as you thought you had, or that those friends aren't particularly meaningful," she said. "Comparing yourself with others, a big preoccupation on sites such as Facebook, can be damaging psychologically. So, as a precaution, I think that people who leave should be carefully monitored, or at least checked up on, and then referred to counseling resources if necessary.

TIME

1)hard to get out of certain social networks once you have committed

2) plateau or social network fatigue: this started out really big, but usage is now starting to slow down

3) loss in workplace productivity: don’t make your boss upset!

4) takes too much time out of your day

According to Facebook, users spend an average of 20 minutes a day on the site, although a survey by the British price-comparison Web site uSwitch.com found that some people spend more than 10 hours a week on social-networking sites, the equivalent of 24 days a year.

Think of how many pub lunches with real friends could be enjoyed in that time.

A growing number of young Australians are becoming addicted to online social networking, according to a new study

Naked Communications digital strategist and recent Monash University graduate, Julian Cole, uncovered the trend as part of his research into the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

"It's very bizarre. With a lot of other addictions people tend to hide it, but because it's such a common thing it's not hidden and people talk about it more," Mr Cole said.

According to Mr Cole, warning signs of possible social networking addiction included frequently visiting the site for longer than intended, experiencing negative psychological or physical effects when the activity wasn't available, and scheduling other activities around online time.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22705712-2,00.html

MISUNDERSTANDING

1) you cannot visually see who you are talking to

2) fraudulent responses

3) language barriers

4) difficult to monetize

Discussion recently presented in the article: 'Facebook Suicide' Only Way Out for Some Web Addicts Thursday, September 27, 2007, By Emma Justice, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298166,00.htm

"There are a limited set of cues available on sites like this," Axtell explained. "You don't get the subtleties of voice tone, facial expressions or body language you usually have when interacting with others, and that can make interpreting the meaning of messages difficult."

"You can write something flippantly, which others take seriously, or come across as aggressive when that's not your intention at all," she added. "I can see how relationships can be damaged as a result, and when that happens, people will want to leave to put things right."

Matt Holme, 24, a derivatives broker from West London, said he wrote his Facebook suicide note after he saw pictures of himself online which he didn't even realize had been taken.

"When I was introduced to friends of friends, they'd recognize me from my profile on Facebook," said Holme. "I no longer had any anonymity and that was disconcerting."

Phillip Hodson, a fellow of the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP), said disappointment may be an inevitable part of social networking online.

"Building a Facebook profile is one way that individuals can identify themselves, making them feel important and accepted," he said. "But this can lead to disappointment once people realize how insignificant their online existence really is. Not only are online friends not necessarily real friends, they can turn out to be people you don't wish to know at all."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298166,00.html

1. Challenges

• you cannot visually see who you are talking to
• fraudulent responses
• language barriers
• difficult to monetize
• excess of players
• as marketers move in, some users move out
• untrustworthy member data
• stalkers and other unwanted activity
• privacy concerns
• hard to get out of certain social networks once you have committed
• plateau or social network fatigue: this started out really big, but usage is now starting to slow down
• loss in workplace productivity: don’t make your boss upset!
• takes too much time out of your day

2. Opportunities

• staying in touch with relatives and friends
• easy access
• somewhat of an easier way to connect with other people
• meet people with the same hobbies and characteristics as yourself
• using twitter, etc allow connections with people all over the globe
• you have the control as the user
• great for job hunting and professional networking
• gives the user the ability to self-market

How do these problems (with social networking) relate to activities across different areas of life, not only in formal educational institutions per se, but also to informal contexts and activities of learning?

Social Networking: Problems and Benefits Affecting Formal and Informal Educational Spaces

Collaborative knowledge is challenging the authoritarian model of knowledge. Knowledge used to be the domain of experts, but it has now been handed over to anyone with access to the Internet. The increase in participation in the creation of knowledge has had positive impacts on formal and informal education. The publishing world has traditionally been exclusive, and slow. The decision of what’s important and true had been previously left in the hands of a select group of “experts.” As a result, many individuals with valuable contributions have been … ‘“shut out” of the traditional publishing world, like talented K-12 teachers, community college instructors, scientists and engineers out in industry, and the world majority who do not read and write English.”’ (Baraniuk) In addition, with traditional publishing, topics are frequently out of date by the time they reach their target audience. This is especially true in rapidly evolving disciplines such as science and technology (Baraniuk) Not only are traditional paper books slow to produce, they are costly due to the raw materials consumed in their production.

In Challenges and Opportunities for the Open Education Movement: A Connexions Case Study, Baraniuk highlights the opportunities presented by the website www.cnx.org. This site allows individuals to upload self-produced modules of information, and allows the public to access these modules. Connexions is a pertinent example of community generated information. The site increases a learner’s access to valuable knowledge, knowledge that may have otherwise been inaccessible to them. The Connexions model decreases the lag time in the publishing of information, thus keeping it current. The cost of access is limited to the cost of Internet. Internet access, while still a legitimate challenge for some, is much less restrictive than costly textbooks.

In formal educational institutes, such as a public middle school for example, teachers often lack adequate textbooks for students to each have their own copy. (REF) By eliminating the high overhead costs associated with traditional publishing, it is plausible that the cost of formal education should decrease. Socially networked self-educating communities, as well as inquisitive individuals, also have increased access to information through sites such as Connexions.

The authoritarian model of knowledge relies on input from an admittedly narrow slice of the population. Authority has traditionally been held by affluent, educated, male, Caucasians, the cliché of powerful, old, white men. Socially networked sites diversify the voice of knowledge. Minorities, who have not traditionally had the social, political or family connections to break into the publishing world, can now easily have their voice heard. Anyone can start a blog, or contribute to educational websites such as Connexions. The anonymity associated with many social networking sites also lends individuals the ability not to be preemptively judge based on factors such as race.

The production of collaborative knowledge is not without challenges.

Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur, contends that “… history has proven that the crowd is not often very wise,” embracing unwise ideas like “slavery, infanticide, George W. Bush’s war in Iraq, Britney Spears.”’ While the last two items may be more subjective, the idea that popular does not always equal correct, is valid. Keen notes that, “…it’s easy for misinformation and rumors to proliferate in cyberspace.” Indeed, as Burbules points out, self-educating communities tend to be highly self-referential. (Burbules) It is therefore easy for these communities to become echo-chambers, be it for truth, or the perpetuation of misinformation.

Filtering for reliable, quality information is challenging when the quantity of information is vast. New York times book reviewer Michiko Kakutani, who reviewed The Cult of the Amateur, concedes that “… the online encyclopedia Wikipedia (which relies upon volunteer editors and contributors) gets way more traffic than the Web site run by Encyclopedia Britannica (which relies upon experts and scholars), even though the interactive format employed by Wikipedia opens it to postings that are inaccurate, unverified, even downright fraudulent.” What Kakutani does not mention is that Encyclopedia Britannica is not free, and users must pay to subscribe to the service. He drives his point of unreliability home by citing an example where a Wikepedia contributor ,who had edited thousands of articles was a 24-year-old man, and not the professor he claimed. While the level of deception associated with the man’s fraudulent identity is unsettling, does it really hamper his ability to contribute valuable, accurate knowledge? It could be argued that deception regarding parts of one’s identity happens frequently in the social realm.

The need for quality control filters has been recognized almost from the inception of Web 2.0. Connexions, with its eye on providing quality educational information, has aimed to address the issue head on. Connexions has developed what it refers to as quality lenses. “Each lens has a different focus. Examples include lenses controlled by traditional editorial boards, professional societies, or informal groups of colleagues as well as automated lenses based on popularity, the amount of (re)use, the number of incoming links, or other metrics.” (Baraniuk) See www.cnx.org.lenses for a more detailed breakdown.

In forums such as blogs, its important for the reader to remain aware of the subjective nature of the content. In forums such as Wikipedia, the community is self-correcting. It does not have a hard and fast quality filter, but aims to regulate it’s content through a code of conduct. Wikopedia requests the following in the formation of its entries; “Avoid conflicts of interest, personal attacks and sweeping generalizations. Find consensus, avoid edit wars, follow the three-revert rule, and remember that there are 2,925,880 articles on the English Wikipedia to work on and discuss. Act in good faith, never disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point, and assume good faith on the part of others. Be open and welcoming.” (Wikipedia) While these codes of conduct do not ensure complete accuracy, the social experiment of sharing and generating knowledge seems to be going surprising well. It is fair to say that students, both formal and informal, may find it a challenge to decipher what information on social networking sites is legitimate. Students may believe that because it is on the Internet, it is valid. This is especially challenging with younger students. Cornell University is one of many educational institutes that provide its students with an overview of criteria that helps determine a website’s validity. See http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.html for a chart outlining the university’s check list.

Specifically in reference to an informal social networking setting, the issue of legitimate information is a particularly hot topic. Due to the anonymity afforded by many social networking sites, there is a lack of personal accountability for one’s actions. There are opportunities for personal deception that cannot be accomplished in face-to-face interaction. “Since it's easier to have contact [online], people may develop trust more rapidly than they would in the off-line world," says Ron Teixeira, executive director of the U.S.-based National Cyber Security Alliance. "The more connected people are, the better chance fraudsters have of reaching out" (Lunau, 2008). The odd fact is that most users of these social networking sites are fully aware that many of the people, or “friends”, are being dishonest in their personal disclosure. An online survey conducted in November of 2007 yielded that 61% of the population answered “no” when asked “Do you think Myspace and Facebook users' profiles are honest reflections of who they are?” (Wheaton, 2007).

Social networking redefines opportunities for plagiarism. With the vast array of resources available, and the challenge of discerning legitimate information, students have more opportunity than ever to slide down the slippery slope of plagiarism. Students have access to so many online opinions; the options to pass off thoughts as one’s own are endless. It is impossible for a teacher to be current on every blog and idea out there for the grabbing. In addition, while it is not plagiarism in the strict sense of the word, informal sources of information such as blogs do not guarantee any level of accurate referencing. Ultimately, a student may intentionally or unintentionally use information that has less than clear origins. “Jonathan Bailey, the author of Plagiarism Today, a blog dedicated to the issue of plagiarism online, said this type of cut-and-paste plagiarism is widespread. (Welch)

Social networking has led to the development of “self educating” communities. People are able to converse with others who share the same interests as themselves. These sites are usually based around a singular topic. People can discuss their problems and ideas regarding these topics and they can gain information from other peoples’ knowledge. According to Nicholas Burbules, “Their (self-educating communities) most striking features… is an overt commitment to sharing information, initiating newcomers, and extending their collective knowledge through such processes as shared problem-solving, experimentation, and independent inquiry” (Burbules 1).

For example, http://www.pregnancy-info.net/forums/ is a place where expecting parents can go to ask questions and get answers from people who may have had the same problem and can offer suggestions or solutions. Because these sites are viewed by so many people, you will not just get one answer to your question.

Another benefit of self educating communities is their anonymity. Because there is no face-to-face contact on these sites, it is easy to be open and honest about the issue you are discussing, especially if it is personal and perhaps embarrassing. Jacob Palme and Mikael Berglund argue in their essay titled simply, “Anonymity on the Internet,” that although anonymity in never 100%, it does offer for people to be more objective in their evaluation of messages and for people to be more equal towards status, gender, etc. when discussing topics online (Palme, Berglund 3-4).

Self educating social networking sites may lack filtering as well as imput from true experts. Though this may seem negative, sometimes people want to seek out information from others that are like themselves, ie not experts. This comes from a desire to get information from someone who may have a less formal or authoritative voice. For example, people can read newspapers or magazines for restaurant reviews or they can turn to www.yelp.com to view opinions from “real people” who have written “real reviews.” Of course these reviews can be completely arbitrary, but www.yelp.com, www.angieslist.com, www.eopinions.com, and the myriad of other similar sites are prospering. These sites’ lack of filtering offers users to get honest answers and opinions from like minded people.

Contradictorily, some self educating communities are not equally open for everyone to participate in. Again, according to Nicholas Burbules, “These communities have well-established norms and strategies for building their communities. If individuals are not acquainted with these norms and strategies, or violate them, they may be excluded from the community and the activity of learning from that community” (Burbules 1). For fans of the band Phish, there is a site set up to discuss everything about the band at www.phish.net. This site, although extremely informative, is an example of a self educating community that is not necessarily friendly to everyone. This is not a site for a novice fan or someone simply trying to learn more about the band.

Anonymity on a site like this can have a negative impact on its users. In Palme and Berglund’s essay they discuss that anonymity can lead people to speak to others offensively and disruptively (Palme, Berglund 4-5). On the phish.net discussion board, you will be ridiculed if you ask basic information about the band or their history or if you perhaps post inaccurate information. Many participants use email addresses or signatures that shield their name or identity, and this also can create a sense of detachment from personal obligations of say, being polite or courteous. Because there is a lack of face to face contact, it is easier for people to be blunt or hyper critical of other participants. The site comes off as elitist to avid listeners and anyone who is not a “true” Phish fan.

In addition, expression through social networking, especially in online forums and informal contexts can not only foster a sense of anonymity but also of trust and intimacy that redefines the boundaries of traditional relationships of trust. The learning curve of developing appropriate emotional intimacy with individuals on SNS is a high one, especially for vulnerable youth. New Media and Society performed a study of teens in 2008 in reference to online communities and networks. “For those focused on identity as display, online risks may arise from their willing, sometimes naïve, self-display of personal information to a wide circle of contacts, not all of whom are close friends or sometimes even remembered. For those focused on identity as connection, online risks may arise from their very confidence that they can know, judge and trust the people with whom they are intimate,” (Livingstone, p. 408). When users of these networks become very comfortable with their “friends”, they oftentimes feel safe enough to share personal information with them. Users post their “relationship status”, “religious views”, “hometown”, “addresses”, “phone numbers”, etc. Just one or two of these in the hands of the wrong person can be extremely harmful. There has recently been a rise in the risk of identity theft, fraud, and virus attacks for this specific reason (In Study, 2007).

It is interesting to see that this phenomenon of over disclosure has become an issue among adult educators as well. A professor from Darmouth updated her profile by mentioning how she accessed Wikipedia to obtain the information for her lecture the next day. “I feel like such a fraud. Do you think dartmouth parents would be upset about paying $40,000 a year for their children to go here if they knew that certain professors were looking up stuff on Wikipedia and asking for advice from their Facebook friends on the night before the lecture?” (Young, 2009) Apparently, this professor was unaware that all users on Facebook were able to read this post. That included her students and their parents.

On some social networking sites, expertise is not only beneficial, but crucial. Burbules states, “External expertise is also important because the very virtues of familiarity and shared assumptions that strengthen a self-educating community internally can also reinforce its blind spots and prejudices. Misconceptions can cycle endlessly within the group without ever being challenged” (Burbules 1). The way information is transmitted on these sites can cause incorrect information to become widely known as truths. Obviously this could cause many problems particularly on health related sites. Someone who is seeking information on a particular medication can come across hundreds of medical self educating sites where people have posted about that particular medicine. Someone can post about a side effect that they suffered and people can accept that information to be true for everyone who uses that medication.

People who use social networking sites learn to utilize new technologies such as creating blogs and websites as well as learning how to upload photos, music, and movies. In the following video from a researcher at the University of Minnesota, students discuss the benefits they have received from using the website www.myspace.com. http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/Multimedia_Videos/social_network.htm. Though users may not realize it, they are in fact using technologically advanced skills that will most likely be beneficial in their education and career particularly if the world is headed in the direction of the “wiki workplace” described in Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams’ book Wikinomics. Tapscott and Williams ultimately believe that the world is becoming a place “where only the connected will survive.” They explain that “peering” – what happens when people collaborate together to create new ideas – is leading to a new economy where we all need to and can step up and take a leading role.

People who use social networking sites also gain essential communicative skills. Social networking sites allow for people to “Learn to engage in dialogic, dynamic inquiry, asking questions, venturing other viewpoints, offering clarification and supporting evidence, with the goal of deepening understanding rather than looking for the right answer. Their writing, oral communication and critical thinking skills all improve” (Monroe 216). www.vocolo.org is a multimedia website that allows its users upload audio or text in response to their “Shout Box.” The “Shout Box” has daily discussion questions that leads to thoughtful responses by users whether by calling in and recording their argument or typing their response on the forum. Again, these skills will undoubtedly be beneficial to a person’s education as well as their career whether it be in a traditional work place or a “wiki work place.”

Not all of the skills acquired by using social networking sites is deemed positive. There is evidence that the technological skills acquired while social networking can be detrimental to a person. In the article titled “Social websites harm children's brains: Chilling warning to parents from top neuroscientist” by David Derbyshire, Derbyshire refers to Oxford University neuroscientist Susan Greenfield who believes that online networking is “Infantilizing the brain into the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and who live for the moment” (Derbyshire 1). Although that seems extreme, in the article, teachers express their concern over the fact students’ attention spans have shortened and students have lost the skills to participate in classroom settings. Moreover, a recent study has shown that students who are more involved in social networks feel less involved outside (Nyland, Marvez, & Beck, 2007).

There are arguments that people begin to lack communicative skills from using social networking sites too much. An obvious example of this is the fact that people often shorten words, use incorrect spelling, and leave out punctuation to get a message out quicker. Teachers all too often have assignments turned that are riddled with common mistakes because students aren’t differentiating between proper writing and messaging writing. Other communications skills that begin to lack because of social networking is a person’s inability to read interpersonal communicative cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone.

How does the context of globalization influence each issue?

First, a definition of globalization: Globalization has been variously used in both popular and academic literature to describe a process, a condition, a system, a force, and an age. (8). It is therefore a very difficult concept to define and has many facets as well as a term where the definition is constantly changing and evolving. At its core it is about shifting forms of human contact (pg 9). This is especially evident in the creation of social networking, which by definition is a new form of human contact that is created by globalization as well as fuels globalization. Globalization is a stretching of social, political and economic activities across political frontiers so that events, decisions and activities for individuals and communities in distant regions of the globe are interconnected. Many of this “stretching” takes place through social networking in casual, professional, creative, travel and blogging social networking cites. Globalization also creates an accelerating pace of transborder interactions and processes as worldwide systems of transport and communication increases the rapidity or velocity with which ideas, news, goods, information, capital and technology move around the world. Again, social networks create an outlet for which these ideas, news, goods and information travel. Globalization involves the growing extensity and intensity of global interactions and is associated with a deepening enmeshment of the local and global in so far as the local events may have profound global consequences and the global events and have serious local consequences, creating a growing collective awareness of consciousness of the world as a shared social space. ( points taken from globalization/anti-globalization, Held & McGrew)

How does globalization influence social networking? Does social networking influence globalization or does globalization influence social networking? It all depends on one's perspective.

How does globalization influence social networking? Language barriers are broken down as people join social networks that reach the whole world. Language barriers can also be maintained as a result of the globalization of social networks. For example, Facebook allows users to choose a "primary display language" for their account. Even though the Facebook user can view information in his or her native language, their friends may write their profile information in another language, so the user may have to rely on other methods in order to understand the information presented in their friends' profiles.

Globalization makes people feel more connected and makes the world feel smaller. It also affects how people view each other because they form relationships that can transcend geographic boundaries. This would not have been possible before. Globalization makes the global more local.

We use culture to connect with other people and to define ourselves. The decisions that we make with regards to culture, for example, whether we choose to listen to rap music or religious contemplative music is related to our identities, and is in large part, an economic decision. The impact of economies on globalization and social networks is still being measured, but its effects on the world economy are all ready being felt. For example, the creators of Facebook are from the US, but there are Facebook users all over the world. Social networks also make money from ad revenue, which can contribute to the development of a country's economy.

Globalization can also help facilitate a shared world culture-one that is not based on geographic location or language. For example, social networks can connect soccer fans all over the world. A common concern with regard to social networking is that an American based "cultural imperialism" will take over local cultures, resulting in a monolithic "world culture". However, recent studies suggest that this is not the case. Today, economic growth is expanding in countries where American popular culture is not the dominant culture. This is especially true in India and China. In many Islamic countries, where the population is growing steadily, most citizens get their information from local sources, such as Al-Jazeera and listen to local music.

Instead of damaging local "non-Western" cultures, evidence suggests that the greatest effect of globalization and social networking may be on sparsely populated local regions such as Scandinavia. In these regions, the cultures are not hierarchical and citizens are motivated by global influences more than local influences. Tyler Cowen, professor of Economics at George Mason University, suggests that "culture is not a zero sum game...In the broad sweep of history, many traditions have grown together and flourished. American popular culture will continue to make money, but the 21st century will bring a broad melange of influences, with no clear world cultural leader."

How does social networking influence globalization? Social networking allows people to communicate with those they would not usually have contact with. For example people on different continents share ideas and news. Ideas and images are becoming more rapidly transmitted from one place to another and are changing the people people live and experience their lives. Someone experiencing a problem with their husband in Alaska can now ask the advise of someone who may be having a similar problem in Hong Kong. This way not possible seventy five years ago. Social networking makes the world more connected.

Not only are feelings and opinions shared across the world but so is news. A recent example is the death of the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Within moments of the announcement of his death, it was front page news on Google., CNN.com, BBC.com, and Yahoo.com There are now groups in Facebook devoted to the memory of Michael Jackson, and thousands of celebrities tweeted their thoughts and ideas about the death of Jackson for the world to see. The argument then becomes: has social networking, and the globalization process that it fuels made the world a “smaller, more interconnected” place? Are we creating an increasingly homogenized culture where we are all exposed to the same news, thoughts, ideas, and products and advertisements? It depends on one's perspective.

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Social networking creates a global economy. “No matter how many different number are presented…the growth of international activity in the past thirty years remains staggering” (Garrett 2000). A planetary economy is in the making, constituted by, and through, the infrastructures and dynamics of economic globalization (108). One of the major fuels of this global economy is social networking. People create social networks around travel, technologies, dating, food, gardening etc, and share ideas that fuel the global economy. For example, someone may be a member of Exploroo.com a popular social networking cite to that deals with travel. As a member of Exploroo.com, one can “Travel and explore, meet friends and share experiences with a one-stop social networking community, connecting users to post blogs, articles, videos, and events, book hotels or tours, get travel advice or simply submit your favorite travel photos. Discuss with travelers or travel agents your wants and needs and discover different countries to visit around the globe!” One may be inspired to travel to Melbourne Australia after becoming a member of Exploroo and chatting with people who have traveled there, viewing their pictures and reading hundreds of reviews of the city. As many people know travel is a large part of any cities economy and this is just one way that social networking fuels globalization.

Another way that social networking fuels globalization, and more specifically the global economy is through the presence of advertisements on social networking cites. One only has to look at any social networking cite, such as Facebook, Exploroo, Myspace etc., and they are instantly bombarded with ads from thousands of companies. Social networking cites have become just another outlet for marketing. Most social networking cites are free, and they have to make their money some way, so they chose to do it through allowing advertisers to buy out space on their websites. Obviously this then exposes the thousands of people, and sometimes millions of people in the case of Myspace and Facebook, to products from around the world, once again fueling the global economy. When signing into Facebook for example, one is bombarded with ads from various companies-and all of the ads are targeted to the profile information of the user. For example, a dog owner and lover may get Facebook ads for Milk-Bone dog biscuits. Individuals can now even create their own advertisements for whatever products they want for as little as 5 dollars a day on Myspace when they go to https://advertise.myspace.com. One does not even have to be a major company to advertise and get their products seen by millions around the world. This is, by its very definition, globalization. Language: Social Networking has created its own language that people across the world know, use, and understand. Twitter.com is probably one of the most extensive websites that embraces its own language, or its “twords”. A tweeter, or someone who mini blogs their day of for anyone who subscribes to them and cares to read it is limited to only one-hundred and forty characters and therefore must not waste valuable symbols in writing out a full word in English. For example, B = be, b4 = before, BFN = bye for now, BR = best regards, cld = could, da = the, deets = details, F2F = face to face (as in meeting someone in person), JSYK = just so you know, IMHO = in my humble opinion; and the list goes on and on. One needs to understand this lingo of “twords” in order to read other peoples tweets as well as to create their own tweets.

Twitter is not the only social networking cite that has created its own language or lingo. Facebook could also have its own dictionary. When one wants to get someone’s attention, he or she "pokes" them in Facebook. If a Facebook user wants to leave a message that everyone can see, all he or she has to do is "write it on their wall." Standard Internet lingo is also applied in most social networking cites including Facebook: LOL, OMG and J/K are very common throughout various social networks. Most people who are familiar with computers and the Internet today are familiar with this lingo. Internet speak is so pervasive that many people in "real life" use terms such as LOL or j/k, applying the language to the world outside of the internet. The end result is that social networking and the internet has created a language and lingo that is used and understood by millions of people across the world. The average American may not know how to speak Mandarin, but if someone is China says LOL through a social network, the American will know exactly what their Chinese friend are saying. Globalization is not just economic and political, it is also cultural, and through social networking, there is the start of the creation of a global culture that understands the language of social networking.

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