Topic :
Negative Effects of Social Networking
Thesis
Statement: “Social Networking is harmful to society due to its negative mental
and psychological effects.”
I.
Introduction
A.
Background
of Social Networking
B.
Operational
Definition of Social Networking
C.
Thesis
Statement
II.
Body
A.
First
Point
1.
Counter
Argument: it encourages online communication
2.
Argument
: it cripples real-life communication
B.
Second
Point
1.
Counter
Argument : it develops social skills
2.
Argument
: it develops narcissistic, anti-social and aggressive behavior
C.
Third
Point
1.
Counter
Argument : it is a tool for learning
2.
Argument
: it hinders learning
III.
Conclusion
A.
Summary
of arguments
B.
Challenge
for the audience
The
phenomena of social networking started in 1971, when the first email was sent.
In 1994, Geocities, one of the world’s first social networking website, was
launched with the idea of allowing users to construct their own websites. 1997
saw the beginning of AOL Messenger which popularized instant messaging. Also in
1997, Andrew Weinreich started SixDegrees which was “the first online business
that attempted to identify and map a set of real relationships between real
people using their real names” (Kirkpatrick, 2010). Friendster was then
launched in 2002, starting the era of real-world friends connecting online. It
was followed by Myspace in 2003, Facebook in 2004 and Twitter in 2006. The rise
of social networking paved the way to the generation of a variety of social
networking sites. There are many types of social networking sites that cater to
the different needs of different people. However, the most rampant kind of
social networking sites are recreational sites that allow people to communicate
and connect with those who are already part of their real-life social circle.
In some cases, it allows them to connect with strangers who share common
interests, beliefs and views. Social networking has become so deeply integrated
in people’s lives, especially the youth’s that it is now considered a
necessity. People have become so dependent on social networking. But through
the years, social networking has led to several negative consequences that made
many question its safety. Due to its negative social, psychological and mental
effects, social networking is harmful to society.
Many
would say that one of social networking’s greatest advantages is that it is a
tool for communication. Because of email, instant messaging, posts on profiles
and the like, people are able to connect and communicate over large distances
in a snap of a finger. But is all this cyber-communication enhancing or eroding
our real-life communication skills? Since online communication does not allow
active communication, it wears down face-to-face communication skills. People
now prefer to virtually connect with others instead of seeing them in person,
leading to the deterioration of their ability to hold conversations, exercise
wit, and sympathize. Gone are the joy of making someone laugh or smile or pain
of hurting a friend. Irreplaceable things such as emotions, honesty, body
language, facial expressions and wit are taken away. People are no longer
emotionally connected. Long hours online also eat away at near-distance
relationships. Users allot so much time for social networking sites instead of
cultivating real-life relationships. Conversations and banter are now rare and
a thing of the past because either people have no time for it or have lost the
capabilities to do so. People do not sit down and talk about their day, vent
out their feelings or catch up with loved ones. Instead, they post it, comment
it, Instagram it and tweet it. By being so wrapped up in their own cyber box,
people alienate each other in the real world.
In
relation to communication, it can also be claimed that social networking
provides introverted people an outlet to develop social skills. Since personal
information, ranging from place of occupation to favorite music, is made
accessible online, commonalities are established and connections are made, even
between strangers. Interactions made through social networking may be stronger
than those through face-to-face methods because it is easier to talk about
deeper and more personal topics. However, people have grown addicted to social
networking, spending too much time than is healthy, which has led to the
emergence of several negative psychological effects. According to Dr. Larry D.
Rosen in his 2011 talk entitled “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and
Harm Our Kids”, over dosage of technology and media can increase children’s,
preteens’ and teenagers’ risks of developing depression, anxiety and other
psychological disorders. Part of this can be accounted to the presence of
cyber-bullying, a rampant problem on social networks. Victims of cyber-bullying
respond similarly to victims of traditional bullying in terms of feeling sad,
anxious and having low self-esteem (Cowiec & Berdondini, 2002; Ybarra
&Mitchell, 2007) as well as anger, embarrassment and fear. If these
emotions are not handled properly, it could result to misbehavior, violence
(Aseltine &Gordon, 2000) poor performance in school or work, self-inflicted
harm and even suicide. Depression also stems from the fact that people’s
happiness can be underestimated or overestimated online. Everyone hides their
negative emotions online, which leads unhappy people to believe that they are
the only ones suffering. Another negative psychological effect of social
networking is narcissism. In 2009, Dr. Jean Twenge, collaborated with Youth
Polls in conducting a national survey concerning social networking. It was
found that 2/3 of the sample of the study agreed to the statement that the
present generation is more narcissistic and over-confident compared to previous
generations. Narcissistic people tend to have more friends in these social
networking sites and post more attractive pictures of themselves (Twenge,
2009). Their popularity fuels their vanity.
Meanwhile,
it can also be argued that social networking sites can be used as a tool for
learning. Students have come to rely on social networking sites, especially
Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging, as a means to update one another on
school work, consult classmates about lessons and collaborate on projects.
Social networking sites such as groups, blogs and email are also used by
teachers to connect with students and inform them of projects, assignments and
the like. However, these social networking sites also pose as distractions and
temptations for procrastination for students. Students who log on to a social
networking site at least once every 15 minutes are more likely to achieve lower
grades (Rosen, 2011). Due to the obsession with social networking, students
work under constant distraction, causing their lack of interest and
concentration on school works. Therefore, they achieve mediocre results.
This
generation has grown accustomed to overusing and abusing it that disadvantages
have stemmed from it. People have traded in face-to-face interaction for a
virtual one, impairing real-life communication. Social networking sites also
cultivate narcissism, anti-social behavior, aggression and other psychological
disorders. It has also become a problem for students, parents and teachers for
it poses as a distraction from learning. But like most other things, social
networking can be good if it is used in moderation. Parents should communicate
with their children, gain their trust with these matters and teach them the
appropriate way of using this technology (Rosen, 2011). The youth should
develop the discipline to control their activities online. Setting a time limit
and only logging on after all the school works are done can minimize time spent
online and improve study habits. Getting a hobby, joining a club or team or
participating in extra-curricular activities can curb the obsession with the
virtual social life and boost the real-life one. Social networking is gripping
the world, showing promise that it is not going anywhere anytime soon. It can
be tool for communication and learning. But it can also be a weapon for
interpersonal harm and self-destruction. The choice is in our hands.
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