Social Networking

Social networking such as Facebook, tweeter etc... are a new way of communication technologies that have emerged in the past few years.  Many corporations and businesses have taken advantage of the fast growing social networking sites in order to advertise their products, recruiting prospective employees etc...  For example, advertising products based on individual interest on social networking sites have become more popular these days since these sites such as Facebook has the capability of targeting individual needs. Before the social networking sites such as Facebook this type of advertising was not possible.

Social networking sites have some advantages to society. These sites have helped many people to get in touch with their friends and families. The sites also helped many people to find jobs. For example, many companies used social networking sites in order to recruit and hire the best candidate that fit their companies. In his article, Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting, Frank Langfitt stated that how “professional recruiters have started hunting for job candidates using social networking technology — like the kind found on the popular sites MySpace and Facebook.”

One of the ‘dark sides’ of social networking is its profound effects on our privacy. All users have given some of their real personal information through these social networking sites willingly or by mistake. For instance, in the past many third party data mining companies on social networking sites like Facebook have used or sold  individual information to advertising companies  in order to gain more benefit. In addition, some people have been victimized by the same people whom they met through social networking sites.   The article, Leaving 'Friend prints': How Online Social Networks Are Redefining Privacy and Personal Security explain the danger part of social networking by stating, “what about the person you don't really know who wants to be your friend because you have some friends in common? According to Hoffman, that new friend may just be mining your social circle for information. As networks grow and more friends of friends (and their friends) are accepted by users, it's unclear who can be trusted.”