The readings for this week gave a insight on what social networking really is and how a person can make themselves more available to them. Boyd and Ellison described three different ways to constuct a social networking site. (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. He also goes on to state that we should not use the work “network” if we know who we are socializing with. It should be called initiating. We network with individuals every single day that we are a part of a social networking site. This gives us ability to network with people we may have lost contact with during the transitions in our lives. Networking is provided for us to get to know people we may have already known and it gives us more ways to make friends and associates. It also helps people get into certain career fields and it keeps in the loop about what may be going on in the world that we may have no clue about. I feel that social networking gives us the freedom to speak to those we may have been to shy to speak to in person. The two articles made me realize that social networking sites are a great way to be heard and seen without actually being physically heard or seen.
12 thoughts on “Blog #10”
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I guess my question would be that if you think social networking gives shy people the opportunity to reach out to others without the interference of face-to-face physiological reactions, wouldn’t they eventually have to be seen or heard? boyd and Ellison mentioned that social networking sites were used to build new relationships. Ultimately, it seems that any worthwhile relationship would at some point have to go offline.
You have a point and I completely agree with you about some day you might have to meet them face to face. But what about those people who feel that meeting in person could be a mistake? Sure you have skype and FaceTime to make it more convenient, but some people really like to have their image in words and not in real life…Catfish show?? lol
I see why you see networking as initiation. Ultimately, when we subscribe, enroll, or sign up for access to a social site that is a form of initiation. People are more apt to connect with different groups such as : high school classmates, co-workers, student groups, social groups via online networks and communties.
The main separation is the depth of the relationship that we encounter. Personally, I am not deeply involved in my Facebook or instagram postings. However, after reading about online communites that focus on more serious targeted topics in health conditions or political views I feel that social networking is the “aquaintence” and online communities are “solid connections
I understand exactly where you are coming from about the not being overly consumed by Facebook and Instagram. I admit that I can check my Instagram at least 10 times a day, but since I work and go to school full-time I check all my social network sites once maybe twice a week…I am just that busy. You can have a variety of aquantences online and it does not particularly mean you have to frien them in real life.
Social networking does allow you to meet new people as well as keep in contact with people you already know. Sites does give you the opportunity to express yourself if you are shy however, they also allow you to develop your own identity. If you do not talk to people in person what make social sites so special that it make you talk to people that you normally would not talk too?
You bring up a good point about how social networking allows people to keep in touch even if they never see each other in person. Everyone’s schedules are so busy these days, and although I am close to my friends, sometimes the only free time I have is at 1am when I hop on Facebook and see what they’re up to. These sites can be a great tool to “share life” with each other.
Exactly. I am way too busy to go out for social talks and invites and so it makes it easier for me to text, email, facebook, and tweet my friends and/or family. They are great tools for sharing life without actually taking the time out to meet people physically.
Like you stated, networking can create numerous friendships that would never have been possible in more traditional settings. Although Mr. Beer’s theories strongly oppose it, there have been some exceptions to the “heartless social networks” that he claims are all over the internet. Some social networks fit the descriptions of online communities more than they fit Dr. Beer’s ideas of SNS. Boyd and Ellison may have been right, at least to a degree, about social networks after all. Saying that they were right about SNSes in general may be pushing it though. I fully agree with your last statement about how social networking sites provide a degree of anonymity. Sadly, that is one of the major defects or negative points of the online interaction situation.
I agree that social networking and online interactions help with career and job searches. Majority of the people you talk to about jobs have found them through websites and it’s also very common for interviews to take place via Skype. Another way SNSs play a role in career and job searches is how employers are increasingly checking potential employees’ SNSs to see the “real” candidate.
Yes I have heard that a lot of people tend to find jobs and other opportunities through social network sites. It is definitely a great tool to help those who are in need of guidance friend others who might have connections or may even be the person who can directly help them.
“It also helps people get into certain career fields and it keeps in the loop about what may be going on in the world that we may have no clue about.” I completely agree with you. SNS is to network I have learned many things and met plenty people who have given me more insite personally that I could have gotten in the real world.
You hit the nail on the head about staying in the llop about your own career when dealing with social networks. My job definitely demnads me to keep up with certain technology and changes throughout the company so this can help out those who have high demanding jobs and they know there is always an update somewhere online. Most SNS are easier to learn so it is not a problem to do if someone really wants to be a part of it.