I would like to focus on the survey results; mainly, because Pew Internet surveyed 26 different kinds of groups with members being both diverse and participates in new technology. “68% of all Americans (internet users and non‐users alike) said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to communicate with members. Some 75% of internet users said that.”(Rainie, Purcell & Smith 2011) It is interesting because how were they communicating before the internet became more widespread? While reading the research I came to the realization that the internet is affecting how people participate and communicate within groups. Everyone uses the internet voluntarily but some peoples’ dependency makes it into an involuntarily addiction. The research gathered how internet groups achieve their objectives, “55% of active group members say they were in a group that provided emotional support to someone in need; 32% of active group members say that the internet played a role in accomplishing this goal.” (Rainie, Purcell & Smith 2011) I agree 100% because I belong to a weight loss group and we are always there to comfort someone and a lot of our group members have achieved their weight loss/lifestyle goals.

Civil engagement is linked closely with social capital, because people who communicating online might crossover into being sociable friends in reality. Being that people are really busy meeting people online is the most convenient way to meet people and build strong friendship bonds.

“Bridging social capital refers to social networks that bring together people of different sorts, and bonding in social capital brings together people of a similar sort.” (Norris, 2004) On the other hand the concept of social capital describes the benefits individuals derive from their social relationships and interactions: resources such as emotional support, exposure to diverse ideas, and access to non-redundant information.” (Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe 2011) Both Norris and Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe has a central thing and it is connecting to people who similar to you and benefitting from it both on SNSs and offline.

The possible benefits of participating on SNSs are increasing your confidence, being able to relate to someone similar to yourself, and being comfortable engaging in conversations with random users. The main drawback to me is simply not being to merge the “online you” with the “reality you.” Online you can be whoever you want to be, but in reality it is easy to notice when someone is putting up a front/pretending to be someone they are not mainly because the confidence is not all the way there.

Norris (2004) findings were interesting when relating to my own experiences with SNSs because in Figure 2.1 on page 35 I could see how I have “become more involved with groups and organizations you already belong to,” because it has become a bonding experience; where on the other hand “connecting with people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds,” can be seen as a bridging experience. I belong to an online group and I have built great bonds with people who are half way across the U.S. From my own SNSs experiences social capital is definitely on the rise and is not falling anytime soon.

Boyd and Ellison defined Social Networking Sites into three different categories web-based services that allowed individuals to (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. The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site.” (boyd & Ellison, 2007:2) Boyd and Ellison goes on to say that the word ‘networking’ is not used because it could be perceived as someone initiating a connection between strangers, instead of the user being the initiator. (boyd & Ellison, 2007:2)

I disagree with boyd & Ellison’s definition of SNS mainly because (1) Social Networking Sites do allow for completely private pages and in turn people add only those they know. (2) For me SNS are to network, promote, and market. It does not matter rather you all have something in common you learn more from people who are unlike yourself. (3) On Facebook you can join a group with people who have a common goal or share the same interest as yourself.

When I think of an online community I often think of a place where forums and message boards are present. In my opinion, SNS is a place where you meet boutique owners, online store owners, and people who are in the works of doing something profitable. I see it that way because I have met my hairstylist from a SNS, I have met someone that customizes shoes, and I also market my online business (www.beesheadpieces.bigcartel.com) Social Networking Sites are what you make to be, they can either be profitable or informative.

I have learned a lot about how the roles of internet and technologies play an important role in many people lives. It is a lot easier to send a quick text than to have a conversation with someone. With text messaging you are able to receive a quick response. I have also become a fan of following blogs and that is easiest way to feel connected to someone thousands of miles away.

All of the new technologies are putting a strain on the relationships we have with our family, friends, and romantically. People would rather play Ruzzle with their best friend instead of going out to a movie. I know that for my family we a “no cell phone policy,” whenever we are together whether we are in the car or at the table preparing to eat my mom makes everyone put their phones away.

The overall message I received from the studies is that there are too many text messaging conversations and not enough face-to-face conversations. I found it interesting that “more teens report contacting their friends on a daily basis using texting (54%)” (Ling 2010). Teens come in contact with their friends at school I would think that they are talking about the school day instead of texting. I also found it interesting that “35% of 12 year-olds say they text daily, while 54% of 14 year-olds and 70% of 17 year-olds text everyday” (Lenhart 2010). I can honestly say as we get older those number steadily decrease. I know that I barely talk with my best friend face-to-face and that when we do it seems rushed or pushed, like we might run out of things to say. I agree with the findings and can definitely say that when I was 12-17 years-old I talked with my friends daily over the phone mainly to gossip or complain.

“Because IM is overwhelmingly informal, by the time users reach college, they tend to not put a lot of effort into monitoring what they write” (Baron, 2008 ch.4). I completely disagree with Baron’s statement. I can only speak for myself, but as a student from Middle School to now my senior year in college I always knew when and where to speak, text, and write a certain way. I have never been lost or confused about the way I should speak or write. I remember my freshmen year of college and English teachers praising my writing abilities. Mainly because my sophomore English teacher in High School stated “I do not care how you speak and write in other classes, but in my class you’re going to speak and write proper English.” That statement has followed me since then.

I also do not agree that a new language is emerging from IM and text messaging, more like the survival of the fittest. Because if you are the person speaking in IM and text language you are going to make someone else look like a genius.

The language of text/IM is more like “talking” than writing, because if you are talking to your friends you are not worried about the use of contractions. Also you are not worried about abbreviations because talking is a lot faster than text or IM and you are able to get your point across sooner.

In chapter three there were a lot of interesting points that caught my eye. “Media with fewer social cues often trigger hopes that people will become more equal and more valued for their minds than their social identities, but also raise fears that interactions, identities, and relationships will become increasingly shallow, untrustworthy, and inadequate,” (Bayum, 50-51). This is completely opposite in 2013. Media itself places people in a hierarchal position. The person with the most followers is the leader of the pack and the person with least amount is seen as the person who is least credible. Relationships are becoming stronger and stronger both business and personal. Businesses are able to build relationships with people across the world based off of trust and now people who are in long distance relationships can Skype, video message, chat, and tango thousands of miles apart. Not to mention the online dating “success stories.”  I also found it interesting that the people who were surveyed favored face to face communication most, phone conversations were not intimate enough, and people felt the internet was not personal enough but always available (Bayum, 50). I understood why face to face would be the most favored. Face to face communication is one of the richest forms of communication but personally it is not the most effective way to communicate. After watching the class first chat session I felt more informed about the topics presented more so than the things discussed in the class I took afterwards.

I found it interesting that Gerrand researched web presence, but did not seem to take into consideration the countries/languages that do not have the luxury to communicate online, because the outcome could have been differently.

I have not had any non-English speaking encounters online. People speaking different languages online will not be a problem mainly because most people prefer English simply to ensure their message is perceived correctly.

Hello everyone I know I am late introducing myself but I am recovering from an injury, I tore a muscle in my calf. I am a Senior Health Services Administration major and I am currently interning at a local hospital. I am a lover of all things leopard and I have a thing for fashion.

These readings state that people are being manipulated by new technologies. It also suggested that new technologies will interfere with a person’s memory as well as attention span. There was a fear present in Baym text, the fear of losing control and people not leaving home. These fears were founded after reading the statement “many fear that actual human connection has been irretrievably lost.” CMC, Computer-Mediated Communication, is slouching towards ordinary because of chatrooms, web boards, text messages and other social media outlets and ultimately the mobility of all the ways of communicating online.
I do feel that technology has a lot to do with the depletion of attention span. People hold their phones for dear life without looking up. I visited NYC this past Summer and people were crossing the streets looking at their phone, nearly being hit by cabs. I do not agree that people will not want to leave their house. Due to mobility of communication people are leaving their homes, they’re just not paying attention when they do.