Impact of Social Networking on Society

Social Networking Sites: A Boon or Bewitching Bomb?

Cyberspaces, a supplementary virtual exploration to our own personal world, have been a subject of constant debate in recent years. With the advent of this ‘internatic’ phenomenon, we’re blessed with infinite inventions like Emails, Blogs, Websites and of course the many social networking sites that come under the umbrella term ‘The Virtual World’ e.g. Orkut, Facebook, Google +, Hi5, Bebo, Friendster, Bigadda, MySpace….still, many would come with question that ‘What is a Social Networking Site?’ The answer is that it is a collection of web-based services with various technological affordances supporting a wide range of interests wherein people from different parts of the world share and discuss anything that come under the sun with special or common interests. The nature and terminology of the connections may vary from site to site wherein some cater to diverse audience while others attract people based on common language or shared racial, sexual, religious or nationalistic identities. There have been debates on the pros and cons of these sites across the globe. There is a doubt that they are here to stay and with that what makes it unique is the element of engagement enslaved in it. There is a distant visible factor working behind the popularity of these sites is it has direct connection to the instinct and psyche of a human mind. ‘Man is a Social animal’ and hence likes to be interacting with known and unknown people to him to exhibit his feelings, emotions and what not. 

Thus in the 21^st century, man defines himself through its interactions. Factually this is the chief cause of these social networking sites getting massive acceptability. One can expand his business through the global exposure he gets. These sites help one to communicate with efficiency and ease; moreover it serves as a personal website. One can make new friend which enhances his social boundaries, etc. though on the downside, like the old cliché saying ‘Every coin has two slides’ all these facilities naturally come with many cautions causalities and consequences but again it’s not a huge matter to worry upon, if one takes all the precautions while accessing to it.