Youtube, Facebook, My Space and Texting – Are the above Newfound communities or a diversion from healthy face-to-face relationships?

By Kate Sweeting

These social interaction sites can be seen as new found communities and a great way to keep touch with friends and make new friends, but they can also be seen as a diversion from healthy face to face relationships.

45/50 have Facebook currently

5 had an active facebook account within the last 2 years.

40 have used MySpace

12 still have an active account along with Facebook

A question was asked, what is the most important way of communicating now a days, 42 people said Texting.

I also asked do you think texting has taken over face to face communication every person said YES.

One friend was asked out on a date via text

3 friends had break ups over text !!

How can we foster real and meaningful relationships when we are so unemotional and uncaring towards each other ??

Social relationships and the impact of texting

Social Media Revolution 2011

What is the overall impact that cyberspacehas on the youth of

today

A number of young people retain a personal website, often with a diary of reflections on their ongoing experience.

It is another way of affirming who they feel they are; it is an opportunity for affirmation by others who share similar experiences, likes and dislikes and it gives a ‘virtual’ yet tangible sense of community.

Mobile phones and SMS texting allows for the sharing of thoughts and ideas at any time with someone else, even during classes, and from one end of a dining table to the other.

It feels like having constant companionship and immediate intimacy – the reassurance of friends and connectedness with them are only a few clicks away.

Social networking sites allow you to keep in touch with your friends, classmates, and relatives.

It is also the most cost effective way to keep in touch with your social network. Here geographical locations are no barrier to staying in touch.

They allow you to send and receive messages as well as upload photos and videos.

They are very interactive as you can get to see what your friends and relatives are up to, seeking information and news, and of sharing their ideas and opinions.

With social networking sites, you are not bound by any geographical and cultural differences. You get to meet and know a variety of people whose interests are similar to your own. These sites are a window to different cultures and places.

You can build a network of contacts and interact with a lot of people at the same time. As such, you can spread your thoughts and interests to a large number of people.

Popular websites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, Blogspot, and Xanga make it easy to build a web of friends and acquaintances, and share with them your photos, whereabouts, contact information, and interests.

“If being ‘individual’ is central to the outlook of the young, there is equally a yearning for community and a sense of belonging.”

Does all this communication foster cyber bullying ?

The human face and body language are rich in meaning and emotion. Critics of text-only communication in cyberspace complain that all these visual cues are missing, hence making the relationship ambiguous and depleted.

But be thoughtful about what you post; don’t put your safety or your future at risk.

Never forget: the words and images you post on the Internet may be available for years, and your profile may be viewed by future employers and school admissions officials, as well as identity thieves, spammers, and stalkers.

Facebook –Social tool or Social

nightmare ?

References http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amueaVHIZ6A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuNx0UrnEo

http://reled.acu.edu.au/mre/636/SocialNetworkingByInternet.pdf

http://www.whoswatchingcharlottesville.org/social.html

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/27072/1/Taking_risky_opportunities_in_youthful_content_creation_(LSERO).pdf

Crawford, M.L. & Rossiter, G. M. (2006). Reasons for living: Education and young people’s search for meaning, Identity and spirituality. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Educational Benefits Of Social Networking Sites Uncovered ScienceDaily (June 21, 2008)