MEDIA

Social Networking
And American Society

INTRODUCTION
-

Social media are internet sites where people can

interact freely with one another. They can share
pictures, information, videos.

They appear in many forms such as blogs, forums.

Message boards, video sharing and social
networks

History Of Social Networking

- In the 1970s, a service called
CompuServe was created
- It expanded into public domain in the
late 1980s
- It allowed members to share files and
access news and events
- It was the first service to send friends
messages via a.k.a email
- It spout the rise of other social media
such as Tribe.net, LinkedIn and
Friendster
- All these social networking are
specialized in their own fields
(romance, friendships and professional)

Social Networking

DEFINITION
In sociology, social networks are groups
of people connected to each other,
such as through family, friendship,
business relationships, religious
organizations, and clubs. Sociologists
study networks to understand how
people interact with each other and
how networks influence human
behavior

OVERVIEW

FIGURES
This chart shows the number of social
network users from 2010 to 2014 and with
estimation until 2018

Alarming, in 2016 there would be about

2.13 billion user around the globe
That is about almost a quarter of the
Earths population

FIGURES
AND
STATISTICS

ANALYSIS
- Based on the previous charts and statistics, More than
70 % of teenagers today know and use most of the
social networking websites
- They use these sites to make friends and share their
moments and actions with everyone
- They are more knowledgeable than adults in this field
because it is their generation
- Teenager today are heavily influenced by social
networking and will continue be affected by it

Americas Takes on Social Media

- Almost the majority of Americans believe that it is hard to stop using the
internet
- Almost half the population of the United States of America uses social
media sites
-Ages 18-64 years old, spend about 3 hours or more on social media
sites alone.

Some may claim social media make us unproductive and anti social
while others believe it leads us into the future and it would benefit the
growth of the world.

How has Social Media Changed

Social media is evolving because of technology. People
are now able to connect anywhere around the world by
using their phones or computer/laptops
Here are list of changes in the institutions:
Technology is adapting, which gives people better
tools to present ourselves
It is the era where sharing and engagement is at its
peak
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc, allow
quick and easy access for others to connect to
another person

What are the benefits of Social networking?

- Social networking sites are tools that users
uses keep close ties with others
Its main purpose though was to promote and
aid communication
- People can make friends with people who
have the same interest in something.
- It is a news, or a entertainment source for
people
- It is free of charges to set up a account and
use it
- It is a great tool to promote your own site,
business, blog or group. EX. A lot of big
business uses Facebook and twitter to
advertise their product, brand and services
- You can share and post information about
yourself for others to see

Harmful Effects
Do social networking sites isolate people and
changes them mentally?

Social Media may replace traditional

personal interaction
It can affect people lives such as self
expression, bullying, isolations, friendship
People posting pictures or videos to impress
others that they are cool which in the end
lead to embarrassment or sometimes trouble
Social media can demean or even damage
ones reputation
Cyber bullying which can cause mental
break down then leads to depression
Personal interaction becomes meaningless
to some and majority of people are
beginning to rely on conversing through the
computer than actual confrontation
isolation

Functionalist Analysis
- Each part of society is interdependent and contribute to society functions as a whole
o The media works in five functions : it acts a means of socialization; enforces social
norms; confers status; promotes consumption; and keeps us informed about our
environment.

o The media has become universal and is a tool is increasing on a day to day base. It will
continue to grow for the next generation to the next.
o With the advancement of technology and growth it makes communicating with other
easier and quicker with the usage of social networking. It bring in new ways of
interacting without the cost of anything
o Social Networking creates a place for social interaction and control
o The institution of media is a major aspect of socialization because it sways public
opinions and influences others

Conflict Analysis
o Social media is owned and controlled by society's elite
o People are invulnerable to media and influences from other
o Everyone is using social media as a source to interact, but if one does not utilize
it, they are consider an outcast
o The media purpose is to serve to distance genders and ethnicities rather than
improve social harmony
o Conflict theorist see negative changes through social networking such as
seeing it a replacement of confronted interaction
o People that are using their services is not benefiting themselves, they are
benefiting the social site themselves (Riches benefiting off the poor)

Work Cited
"The Brief History of Social Media." UNCP Mass Communication Dept. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
"The Effects of Social Networking upon Society." Teen Ink. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
"The History of Social Networking." Digital Trends. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
Knight, Daniella. "Sociological Perspectives on Mass Media." EBlog. N.p., 30 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 Nov.
2014.

"Number of Worldwide Social Network Users." Statista. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2014.
"Social Networking Fact Sheet." Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. N.p., n.d.
Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

Witt, Jon, and Jon Witt. SOC. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.