Social Networking As An Effective Communication Tool

Sumana Santra
M.Sc.(Economics), Calcuta University
M.Ed.(3rd semester), W.B.U.T.T.E.P.A.

This writing has been submitted for examination of M.Ed. (3rd semester) at Gangadharpur
Sikshan Mandir as per university rule.

West Bengal University Of Teachers’ Training, Education Planning And Administration

2018
Social Networking As An Effective Communication Tool

Social networking is the use of inter-based social media programmes to make

connections with friends, family, classmates, customers and clients. Social networking
can occur for social purposes, business purposes,or both through sites such as
Facebook,Twitter etc.It has a progressive history of its own.Early social networking on
the world –wide web began in the form of generalized online communities such as
Theglobe.com(1995),Geocities(1994) and Tripod.com(1994).Many of these early
communities focused on bringing people together to interact with each other through
chatrooms and encouraged users to share personal information and ideas via personal
webpages by providing easy-to-use publishing tool and free or inexpensive webspace.
Some communities – such as classmates.com – took a different approach by having
people link to each other via e-mail addresses

In the late 1990s,user profiles become a central feature of social networking sites,
allowing users to compile lists of ‘friends’and search for other users with similar
interest.New social networking methods were developed by the end of the 1990s,and
many sites began to develop more advanced features for users to find and manage friends.
Open Dairy,a community for online diarists, invented both friends-only content and the
reader comment,two features of social networks important to user interaction.

The newer generation of social networking sites began to flourish with the
emergence of ‘six Degrees.com’ in1997,followed by ‘Open Dairy’ in 1998, ‘Mixi’ in
1999, Make out club in 2000, Hub Culture and Friendster in 2002 and soon after become
part of the internet mainstream. Orkut become the first popular social networking service
in Brazil and quickly grew in popularity in India. Then as time goes on popularity of
social networking grows faster to keep pace with fastest life of present generation.
Facebook gets on extra importance for its aim of scholarly research together with its role
as social networking tool. According to a recent article from computers in Human
Behaviour, Facebook has also been shown to lead to issues of social comparison.Users
are able to post, allowing them to portray their lives in acclamatory manners.

In this way, social networking via social media is forming an increasingly central
part of how we all communicate. Its online communities carry a strong and influential
voice and there is much to be gained from engaging directly with people through these
channels – whether that be to reach journal readers, to network with colleagues or even
just to keep up to date with friends and family. A research shows on a global stage over
600 librarians worldwide contributed their thoughts suggestions experiences through
focus group, telephone interviews, an online survey and a Twitter Party. All the research
was then compiled into a white paper, which has now been published online and is
available to download for free. So, this reflects the possibility of becoming more and
more popular to most of the audience in a broad perspectives. Statistics reveal that about
61% of libraries have been using social media for three years or more. Near about 45%
post to social media daily. Facebook is the most popular channel with 58% libraries using
it daily. 75% of libraries schedule posts adhoc, with no social media policy or plan in
place. Again statistics reveal still social media is not accepted by majority of readers and
writers and libraries. e-library is getting in very fast but till now Facebook is the most
popular among people for sharing experiences, ideas etc.

But we cannot ignore the fact that social networking through social media now
complements many parts of our lives. Facebook, You-tube and many other social
networking sites allow users to show and interact with like-minded people. Its strengths –
rapid dissemination and amplification of content and the ability to read informal
conversations – make it a powerful context. This commentary explains the over all
concept of social media in the process of social networking and offers suggestions on
usage and possible types of scientific content. It advises researchers on the potential
benefits and how to take a strategic approach towards building a social media use within
the plant science community. Inevitably some scientists donot like such sites for
common reasons such that fear of appearing unprofessional, posting something wrong or
being misunderstood or lack of confidence in their computer skills. But with the rapid
changes in academic publishing, dissemination and science communication as well As
the rise of ‘Almetrics’ to track online engagement with scientific content ,digital literacy
will become an essential skill in a scientist’s tool kit.

Over the last years social media quickly become integrated into many aspects of
our lives. Websites like facebook, twitter or you-tube make it easier to keep in touch with
family and friends to join on-line conversations and to have easy access to more funny
videos and some how all of these become time wasting Again other barriers include
concerns around copyright and legal issues which make us to stay away from social
media. Yet social media is a powerful professional tool for scientist when used
appropriately and effectively and efficiently.

The core principle of social networking via social media is ability to share
content, users usually register and create a profile and establish a standard of them.
Personal portfolio along with their opinion regarding general issues can be post and
make a place to share ideas and opinion in public as the specific groups as per their
choice. So social networking plays an effective role in the process of communication.
Thus the technology-based life style is very contemporary and accepted by million of
people all over world.

One more thing must be revealed along with previous discussion is that now a
days social media is widely used for marketing purpose. New launch, new products can
be displayed easily at small glances Apart from traditional marketing tool people are
enjoying the benefit of using internet and securing attention of global population. It is the
smartest way of communication via advertisement in social media. Thus social media
allows increased exposures through messages and recommendations from friends and
acquaintances operating on the principle of building a snowball step by step. So in one
word social networking is very effective communication tool in our life. Consequently,
social networking has changed the way we communicate. First of all, urgency is
requirement of sharing is needed. Facebook has created a place to share anything from
genius, transmit information and receive feedback. The integration of texting messaging
and e-mailing, however has enabled senders and receivers to set and dwell before
responding. Social media has created a way for people to constantly update and show
content with their friends with little effort. Whether it is posted forever on the timeline, a
picture is reflecting a lot.

Again it provides an inside perspective of far away places. Social media has
enabled people from all over the world to share their story. People easily view the inside
perspective of foreign places or trace the unknown places. Besides cities, live feeds are
perfect for sharing events, community outreach, different games and more.

The next point is it shared full story not just the highlights. Social media explore
the ways to the next generation the story telling ideas – memories and stories. Social
media channels enable user to not just share the best pictures out of their daily
experiences, it encourages them to share the full story.

Then come to the point that it made digital messages more personal. At that level
social media is encouraging users to write, draw, use sticker, and filter their picture to add
a personal touch and have fun doing it. It makes an easy attempt to view and share ideas
or content. At the next level it helps to bring news back into millennial life. News become
digital to million of hearts. Social issues can be presented infront of the world in a second
and viewers can be aware of millions of reactions of it. Lastly, it provides the ability to
broadcast moments- Live. Face to face communication with the person away from us
becomes easier.

Very recent many universities, schools, and individual degree programme like to
create innovative social strategy of interaction through social media. So basically in this
technological era social networking is the fastest process of communication and every
body is allowed to grasp this opportunity to make life more easier, more comfortable.
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