Social Interactions can be viewed as being:-
a) Casual or
b) Personal and intimate.
The Online channel works very well for the former, whereas face to face or telephonic channels work best for the latter.
Facebook offers a convenient medium to interact with tons of like minded casual friends. This makes it an easy information gathering and convenient socializing channel. Similarly LinkedIn, twitter and Blogs and communities can be used to expand ones social circle.
However, not so for the chosen few cherished friends and family. Face to face interactions are necessary to sustain the bond and identify emotionally with our closest links.
In Summary use Social networks for quantity, other channels for quality.
It is often the student reversing this combination who ends up being ‘Unsocial’. E.g. Relying solely on the online channel erodes personal bonds. These ties are necessary to sustain social behavior. Vice versa by ignoring the online channel students can lose out on a wealth of information and quantity of friends.
I read this article recently. Social networking causing depression? (http://educationtimes.com/educationTimes/CMSD/Your-Health/34/2010061120100610172118308670e216f/Socialnetworkingcausingdepression.html)
DEPRESSION: This article talks about ‘depression owing to irresponsible and rude comments made by friends.’ WOULD a similar offline act would not cause much worse despair. If YES, why blame the online channel. In fact tracking the trail of evidence is much easier online than offline. Hence, if anything Online media provides for an easier redress mechanism.
PRIVACY: The article also claims that students are unaware of the public nature of this media. This is definitely a problem, and needs to be fixed. When existing media channels were born it took time to fully understand the privacy implications. The social network greatly enhanced the power to express. However, today we yield this power like a kid plays with a toy. We do not fully recognize the advertising implications of doing so in public. E.g. girls posting sexually suggestive pictures and titillating details to establish their status as “hot”.
This power needs to be fully understood and used with great responsibility.
With great power comes great responsibility.
If you look at broad Internet usage trends, porn represents a substantial online interest. But, this does not mean that the online medium itself has failed. Powerful Search Engines, free expert guidance, health and educational websites, online e-commerce etc... are available for those who care to use them.
Similarly, Social media can be the most powerful learning tool after search engines. E.g. by subscribing to expert feeds and tweets can be a powerful educational platform. On the other hand using tweets, Facebook updates and blogs to stalk someone is also possible. It is the latter behavioral pattern which is a waste of the power of this media! Hence, used properly Social media represents a disruptive change in our educational and social lives.
Another misguided study is published here, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social-media/Facebook-affects-students-grades/articleshow/6512366.cms
The primary conclusion of this Article is that Facebook impacts Grades. However, grades are not everything. Social media enhances street smartness and communication skills. Students are increasingly cooped up indoors by overzealous parents during exam times. Such students find Facebook a pleasant release of creativity and peer interaction. By keeping tabs on Facebook students can improve their general knowledge and unite for social causes. The recent use of twitter in Iran demonstrates the ability of the medium in fighting social injustice.
In conclusion like other media’s Social comes with a bag of pros and cons. Education students on the privacy and educational potential of Social media is essential. Similarly mixing online social networks with offline events and networks makes for Social Success.
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