Social Networks: Their Place in Our Lives

"Social networks are these intricate things of beauty, and they're so elaborate and so complex and so ubiquitous that one has to ask what purpose they serve."  - Nicholas Christakis

Before delving into the influences of social networks, it is wise to understand how technology impacts our lives. In Neil Postman's "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," Postman presents five points which aid in our understanding of the effects of technology. His ideas truly tap into some of the major issues arising alongside modern technological developments.  Also, he effectively explains the two-sided nature of every new technological development and how with every technological change or "update" there will be both gains and losses. Many people today are so blinded by all of the hype of new technologies that they cannot see, or for some comprehend, the dangers in which these new innovations pose. Postman's writings should be a wake-up call to those asleep. In this age where everyone is so bogged down with information, it may prove difficult for Postman's ideas to break through the clutter.

So once you understand the effects of technology and how each new technological development affects us personally, we can narrow our spectrum, and focus on the way that social networks influence our present culture. First, let's look at how social networking is changing the ways in which we learn, communicate, and function within the college educational system. If you were to study college students, you would find that they are taking social media to new levels, using websites like Facebook to communicate with other students about their coursework. According to a new study by Educause Center for Applied Research:   

• 90% of college students say they use Facebook for social purposes like writing status updates and posting pictures.
• 58% say they feel comfortable using Facebook to connect with other students to discuss homework assignments and exam.
• 25% of students say they think Facebook is "valuable" or "extremely valuable" to their academic success.   

Along with these findings, more than 30% of students say they also use sites such as Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Google+. Social studying websites, such as CourseHero adn GradeGuru, have also become very popular with almost 25% of students reporting that they use these sites for school work. Eleven percent also reported they wish instructors would incorporate these studying sites into the curriculum more often. According to the study, after e-mail, learning management systems and e-textbooks were the two technologies that students wanted instructors to use more often. 

If we were to conduct this same study in the future, there is no doubt  that we would find these percentages much higher than they are now. In general, the percentages of social network use increase daily. Also, in colleges, the necessity for increased social networking may rise as technologically saturated youth enter the college environment.

Another area that is beneficial for us to look at when studying the influences of social networks is our dependence upon it. Many are afraid to approach this topic for it could possibly reveal their own dependencies. In 2010, a group of 200 University of Maryland students decided to face their fears, and conducted a new study which set out to discover the effects of being disconnected from social networks. The results were astounding, ranging from feelings of anxiety to physical manifestations such as jitters and frantic cravings; effects similar to those going through withdraw from drug and alcohol addictions. This study is one of many, which allude to the great dangers of social networking, but as with anything it should be taken with a grain of salt. There are a number of studies that demonstrate the ways in which social networking benefits us. Our greatest ally in this age of social networking is awareness. It is the key to finding balance in this crazy and every changing age. 

~ Dominic Labrador, Brennan Lafferty, and John Letterman

Posted in: Technology