Social Networking

Along with the rapid growth of technological advances, social media platforms have evolved with endless potentials and possibilities to grow business, increase brand awareness, or network with potential employers. These platforms allows us to increase our personal networks and reach a bigger and wider audience. Take Linkedin for example, it has been one of the most popular social networking sites used by professionals worldwide. Linkedin allows its users to connect and network with professionals in practically any field of business. According to a leader in online recruiting, Shally Steckerl in Frank Langfitt's article, Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting "With Linkedin, he can find people faster using a vastly increased network of contacts." In the past, many recruiters find potential employees through referrals and relied heavily on resumes and cover letters submitted by various individuals. However, with the development of social networking sites, recruiters can search up all qualified individuals with a click of a button. 

The beneficial development of social networking sites also has its "dark" side, too. With the increase of users across various social networking sites, teens and preteens users on the internet have skyrocketed like never before. While it may be beneficial for these teens and preteens to network and connect with their peers, it also creates a new platform for bullying. Cyber bullying has become more common than before, with kids hiding behind their computer screens and typing away nasty comments to another kid that they barely knew in person. Cyberbullying has been a social issue that society has been worrying about. Cyberbullying isn't the only "dark" side of social networking, the inability to create genuine connections has been a huge issue as well. According to The New York Times article by Hilary Stout, Antisocial Networking? "The question on researchers’ minds is whether all that texting, instant messaging and online social networking allows children to become more connected and supportive of their friends — or whether the quality of their interactions is being diminished without the intimacy and emotional give and take of regular, extended face-to-face time." Researcher are constantly looking for answers to whether or not social networking is actually good for interacting and connecting with others. It raises questions that maybe social media and social networking isn't as great as it's sought out to be or maybe its something that is slowly killing the quality of our society.