Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking for Students

Social networks are the main application under the social media.  Social media is the fastest growing web application in the 21st century.  The wide nature of applications like Wikis, video streaming and applications, and social networks makes it the phenomenon of the century.  Facebook users beat all social media applications with over 955 million users in 2013, followed by Twitter with 500 million users (www.thecountriesof.com).  This shows that these applications are very important.

Social networks are becoming main tools for education, and entertainment.  The human nature is keen on interacting with people and finding common areas and interests.  For students, the use of social networks is for tool supporting activities which believe to be important for the purpose of educational institutions, instructors, and students.  Besides that, there also may have a bad influence social network inflicts on students behaviors and time management. 

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY

All social media relies on advanced information and communication technologies that seamlessly work to build and support technological literacy.

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

Everyone can find new people, meet their friends and communicate to their love ones all over the world.

ATTRACTS ATTENTION

Improves business reputation and client base with minimal use of advertising, social media can attract attention to your site, product or services.

OPPORTUNITY TO WIDEN BUSINESS

It could always be a fun and creative method of doing your business because it not just allows employees to discuss and share ideas, ask questions, post new and share links but it minimize the use of advertising businesses and also improves business reputation.

BREATH OF KNOWLEDGE

For students, it can give them the benefit of being exposed to technology and can be connected to a broader base of opinions and world views through global connections.

DISTRACTION

Most students suffer from this.  One of the major disadvantages of using social networking websites are the students get addicted to it.  Instead of doing their homework they tend to fail their academic endeavors because of using it in the wrong way.

HEALTH PROBLEMS

Some students may tend to use to these social networking sites till mid night or even more which can obviously lead to health related problems, it may have a negative effect on both mental and physical health of individual.

ILLEGAL CRIME, VIRUS ATTACKS

Opens up the possibility for hackers to commit fraud and launch spam and virus attacks.  Increases the risk of people falling prey to online scams that seem genuine, resulting in data or identity theft.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON WORKER PRODUCTIVITY

It could always be a fun and creative method of doing your business because it not just allows employees to discuss and share ideas, ask questions, post news and share links but it minimize the use of advertising to businesses and also improves business reputation.

RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS

Social networking can also ruin relationships as people may get jealous if they found out their boyfriend or girlfriend is exchanging messages with other people.  Update of our friend on social network also might give negative effect on relationship.