effects of social networking
The Effects of Social Networking
Social networking has affected society in more ways than people think. For many users around the globe, social networking sites are part of their daily lives. With over 500 million Facebook users, and 140 million Twitter users, the rising dominance of social networking sites is undeniable (Clemmitt 751). Social networking has negatively affected how much information people share, but has positively affected other aspects of society including communication, politics, and business.
Certainly one of the negative effects of social networks is how privacy is eroding due to people now sharing more personal information on these sites than ever before. Oversharing of personal information endangers the site’s users. With people being able to show personal information on social networks it opens the door for anyone with access to the internet to see this information. Criminals, advertisers, and hackers now have all the necessary information they need to use to their advantage. According to Tim Sparapani, director of public policy at Facebook, “With social networking, people are leaving trails of digital DNA sprinkled about everywhere in the world” (Marshall 935). With only 33% of social network users limiting information about themselves online, they are prone to experiencing some kind of danger (Clemmitt 752). A Consumer reports survey proved that more than 5 million U.S. households experienced some sort of abuse from identity theft to virus infections in the past year (“Cybercriminals Use Personal Information” 1). Many active users of social networking sites jeopardize themselves by giving too much information online. 15% of users posted either their current location or travel plans on social networking sites, 34% had their full birthday, and 21% of users with children had posted photos of their kids with their names (“Cybercriminals Use Personal Information” 1). All of this personal information makes it easy for criminals to
Social networking has affected society in more ways than people think. For many users around the globe, social networking sites are part of their daily lives. With over 500 million Facebook users, and 140 million Twitter users, the rising dominance of social networking sites is undeniable (Clemmitt 751). Social networking has negatively affected how much information people share, but has positively affected other aspects of society including communication, politics, and business.
Certainly one of the negative effects of social networks is how privacy is eroding due to people now sharing more personal information on these sites than ever before. Oversharing of personal information endangers the site’s users. With people being able to show personal information on social networks it opens the door for anyone with access to the internet to see this information. Criminals, advertisers, and hackers now have all the necessary information they need to use to their advantage. According to Tim Sparapani, director of public policy at Facebook, “With social networking, people are leaving trails of digital DNA sprinkled about everywhere in the world” (Marshall 935). With only 33% of social network users limiting information about themselves online, they are prone to experiencing some kind of danger (Clemmitt 752). A Consumer reports survey proved that more than 5 million U.S. households experienced some sort of abuse from identity theft to virus infections in the past year (“Cybercriminals Use Personal Information” 1). Many active users of social networking sites jeopardize themselves by giving too much information online. 15% of users posted either their current location or travel plans on social networking sites, 34% had their full birthday, and 21% of users with children had posted photos of their kids with their names (“Cybercriminals Use Personal Information” 1). All of this personal information makes it easy for criminals to
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