Mrs. Bey
12/05/09
English 101
In an age dominated by the technologically advanced and savvy, the Internet thrives as the leading way to socialize with friends and family. Since its development, the Internet has been used as a tool for communication. This online communication is a form of social networking. Social networking is an online community of people who share common interests and activities. Whether through instant messaging or email, the World Wide Web has become an increasingly admired and accepted way to communicate. According to the Internet World Stats website, the total amount of Internet users has increased by over a billion since the year 2000. In addition to that, in 2009 there were another billion users on the top ten social networking websites. The number one social networking site is Facebook, trumping all other similar sites with over seven hundred million current users. The millions of people that log on to this massive virtual community everyday reap both the benefits and the disadvantages that it has to offer. From communicating with friends to often posting vulnerable information on the web for many to view, it is easy to see the pros and cons of Facebook.
One of the biggest benefits of having a Facebook account is the ability to easily stay in touch with your friends from virtually anywhere in the world. This connectivity is the main purpose of Facebook and the reason why most people invest so much time into this networking system. With special features such as the “Wall” and the ability to post and tag your photos, staying in touch with friends becomes almost effortless and even somewhat addicting.
Another compelling advantage of Facebook is the implementation of safety precautions. With the launch of Facebook’s often-controversial counterpart, Myspace, on August 15, 2003, the social networking era erupted. However, Myspace was often targeted by the media for its lack