Social Networking: Pros and Cons

Question of the Day: Do you think social networking sites are worth the time?

Facebook. Twitter. eHarmony. deviantArt. Tumblr. And a thousand others. These are the names of the many social networking sites that have people all over the country--and, indeed, the world--on their electronics for hours at a time. "Friend" has become a verb, and the members of the opposite sex are meeting up after being introduced to each other online. Even companies are advertising online with their own FB groups, attracting costumers by posting pictures of their products and special Sales.

There is so much that is done through the World Wide Web, and scientists are working everyday to create even more technology--electronics that are even faster, easier to use, and ultimately better than their precedessors. Better electronics means more ways to use the Internet, and nowadays the use the Internet often means the use of SNS. Honestly, I can't walk into any Lecture class 5 minutes early and not see at least ten or fifteen people Facebook stalking.

Now, I have to admit that I am one of those people who enjoys socializing online. Indeed, I also have a Facebook, and used to have a Myspace as well. And, of course, I have a Blogspot. xD But of course, everything has something good and something bad about it, not excluding SNSs. The question is, are the pros worth going through the cons?

Major Pros:
-Easier communication with friends, family, and acquaintences. You can keep up with what your high school sweetheart is up to now as well as advertise Yard Sales and other Events
-Globalization. People from Asia can talk to people from England, and so on. The sharing of each other's cultures, beliefs, and ways of living are exchanged and overall humans become more aware of what else is going on around the world and just how similar/different people of another race or culture is. These sites connect the world.
-Boosts economy in a way, what with advertising of company/individual products and online selling/buying and collaboration of businesses.
-Saves time. If you want to advertise a Birthday party, yard sale, wedding, or other event, you can just make an event and invite your friends digitally
-Critique. On deviantARt, Blogspot, etc. you can post your thoughts, reviews, artwork, and writing and gain feedback. And vice versa.
-Fast, easy, efficient.

Major Cons:
-Risk on your safety. There have been numerous incidents of people--young and old, male and female--getting kidnapped, raped, or even killed after meeting their online beaus in real life. Besides, you never know when some creep is looking at the photos you just posted of you in your bathing suit at a beach party.
-Scams, viruses, and identity theft. There's nothing more horrifying than these three things.
-You need to GAL, as in Get A Life. Sure, the people you talk to and socialize with on the sites are REAL people, but there comes a time each day where you need to go outside and play ball and smell the fresh air. Look at something OTHER than your computer screen.
-It's more likely you'll get arthritis and other hand/wrist-related injuries. But of course, you can get those not just from social networking sites but from being on the computer too long, period.

So, my lovely bloggity friends: What do you think about social networking sites? Do you think the pros outweigh the cons, or vice versa? What social networking sites do you use, and for what purpose (advertising, keeping in touch, etc.)?

~TRA

P.S. I absolutely PROMISE that my next post will not be about the digital era! =P Promise.

Social Networking: Pros and Cons

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