Social networking.....is it really "social"?

Social networking has become a major aspect of a lot of peoples lives these days. It's not suprising that someones daily routine involves checking their facebook/twitter/google + at least a few times. What happened to the old school methods of communicating with each other you ask? Have we just gotten too lazy to call each other? Or actually make the effort to individually invite people to an event, instead of just creating an event on Facebook?

Social networking, contrary to what its name suggests....can actually have the effect of making its users actually less social(in the physical sense).



Does sending messages, posting on friends "walls", really count as being social? To answer that question, we need to define the word "social". Here are two definitions I've found:

• Pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations
• Seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious. 

Key words such as companionship and relations, do tie in with social networking. So in my opinion, social networking does keep us social, just not physically....which isn't really a problem. The internet has evolved to a state where it can be used as an avenue for quick and easy communication with friends, whether they are across the other side of the world, or they live next door.

But social networking can get old and boring. Which proves that there really is no replacement for physical, face to face socialising. The simple things such as, seeing someones facial expressions does a lot to change the experience of socialising, and this is what these websites lack.

But it's come to a stage where, if you don't have a social networking account, you have no idea what's going on in your friends lives, you're completely shut out. Then comes the peer pressure, forcing you to create an account, and then you find yourself being a part of Facebook, and joining the trend. At least until the new fad takes over .......

..... -coughgooglepluscough-

Maria, over and out.

Posted in: social networking really social facebook twitter community