Social Networking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Social Networking - Research Paper Example Introduction In the recent decades, there has been an increase in the amount of social networking sites (SNSs) on the Internet, which include Friendster, CyWorld and MySpace. These social networking websites have had different intentions, for example LinkedIn.com is widely used for work-related tasks, while others may help in initiating romantic relationships, for instance, Friendster.com. These networking sites may connect people of the same shared interest or to engage a particular social population. While it is claimed that these websites have sought to connect those people, who already are in touch with each other in the real world, there may be instances, when this is not the case (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). Therefore, the intent of these websites has been focused, and not all have lived with their initial aim. Additionally, since such websites have been initiated, they have gained millions of users, whose lives constitute of this interaction. This has led to the emergenc e of different cultural networks (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). The dynamics of this technological advancement are huge, and they have encompassed people from different parts of the world. Hence, before moving onto understanding these changing dynamics, the research paper identifies the definition of these social network sites and the technological features behind it. It moves onto elucidate upon effects of social networking sites (the advantages and disadvantages), focusing broadly on privacy of these networking websites, and discusses the changes that have occurred. a) Definition of Social Network Sites Before moving onto define these websites, it is imperative to discuss the idea behind the use of term â€Å"social network sites†, instead of â€Å"social networking sites†, as Boyd and Ellison discuss in their article. The authors of the particular article use this terminology, because the word ‘network’ emphasizes upon the relationships between users, who know e ach other, while ‘networking’ may result in initiation of friendships among strangers. Moreover, these authors also claim that the aim of computer-mediated communication (CMC) is to help people, who know each other already communicate better (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). Therefore, to put it simply, social network sites, according to Boyd and Ellison, are services on the web, which help the users in creating public-or semi public profiles, within certain restrictions, and connect people of the same shared networks, and also allow its users to view the list of connections, which they, themselves and their connections have made. Although, as mentioned above, the aims of these websites are different, and may target a specific population (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). The aim of these online networking sites remains to maintain social ties that already exist, and also in the formation of new connections. (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, n.p). b) Features of SNSs SNSs connect indivi duals into â€Å"latent ties†; people who may have some offline connection (Boyd, Ellison, n.p). While different network sites have different features, generally all websites have profiles, which consist of friend lists, which also are on the same website. Profiles are pages that define an individual, according to Sunden (2003,