Social Networking Sites and Teens
Social Networking Sites and Teens
Research shows that more than half of all American online users, which is at 55 percent, most likely use social networking sites that are online. This is according to information provided by a national survey that focused on teenagers. The research was conducted by the American Life Project and Pew Internet. Furthermore, the survey established that older teenagers, especially girls are usually most like to be found using the sites. Girls believe that the social sites provide them with a platform to reinforce the existing relationships, which they have. At the same time, boys that make use of the sites believe that they will find opportunities for making new friends and flirting (Lenhart & Madden, 2006).
Friendships are managed through the help of social networking sites according to teenagers. Teenagers use the various sites in an attempt to maintain their current and existing relationships. The other half of the teenagers uses the sites to make new friends. It is believed that it is quite easy to keep regular touch with friends using the online sites than seeing the friends in person. There are even some instances when the teenagers use the social sites to engage in online socializing. This means that they coordinate and schedule events with their friends. There are extremely high levels of social networking sites among girls, but older boys use the sites to their advantage. They take advantage of the fact that many girls post beautiful photos and thus find ways of interacting with them. This is for the purpose of finding potential partners or even just people to hang out with (Lenhart & Madden, 2006).
There are quite a number of communication channels provided by social networking websites. This is regardless of whether a person is out or in the personal network of the user. Private messages are easily sent among the various users, but more public ways of sending messages still exist in a social networking space. The user just needs to post a message on the wall or page of a friend, or even send group messages or bulletins. Also, they can post small icons, poke, and comment on their friend’s blogs, among others. It has been found out that posting messages on the walls or pages of a friend is the most common form of communication in social networking sites (Lenhart & Madden, 2006).
Social networking sites have provided a platform whereby businesses have expanded because of the networks, which have been formed and especially on Facebook. It is easy for people with similar interests to come together in the various groups. In turn, they interact with each other while exchanging valuable ideas. This proves that teenagers can do positive things, which will improve their lives if they use the social networking sites in the correct manner (Obee, 2012).
In conclusion, more platforms should be provided to ensure that teenagers who use social networking sites are safe. This is also applicable to teenagers who might find themselves in social networking scams. Sharing of information should be limited, and communication should only be between people who know each other. Also, parents as well as the government have a role to play so as to ensure that future users of social networking sites are informed about what they are involved in. Indeed, social networking sites have both negative and positive impacts on the teenage users.
References
Lenhart, Amanda. & Madden, Mary. (2006). Social Networking Websites and Teens: An Overview. Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Obee, J. (2012).Social Networking: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me). New York: Scarecrow Press.
