Literature Review

Literature Review

Social networking via Facebook alone attracts 700,000 to 750,000 new users per day. (A1 in appendix) (Smith, insidefacebook.com, 2009) Users are becoming more and more involved in social networking. People who use the website a lot have now been diagnosed with FAD (Facebook Addiction Disorder). “After US psychologists began their probe into FAD, millions of Facebook users – there are an estimated 350 million around the world – have admitted to being addicted.” (AD, sickfacebook.com, 2010) Social networking is reducing the amount of real social interaction with each other. Searle (2008, pp.6) states that” nowadays we can even meet friends and potential partners online rather than in real social situations.” Through the use of social networking sites, people can hide behind their computers. As a result of this, users can become shy and in turn will not have good social skills. This is also supported by Searle (2008, pp.6) “This could lead to an even bigger increase in social anxiety and social phobia in the future” In contrast to these views Awl (2009, pp.43) voices that “Facebook can absolutely be part of a healthy balanced diet.” Not everyone who uses social networking sites have less face-to-face contact but at the same time, it seems a lot more time effective and convenient to speak to all your friends on the computer at the same time than actually going to see them individually. Awl (2009, pp.43) then goes on to say that “with a little self control and moderation you can tend your Green Patch on Facebook and still make it outside to smell the nonvirtual petunias well before the sun sinks in the west.” The researcher believes that social networking is a tremendous step in how people communicate, but it should be used when needed, in small amounts rather than relied on.

Introduction Re-Done

The Internet has now become a large and influential part of people’s lives; large corporate companies, small businesses and individual users rely on the Internet.

Out of the necessity for people to communicate quickly and easily with each other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace have evolved. These websites have opened up a whole new way in which people can interact with each other and how different establishments can communicate with the public.

Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004 whilst he was studying at Harvard University. It was originally designed for people at the university to connect with each other, which then spread to all universities in the US. It eventually opened up to businesses and anyone in the world with an email address. (Sarah Phillips, guardian.co.uk, 2007)

It is argued that social networking sites such as Facebook reduce the amount of face-to-face contact people have with each other. “The excessive computer use drastically reduces the person's real-world social interactions with family and friends. That direct in-person social interaction is critical to a person's emotional and mental health.” (Rdube lovetoknow.com, ND)

The research carried out will answer the hypothesis: Social networking may reduce the amount of face-to-face contact people have with each other.

The aims of this essay are to highlight and determine the different opinions people have on social networking. The researcher will try to prove the hypothesis.

The objectives of this essay are to put the hypothesis to the test through the use of sources online, written articles such as newspapers and from the researchers own studies through questionnaires and surveys.