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.