Photo by shioshviliSo I think it’s safe to say that nearly anyone that has internet access has had some sort of experience with social networks. Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn or any number of other options available for keeping in touch. But, do you feel like your life is being consumed by social networking?
Benefits of Social Networking
As you can see, I’m an active member of Facebook, Twitter and Google +. This helps me to reach out to other areas of the interwebz so that I may connect with others and share my blog. Not only that, but I am able to give updates of new articles and posts as they come available. I find that it’s a great way to reach potential visitors thus creating a larger circle of participants. I love to not only share my views concerning a wide variety of topics, but I also like feedback and to hear the opinions of others as well. Social Networking helps me in accomplishing this.
Social Networking has very quickly become a great outlet to connect for many site owners. There is a huge majority of sites, blogs, stores etc. on the web that utilize it for connecting with others. But, Social Networking is not only that sort of tool. It is also a means for personal use, to keep in touch with friends, family, clients and a place to meet new folks to engage with. That’s all well and fine, but for some, it’s become a whirlwind of interaction that simply consumes their every action and thought.
Is there a Problem?
Some classify this as a Social Networking Addiction, or maybe you’ve heard the term Internet Addiction Disorder. Now listen folks, these are very real disorders and they actually have treatment and supports groups available. For those that feel they have an uncontrollable desire to either be communicating via a social network, or that constantly have to be in front of the computer, this may apply to you.
Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not here to judge anyone or point any fingers. I’m just discussing the facts here, it’s up to you to decide if you fit into this category or not. But this post isn’t about finding treatment or trying to turn anyone away from their internet connections. I just find it quite interesting as it’s fast becoming more and more common the amount of people that are actually on these social networks. Just think back a few years ago. These social sites haven’t really been around that long and they have connected millions, if not billions of people world wide. It swept over the globe almost over night.
Some Statistics on Social Network Usage
There are some folks out there that document their every move, for instance, on Facebook. I personally don’t care when someone goes to take a crap, or where they’re eating at that particular time. But there are some that insist on telling the world what they are doing at every waking moment. Personally I don’t think it’s safe to document your every move. What if someone were planning to rob you or something. They’d know exactly either where you were, or where you weren’t. Just seem a little careless to me. Sometimes people post even during their sleep. There are apps and stuff out there that will auto post stuff for you even if you’re not around.
There was a recent study done combining 24 of the most popular social networks to find the age distribution that were using them. According to this study, 26% of users were between the ages 25-34, 25% between 35-44. That’s over half the users showing to be between the ages of 25-44. That is actually surprising to me, I would of thought that a greater percentage would of been teenagers. But in actuality on 5% of the users were under the age of 17. The study went further to show what social network users 35+ were using. Being 55% on Twitter, 63% on Pinterest, 65% on Facebook and a whopping 79% were on LinkedIn.
Sharing Some Thoughts on the Subject
I think social networking is excellent for connecting with long distance relatives or friends. You can share things that are going on in your life and share photos and videos. These sites make it a breeze to keep in touch. But have you ever been sitting in a restaurant and notice just how many people are sitting there staring at their phones? It’s almost like people have forgotten how to talk to each other. They would rather sit in a booth, with someone sitting across the table from them, and make posts to their social networks rather than carry on a conversation with that person.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, I don’t want to sound hypocritical considering this is posted on the internet…lol But I’m talking about severe dedication to these social networks and being totally consumed. Not just the average person checking up on it a few times a day.
Maybe I’m a little old fashioned and I need to catch up with the times, but it just seems a little out of control to me. Is this just simply the direction the world is meant to be going? Is it like those Sci-Fi movies where everything is digital and holograms everywhere? Or do any of you think it’s getting a bit out of control? Do you have a loved one that is paying more attention to their phone or computer than you? I would love to hear your opinions and views on these questions, feel free to comment and tell my what you think. And of course, feel free to share this post with your favorite social network. 🙂
I found this reference, they say a picture is worth 1,000 words. These photos on Albert Einstein’s Biggest Fears describe this post perfectly, you must check them out!
Yes it’s true because every people wants to be social, to connect with their friends and colleagues. That’s why our life is consumed by social networking
Most certainly, and with the technology that is available today, it is super easy to do just that. I feel there are a huge majority of folks that have become dependent on it unfortunately.
Great article on addiction of Social networking site. No doubt apart from the benefit from social networking it has many loss too.
Thanks for the advice.
You’re right, I suppose as long as we’re keeping ourselves in check, then social networking is extremely beneficial. I just don’t want to see society as a whole forgetting how to communicate with each other.
As I go back and forth between my facebook and twitter page on my phone and computer.
hahah, I hear ya, it’s really very hard not to integrate these things into our lives these days. As Martin said, it’s just a change in times.
You aren’t getting old, Robert.
I think the very fabric of human communication and relationships are in a state of change due to Social Online activity, to be honest.
My wife and I were doing some shopping yesterday and there were 2 woman with shopping trollies, ahead of us, standing motionless and tapping away on Facebook on their phones.
I mean, come on! They can’t even shop without Facebook? That’s really odd and I live Social with my day job.
Things are changing in the world 🙂
Thanks Martin for sharing your experience on this one. I’m glad to hear it’s not just me getting old…lol But it is odd, it’s getting like that everywhere you look. I had a similar experience the other night at Olive Garden restaurant. There were quite a few people waiting for a table and I bet 8 out of 10 of them were all heads down buried in their phones.
Seems we will all become robots of technology eventually 🙁
Don’t worry, it’ll all be much better when we get our bio implants to chat on Facebook 🙂
The bad thing I see is that less and less people are able to focus on doing something without compulsively visiting social networking sites… They just cannot help constant logging in to see who has connected with whom, what photo was uploaded or tagged, whether there are any new comments etc. I do understand they need / want to do that – but in this way they will never got involved enough in the work they are doing… Thus I’s say that from productive point of view there is a PROBLEM.
I definitely agree! When work productivity becomes an issue because of social networking, then it is for sure a problem. At my place of work they wound up having to block those types of websites because it was getting so bad.
Indeed with our technology changing so rapidly, now it is all possible, to reach all our friends and family members all over the world, share pictures and moments in our life’s.
It really is a great thing, as long as it’s not taken too far. There’s a time and place for everything, social networking has indeed become too much of an importance in some folks lives.
Great information i was a little bit not understanding but i got it thanks..
I encounter several people especially the teenage group of people that they’re being addictive to social networking sites. Although we can say that there are advantages if you were running a business like us.. but many people are abusing it in the wrong way. They don’t know their limitations as they’re almost spending their entire hours tweeting, posting, sharing etc instead of taking some time to talk with their family and friends. People must be alert on this kind of addiction!!
I agree Rusty, it has become an all consuming pass time for many of the worlds youth. I’m somewhat afraid that one day our world will no longer know how to communicate properly with one another. I believe that technology is awesome, but when it starts changing who we are as a species, then it may be time to back it up a little don’t you agree?
really, the social networking sites provide a great help for all the bloggers out there to share their content with the readers. However, many reports also suggest that there are many people which grow a certain kind of addiction for these sites which is not good in any way.
Oh I agree 100% Yogesh…social networking is a vital part of a bloggers promotion and communication with the blogosphere.
Unfortunately like you say, there are some individuals that do not use it for business purposes and let it consume their every waking moment. It can begin to cause social problems in real life and make a total recluse out of someone.
it is bad to know that these social networking sites are having bad impact on the private lives of many people. However, these have the potential of imparting great knowledge if implemented properly.