As social networking reshapes how we as individuals connect, we need to reconsider what we have to do so as to be satisfied in our connections, and acknowledge, at the equivalent, that no amount of tweets, text or Facebook notices can give that satisfaction. While social networking is an incredible tool in the sense that it is quick in being able to communicate with people, there is a significant contrast between an online informal organization and a real social network. In spite of the way that while being online there will definitely be somebody, some place conscious to like our most recent notice, with regards to companions, amount doesn't equivalent quality. The dawn of technology in the field of networking has altered how one expands their social network. The classical way of making friends and excitement to explore has been limited to virtual popularity of someone on social networking sites and this has negatively affected friendships by keeping people distracted to these sites. In my experience, many of the people who “friend” me online today have only their interests in mind, and they aren’t interested in knowing me or helping me at all.
Social networking is defined as the growth of contacts both professional and social in order to share information and services with those close to you. With the advancement in technology, communication has grown. It is now easier and cheap to communicate and connect with people across the world. The issue of distance is no longer an excuse for lack of communication. Communication systems have grown from wired devices to wireless devices. The internet has also brought adverse changes in the forms of communications that are available and currently being used. It has led the rise of social networks. Here you can communicate and share your thoughts with many people at the same time. It is easy to share information like pictures, advertisements, videos and text messages. Too many people, it is perceived as a form of entertainment. However, being in social sites enhances communication. There are many types of social sites and it is on oneself to choose the one that they are comfortable with.
In the article “You Are Not My Friends” Joel stein is expressing his perspective about social networking in our lives today, and how web kinships make issues. Fellowships on person to person communication place has its upsides and downsides, yet regardless of the circumstance individuals will keep on affiliating themselves with social networking since it is a trend. Social networking has turned into another method for connecting with other individuals, and this has driven numerous to think little of the results of their activities on the web.
Everything comes with their consequences; however, the Internet and social networking have totally destroyed the meaning of the word “friend” and even changed it from a noun to a verb. On Twitter and MySpace, many young people follow hundreds of friends before age twenty, all without ever having said or heard a word from most of them. Top Facebook users proudly proclaim their “whale” status, with 5,000 friends or more. On the other hand, we shouldn’t confuse online friends with real friendships. Real friends help each other. According to most dictionary definitions, a friend is a person you know well and regard with affection and trust. This definition seems totally lost on many people today. In my opinion, it’s impossible to know, like, and trust someone you have never met. Maybe that’s why so many people are hurt or defrauded every day by someone they assumed was their “friend” on the Internet.
The communications skills of many has gotten worse as they grasp only the knowledge of social application and undervalue the importance of real life social skills. Today, once people meet, they exchange online information and claim that they would contact each other later rather than seizing opportunity of knowing more about each other in the present. Although online interaction has become popular, physical interaction is still significant. Erozkan claims, “individuals who are successful in communication generally have self-confidence and are respectful and open to sharing and cooperation” (4). This quote shows that with great self-efficacy, people are more capable of creating a bond with someone. Therefore, great social skills are still the key to building a valuable relationship. Eye contacts and empathetic comments among two people can create a durable relationship. In contrast, while being on social application, there is only a fixed picture and perhaps a fake story that follows it.
There is an immensely high opportunity that people often behave differently online than in person. Due to human nature, one feels much more comfortable acting behind an electronic than seeing the faces of audiences. When people are behind the screen, it is like putting on a mask with the granted opportunity to act in a certain way that seems to be contrary to their natural way of executing things. Stein mentioned, “ We’re not sharing things we don’t want other people to know. We’re showing you our best posed, retouched photos” (183). This quote briefly expresses the differences of how one behave behind the screen and face to face. A common example is when one act as an extrovert online, but in the real world, the person is a complete introvert. How can a marvelous friendship be developed when one performs in an absolutely different behavior between online and offline? The answer is not possible. A superb relationship between two people can only be formed when they accept each other’s legitimate and natural behavior.
Although some people claim that online interaction can lead to lower anxiety level, develop more friendships, and make communicating more efficient, they do not realize that the constant usage of social media application is the starting point of losing valuable friendships. Confidence is built with great social skills, which also leads to the capability of forming a stronger friendship. People with confidence are more adequate at starting a conversation with someone and share common interests. When similar experiences are being shared, they often provide more empathy for each other. Empathy is an important aspect of relationship, and it can be only be achieved through human face to face interaction. There should be a sequence of development on which to develop higher standards of social skills through human interaction first, and then enhance the skills through social media.
In conclusion although people use these social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and family and to gain more friends by randomly adding people, you should be keeping in mind that life online is completely different world then the real world that social networks have created for us to escape from reality in order for some of us to keep our privacy and our piece. And no matter how close you become with someone online it will never exchange what you can gain from human interaction and the friendship that you can share with another in reality and not virtuality.