Blog Social networking

Using blogs and other sources of social media can be beneficial to many companies. For example, in "Antisocial Networking" Hilary Stout emphasizes the issue of face to face interactions nowadays due to new technologies. Prior to the internet and the rise of new technologies, kids used to spend hours on the phone and hanging out in the neighborhood. But now even chatting on the phone and emailing is too "passé." Researchers who study relationships have discovered that close childhood friendships help build trust in people outside of their family and lay the foundation to developing healthy relationships with their coworkers, friends, girlfriend, in the future. Oftentimes shy kids do not develop this sense of "trust" in other people outside their family and become outcast later in life. Researchers believe that the impersonal nature of texting and online communications may make it easier for shy kids to connect with others. According to the article, Mr. Wilson believes that Facebook has been greatly beneficial to his sons. “For Evan, the No. 1 reason is it’s helping him come out of his shell and develop social skills that he wasn’t learning because he’s so shy. I couldn’t just push him out of the house and say, ‘Find someone."

Another example of how social media can be beneficial to companies is that it may boost job recruiting. In “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting” Frank Langfitt emphasizes the importance of how social networking technology has been beneficial to professional recruiters and job seekers. For instance, LinkedIn, a professional social networking website has attracted and connected over 8 million professionals spread across the world. On LinkedIn, recruiters can search for keywords and skills that they are seeking for in their potential candidate. Likewise, job seekers may search for specific companies or job industries and find open positions to apply for. This free and efficient method of recruiting and applying is definitely beneficial to both you and your future employers.

Although Facebook and other sources of online communication may be beneficial to many it is also harmful to some. For instance, many predators would disguise their identity on the web and bully, harass, and scam people. If a shy kid were to use social media to develop social skills and build trust and relationship skills with others they would be traumatized if they fall victim to cyberbullying or being scammed. In my opinion, face to face networking should remain as the primary method of networking while social media and other forms of online communication should be secondary.