Pros of Social Media Essay

Greenfield may well have a point when she argues that the young brain can’t handle over-stimulation of â€Å"fast action and reaction. † But isn’t that the same argument we’ve been making about all technology and entertainment for decades now? Indeed, I’m of the MTV generation and all those fast cuts and blaring sounds were supposed to warp my brain long ago. (I know some TechCrunch commenters who would argue it has†¦) Everything has a trade off, and I’d argue the benefits in communications, education and collaboration of the Web far outweigh the negatives, and indeed give us greater benefits than we get from TV or Guitar Hero. Kids and social networking: Pros and cons Post this, comment on that. Social media are a part of the daily routines of many adults and children. And the identifiable pros and cons of social networking among kids are beginning to emerge, according to a presentation at the American Psychological Association meeting. â€Å"While nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the landscape of social interaction, particularly among young people, we are just now starting to see solid psychological research demonstrating both the positives and the negatives,† said Larry D. Rosen, Ph. D. professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and technology researcher. Rosen says ongoing research and preliminary results of studies suggest a few trends in kids. On the plus side: In a world full of distractions, social networking and technology can provide tools for teaching in a way that engages and captivates young minds. Online social networking can also help young people learn how to socialize with their peers; users also show more â€Å"virtual empathy. † â€Å"It’s almost like social networks are training wheels for life in a lot of ways – it teaches you to express empathy and see how people respond,† Rosen said. It teaches you to also just develop your sense of self of who you are. You float things out on a wall post on Facebook and then sit back and look at the comments that you get. It’s a place where you can grow and develop. † What is social media? There are many definitions of the term â€Å"social media† floating around the Internet. While social media is used heavily for marketing, the definition offered by Ron Jones of Search Engine Watch captures what kids are using social networking sites for. Jones defines social media as â€Å"essentially a category of online media where people are talking, participating, sharing, networking, and bookmarking online. Most social media services encourage discussion, feedback, voting, comments, and sharing of information from all interested parties. † As Jones points out, social media is a two-way conversation that allows people to stay â€Å"connected or linked to other sites, resources, and people. † The key words for teenagers being â€Å"stay connected. †