Tips on Social Networking

We have all heard of the Y-generation, QWERTY generation, Facebook generation and the Google generation. The youth have been awarded various titles in relation

to their use of their mobile phones and particularly the Internet. For this article, I will refer to them as the on line generation. What I mean is a group of people who get most of their information from the Internet and also spend most of their time on social sites.

When the Internet was introduced to us there was harsh criticism at first but now it is widely accepted. In fact, University students are now being allowed to quote the Internet in their research and assignments. Despite the general acceptance, a good number of youths are considered to be Internet addicts. Worst still, most of them have little or no regard for human contact.

The Internet has its downsides but it is not a monster. Social sites, for instance, provide an avenue whereby people can keep in touch with friends and also develop new contacts. Profiles on social sites may at times be false but in the end everyone finds a person whom they share interests.

A common practise is one of uploading photos of our different experiences as a way of sharing these moments with those we care about. To some critics, this is seen as an invasion of family and social events. 

I believe sharing photos makes those who are away at the moment feel as part of the experience and for the owners it is a way of bragging or showing off. We should not be quick to forget that, the provision by the Internet for one to upload any content is what liberalised publishing and journalism. We are now free to post any image, video or even story as we so desire.

Social sites offer us a wide range of services that we do not appreciate. The youths can take part in informal groups and also share ideas with their peers. Social sites have also been invaded by different organisations as a medium for advertising products and services. 

There are also being used as an avenue to source for employees. Thanks to social sites, the cost of advertising has really gone done.

 Let us enjoy the Internet but in caution. To begin with, let us not spend all our energy creating profiles for the social sites. This energy could be used in a more resourceful manner such as writing, drama, poetry and dancing or anything else. There are no gate keepers in the Internet therefore, parents and guardians need to monitor the information that their children gain access to.

Finally, let us not become slaves of the Internet and end up being robots. Human contact is very crucial for every health and sane individual.