Social networking is the connection and interaction between individuals who share an ideology or are connected in some way. For instance through friendship, relations through blood, college mates or some form of relation that makes them have something in common. The connectivity is usually enhanced through several means. In this particular case, we are mainly looking at social networking on the internet. The social networking that is currently being practiced by individuals who access the internet is likely to last and even evolve into a more intricate one but is guaranteed to be simpler to the parties involved. This is due to the fact that internet connectivity is becoming more widespread to an extent that it is now mobile. Devices such as palmtops, laptops and even phones have been designed such that you could access the internet while on the move. This has enhanced the way people interact on the net as more and more people can afford the devices or gadgets. Therefore, due to the ease with which people can connect to the internet and judging from the current trends, social networking is bound to last as long as we can imagine. It may take a more sophisticated form to say the least. Though it is bound to last, there is a likelihood that it will transform from the use of a common website or websites to many more different ones to suit the clientele who dont feel quite satisfied with the original sites. For instance, the users usually have varied different factors that draw them to particular social networking sites. For example, in Facebook, the users are drawn to it by the fact that they can use it in various ways like meeting new friends apart from catching up with old ones, advertising their businesses and even dating. On the other hand, Twitter can be used to update your friends or clients on what you are up to at a certain time. Therefore, when one feels that they have lost interest in a particular site, they could move to a new one they feel caters better for their interest (Cagle, 2008).
Social capital is the value that is attached to a social network making the members of that social network view it as an asset. It may be about the security created by the ties in the network due to the fact that these networks can be exploited to bring about benefits to the members from interdependence between the members. Noted to be of most significance and value is trust among the members of a particular social network. Social capital has a relationship with Information Technology based on the fact that it enjoys a favorable growth mainly enhanced by the I.T. sector apart from the fact that most social networks are web-based. This can be seen where communities are created by the social network in the internet. It might be the relationship between a company and its dependants like the customers and suppliers where the company uses the net to gather and distribute information to the dependants. There are also computer applications that increase social capital by lessening the costs incurred through poor communication. These applications include ones that are based on topic and those that are based on membership communication spaces such as Xing, Expert Finder and Liked-in. They also enable members to reach resources that are not within their immediate environment. In a more specific example, entrepreneurs are much more able to reach their suppliers and customers within a short period of time due to the efficiency and reliability of I.T. Therefore, social capital relies much on I.T. to deliver on much of its purpose. Here, most social networking sites are used by businesses mainly to advertise. Facebook offers an option whereby prospective members can use their profiles or pages to create advertisements for their brands at a fee, usually relatively smaller than you would pay in the mainstream media like television. The impact is significant as not only do the people in the businesses fan base get to see the adverts but the wider Facebook community. On the other hand, Twitter can be used to update customers on latest issues in ones business or on what to expect from the company (Huyman and Wulf, 2004).
Microsoft Surface is a computer with a multi-touch surface that enables several users to access it simultaneously. It responds to touch and gestures in essence helping its users to interact with digital content in a simpler and more intuitive way. Its effects in the society include the increase of user collaboration as more people can use it at once. This collaboration increases business capabilities. Social aspects are also improved due to its user-interactive capabilities. Finally, it fosters closer working relationships between staff. Therefore, its impact in the community will be enormous as it betters communication and mainly improves the trust component of social capital. The only disadvantage of the Microsoft Surface is that it is very expensive and thus can still only be afforded by large companies (Microsoft, 2010).
In the 1950s, social networking involved a grouping of 100-150 people as defied by Prof. J. A. Barnes. These groups were mainly brought together by a common cause mostly relating to family, hobby or work. As compared to the current networking, the one in the fifties was mainly based around issues that affect the individual directly like work and family. This was a more direct approach to networking. Currently, networking is web-based and might not necessarily be of such importance as compared to the ones in the fifties. The current web-based ones vary in use but may have influences that the society may consider wayward. This is not to imply that it is totally destructive in nature due to the fact that the aspect of networking has been broadened to increase its reach. More and more like-minded people are being brought together to discuss issues that affect them. Therefore, there is a more widely accessed and exhausted database on discussions on topics that are of importance to the interested parties. This enhances exchange of ideas as everyone with access to the sites can put forward their ideas for scrutiny by the other members of the site. It is therefore prudent to view the current set-up of social networking sites as also critical to those involved (Long, 2009).
In conclusion, social networking is a very important aspect of ones social life as it broadens his perspective on several issues. Therefore, it is good to increase the communitys exposure to the very factors that enhance social networking. This would include the availability of communication equipment like the internet, telephone services and the various components of Information Technology.
Social capital is the value that is attached to a social network making the members of that social network view it as an asset. It may be about the security created by the ties in the network due to the fact that these networks can be exploited to bring about benefits to the members from interdependence between the members. Noted to be of most significance and value is trust among the members of a particular social network. Social capital has a relationship with Information Technology based on the fact that it enjoys a favorable growth mainly enhanced by the I.T. sector apart from the fact that most social networks are web-based. This can be seen where communities are created by the social network in the internet. It might be the relationship between a company and its dependants like the customers and suppliers where the company uses the net to gather and distribute information to the dependants. There are also computer applications that increase social capital by lessening the costs incurred through poor communication. These applications include ones that are based on topic and those that are based on membership communication spaces such as Xing, Expert Finder and Liked-in. They also enable members to reach resources that are not within their immediate environment. In a more specific example, entrepreneurs are much more able to reach their suppliers and customers within a short period of time due to the efficiency and reliability of I.T. Therefore, social capital relies much on I.T. to deliver on much of its purpose. Here, most social networking sites are used by businesses mainly to advertise. Facebook offers an option whereby prospective members can use their profiles or pages to create advertisements for their brands at a fee, usually relatively smaller than you would pay in the mainstream media like television. The impact is significant as not only do the people in the businesses fan base get to see the adverts but the wider Facebook community. On the other hand, Twitter can be used to update customers on latest issues in ones business or on what to expect from the company (Huyman and Wulf, 2004).
Microsoft Surface is a computer with a multi-touch surface that enables several users to access it simultaneously. It responds to touch and gestures in essence helping its users to interact with digital content in a simpler and more intuitive way. Its effects in the society include the increase of user collaboration as more people can use it at once. This collaboration increases business capabilities. Social aspects are also improved due to its user-interactive capabilities. Finally, it fosters closer working relationships between staff. Therefore, its impact in the community will be enormous as it betters communication and mainly improves the trust component of social capital. The only disadvantage of the Microsoft Surface is that it is very expensive and thus can still only be afforded by large companies (Microsoft, 2010).
In the 1950s, social networking involved a grouping of 100-150 people as defied by Prof. J. A. Barnes. These groups were mainly brought together by a common cause mostly relating to family, hobby or work. As compared to the current networking, the one in the fifties was mainly based around issues that affect the individual directly like work and family. This was a more direct approach to networking. Currently, networking is web-based and might not necessarily be of such importance as compared to the ones in the fifties. The current web-based ones vary in use but may have influences that the society may consider wayward. This is not to imply that it is totally destructive in nature due to the fact that the aspect of networking has been broadened to increase its reach. More and more like-minded people are being brought together to discuss issues that affect them. Therefore, there is a more widely accessed and exhausted database on discussions on topics that are of importance to the interested parties. This enhances exchange of ideas as everyone with access to the sites can put forward their ideas for scrutiny by the other members of the site. It is therefore prudent to view the current set-up of social networking sites as also critical to those involved (Long, 2009).
In conclusion, social networking is a very important aspect of ones social life as it broadens his perspective on several issues. Therefore, it is good to increase the communitys exposure to the very factors that enhance social networking. This would include the availability of communication equipment like the internet, telephone services and the various components of Information Technology.
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