Social networking has taken over the online atmosphere and made it more personable. I remember when the Internet was strictly for business, or at least that is what I perceived it to be at the time. When I was younger, my family did not get the Internet until I was in middle school. I remember when AOL used to send the America Online cd’s through standard mail. The instructions seemed so simple; just put the disk in and click “connect.” I would relentlessly try this every time we received a new disk, hoping, just hoping that it would magically connect, but I was let down every time. It did not occur to me at the time that my parents would have to pay to have internet service installed. The cd became a false hope for me, and I was embarrassed to be behind since most of my friends seemed to have the Internet.
When we finally did get connected to the Internet, I was extremely excited. However; I had no idea what to do with it. The only thing that I had was an e-mail account that I shared with my dad, so there was only so much that I could do with that. When I learned how to create my own e-mail account, I felt like I had come up in the world. At the time, I wanted to grow an afro, so my email was afro04gul. Although my e-mail was not very professional it reflected my interests at the time and year of my eventual high school graduation. Thus began my adventure of social networking. Whenever I went to summer camps or met with friends at school, I was sure to provide them with my official e-mail.
Fast forward some years to my freshman year in college when Facebook was introduced. I never really understood, not to mention became involved with social media before then. But when my childhood friend personally called me up to tell me that EVERYBODY was on Facebook, I decided to give it a try. She went on to inform me that if you have a question mark for your picture, you were lame. J
Anyhow, Facebook, in its early forms, became a new reason for me to get online. Before then, I only used the Internet for academics, looking up information through search engines, and listening to music (legally). I was fascinated. I was overwhelmed. But it was and still is perhaps the most unique form of communication to date.
Social networking is good for just that; networking. It is a convenient way to stay in contact with family, friends, and associates near and far. Virtual Hosting offers a listing of the top 100 social media and networking sites. I appreciate all that social networking has made possible, but I worry sometimes that it will begin to precede interpersonal communication. Personally, I am one for more one-on-one interaction instead of being limited to typed words and emoticons to demonstrate how I feel. Nevertheless, social networking has allowed me access to those who were previously inaccessible, and it is a communication method that I see myself using for years to come.
I absolutely remember the AOL cd’s! I was always confused by how easy they made it seem to get connected to the Internet. I relate with a lot of what you said about feeling like you were being left behind. I felt that way too. I remember my first interaction with social networking came in the form of a Myspace page, but I don’t think I even got that until my freshman year in college, and by then Facebook was the big deal. Today, I spend a lot of time on Facebook (more than should probably) but I liek it because it’s a way to keep up with my old friends. Sometimes, it’s the only way that I keep up with my old friends. I also think that social networking is overtaking other kinds of communication including personal, face-to-face conversations. Even though I see the benefits of social networks, like you, I still enjoy seeing people in person!
Kate
Sherrie,
You sound just like me! I feel like I was one of the last of my friends to get the internet, but felt like I was “somebody” when I finally got my very on Hotmail account! I’m so glad that the internet has made such a funny, positive impression on both of our lives.
Sherrie,
I really like the colors of your blog. It makes me happy! Facebook indeed can be addictive, although I did not fight the urge to just get on after many of my friends were already networked in. I also worry that it will affect interpersonal communication…relationships with people. I have heard of studies of how children are not learning to socialize actively outside of the computer because all they do is sit on the computer for hours playing on the Internet or whatever. You make some good points here.
James L. Cartee