By Leon Buengel
Facebook, Twitter, Bing. These are some of the names of the many social networks existing in the world. To be connected to the 'world' you have to be connected to a network. Meetings are arranged on the networks and personal problems are discussed on the Internet. Many people live their lives on networks such as these. Facebook becomes their real life while 'real' life is just not real any more. On social networks you can connect with your friends, or find other ones, you can search for guys/ girls, and you can see who the friends of your friends are and add them to your own list of friends. You can join a group on the basis of a shared interest or you just can 'like' various websites. Or you just can post something on other people’s walls and hope that you will receive many ‘likes’ and comments. Or you can do as some people do and post everything that you do under your status - and I really mean everything.
Sure, having a social network is fun and interesting and can help you find friends, but people have to know the problems that exist in relation to the use of a social network. Not only teenagers use Facebook – adults are connected to this 'virtual' world as well.
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages:
ADVANTAGES:
You are in touch with your friends.
Even if you are away you know what is happening in your city.
You can stay in contact with friends who have moved home.
Old friends can be found and friendships can be rekindled.
You can get in touch with people who have the same interests as you.
You can search for and find friends you just met.
DISADVANTAGES:
People spend too long in front of the computer.
Communication takes place only on the Internet, not in real life.
Personal details such as e-mail addresses are not safe on networks.
You cannot be sure you are chatting with a real person.
There is no privacy, because there are posts about you.
Internet bullying.
Everyone knows what you do, because people post everything that they do.
Racist groups can be formed.
People know where you are.
All in all, I would say that social networks are dangerous, but they are helpful, too. I can say this because I apply many of the advantages to my own situation. I am an exchange student from Germany and I have lived here for half a year. Facebook helps me stay in contact with my friends in Germany and with my parents, and it helps me find friends in Spain too. People help me with homework and I learn things about different people. We talk about when we want to meet and things like that. The disadvantages do not apply to me because I am only on the Internet on my phone, so I do not use my computer very often for anything other than homework.
However, even though Facebook helps many people, there are some people who live their lives on Facebook, and they should be aware of the kind of problems associated with using Facebook.
