social networking sites essay in english

Social Networking Sites Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on social networking sites.

Social networking sites are a great platform for people to connect with their loved ones. It helps in increasing communication and making connections with people all over the world. Although people believe that social networking sites are harmful, they are also very beneficial.

Furthermore, we can classify social networking sites as per blogging, vlogging, podcasting and more. We use social networking sites for various uses. It helps us greatly; however, it also is very dangerous. We must monitor the use of social networking sites and limit their usage so it does not take over our lives.

Advantage and Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites are everywhere now. In other words, they have taken over almost every sphere of life. They come with both, advantages as well as disadvantages. If we talk about the educational field, these sites enhance education by having an influence on the learners. They can explore various topics for their projects.

Furthermore, the business field benefits a lot from social networking sites. The companies use social networking sites to connect better with their potential clients and business partners. Moreover, people in search of jobs use the sites to connect better with employers and firms. This gives them a great opportunity to seek better jobs.

Read 500+ Words Essay on Social Media here.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of social networking sites are also very high. They give birth to cybercrimes like cyberbullying , sexual exploitation, money scams and more. It is very harmful to kids as people make them victims of pornography and more. It also gives easy access to the pedophiles of children’s information.

Most importantly, social networking sites are very addictive. They drop the productivity levels of people. Students waste their time using it and get distracted easily from their studies. Moreover, it makes them inactive and limits their physical activities.

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Famous Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites have created a massive presence in today’s world. While there are many types of these sites, some are more famous than the others.

For instance, Facebook is the largest social networking site. It has more than 1 billion users which keep increasing every day. Moreover, it also helps you promote your business or brand through ads.

Secondly, there is Instagram. It is owned by Facebook only. Similarly, this app allows you to share photos and videos with your followers. It gives users a lot of filters to beautify your photos.

Furthermore, Twitter is also a great social networking site. It is mostly used by celebrities. This site allows you to post short messages called tweets to share your thoughts. Twitter is a great platform to convey your message in limited words.

Moreover, we have LinkedIn. This is one of the most sought after sites which allow professionals to locate and hire employees. Subsequently, it is available in more than twenty languages to give a user-friendly interface.

Finally, we have WhatsApp. Though it entered the game quite late, this instant messaging app made a place for itself instantaneously. Facebook acquired this app as well. It allows you to share text messages, images, videos, audios, documents and more.

In short, social networking sites are a bane and a boon. It depends on us how we use to. Anything in excess is harmful; likewise, social networking sites are too. Use them for your benefit and do not let them control your life.

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Social Media Essay: Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Networking Sites

The advent of various social media channels has revolutionized the internet landscape by introducing us to global networking. Today, an individual can connect with another in a completely different part of this world just in a matter of seconds. We will take you through various notions and opinions associated with social media and how they impact our everyday lives. Also, there are some incredible tips to give you a better insight into how to write a social media essay.

Sep 03 2020 ● 8 min read

Table of Contents

What is social media essay, how do you write a social media essay, structure of social media essay, various tones of a social media essay, incorporate an attractive topic.

As you know, an social media essay is a piece of writing that is used to introduce an essential topic to the world with its underlying advantages and disadvantages. These aspects are driven solely by facts and should not contain the opinions of the writers. It is drafted to give others a better understanding of the subject in hand.

No matter which subject it pertains to, an essay ends with a conclusion where the writers are permitted to give their opinion after weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

Similarly, a social media essay is written to appreciate the positive aspects and highlight the negative impacts of social media in this time and day. The conclusions include the analysis of the two elements by the writers in their own lives and give an open-ended point of view. Depending upon the essay writer or paper writing service , the decision can be decisive, too, but that is not encouraged.

Today, the use of social networks, whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, or LinkedIn, has increased exponentially. An average millennial spends 2 hours and 58 minutes per day on social media platforms like Facebook. While some say that the platform is super-informative, others argue that all the information gathered on this platform is trivial and doesn't justify long hours invested in the use of social media.

The above arguments make using social media by individuals with a debatable issue, and this is why a lot of students are required to write an essay on social media. So, here are some incredible tips to help you out in writing an essay on social media even if you don't have marketing skills .

A classic essay consists of 3 parts – the introduction, main body, and the conclusion.

• The Introduction

As you introduce the main topic, always begin with how it is relevant to the current scenario. You can do this by providing some background information. The information can be made richer by adding some reliable stats and data . Once you have established the topic, you need to give a strong thesis statement of the hypothesis on which your essay is based.

The thesis statement in your essay should be precise and debatable. If not, the arguments that you are going to put forward in the essay would make no sense.

The main body of your text should consist of logical arguments in relevance to your hypothesis. Make sure you put forward one statement in one paragraph and start a new one with another section. This will make your essay look more organized.

Also, when developing ideas, only include the ones you can write clearly about. If not, avoid them. Make sure that the essay develops coherently.

To conclude the essay about social media, bring back your hypothesis, and state how the aspects you discussed earlier support or nullify it. Make it a point to summarize all ideas, but do not start adding more ideas when you are about to conclude. You can now give an, ideally, open end to your essay.

A great conclusion is the one that provokes thought and will make your readers question the use of social media in their everyday lives.

Also, remember that essays do not have to include pros and cons always. They can either be full of pros or cons or both, depending upon your hypothesis. Just ensure they are relevant.

You might believe that an essay is an essay, and two of them would be similar, but that's a misconception. Different essays have varying tones depending on how the author is treating the thesis statement through the main body of the text. Here are a few examples of essays on social media in different tones.

• Sample of a Persuasive Essay

If you are asked to write an academic paper about the effects of social media on the mental health of teenagers and young adults, you should make it persuasive. For this, just writing about the topic is not enough. It would help if you had an impactful thesis, followed by powerful arguments to support or question your theory.

The perils associated with social media addiction are forcing parents and "grown-ups" to throw their benefits in bad light today. In the race to become best in academics and non-academic activities, people are losing their grip on how social networks bring people together. They empower individuals with knowledge about various cultures and languages, which might not have been possible otherwise.

Social media sites can be addictive, and students might waste their formative years scrolling through the trivial feed and gain nothing but superficial knowledge. But that is just because neither parents nor the school is encouraging positive social media behavior. If these institutions start offering tips to students to limit and utilize their time on social media , one would be amazed to see their achievements.

Is social media a catalyst for the downfall of student life? Well, social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and more are teeming with inspirational achievers and content creators who go the extra mile to share their stories and inspire students. If the children are taught to see their access to social media as an opportunity to grow rather than a competition for likes and followers, they are bound to work harder and achieve goals that seemed insurmountable earlier.

• Sample of Negative Essay about social media

If you have been asked to highlight the negative aspects of social media, your teacher does not mean that you have to cross all limits to present the use of social media in a bad light. Instead, what they are asking for is some logical and believable arguments that tell us why social media is harmful to society.

Social media is destroying family links by creating a virtual shell for each individual, which dissociates them with their own parents and siblings. The kids are adversely affected by increased access to social media if parents are always indulged in their devices and ignore them. Eventually, even kids start using tools to connect to other people, ignoring their family members.

Since kids and teenagers are the most impressionable age groups, they start believing that everything that glitters on social media platforms is gold, and they become materialistic. Their lives start revolving around likes, comments, and followers/subscribers. No matter whether their minds are prepared for such exposure or not, social media exposes them to the best and the worst about this world, which might turn them into rebels. They start valuing their online friends more than their offline lives and go to unimaginable extents to keep them entertained.

So, parents and elders need to pay attention to their children and limit their social media use so that they can learn to form real relationships and values.

• Weighing the pros and cons

Another way in which you can present your social media essay is by comparing the positive and negative aspects associated with it. In such essays, the conclusion is better left open for the readers to decide their own take on social media.

One cannot argue that social media has taken the world by storm by allowing like-minded individuals to connect and share their experiences with the world. You can use these platforms to make new friends and discover the ones who have lost touch. You can talk to everyone on your friend list and share your content on these channels to become a part of the creators' community. There is no dearth for talent on social media and its admirers.

On the other hand, if you use social media sites for long stretches of time in one go, you run the risk of addiction. Gradually, a social media addict starts to build a cocoon for themselves, which they find hard to step out of. This leads to a disconnect between you and the family you already have and love. One might feel too confined yet comfortable in their space that they have no urge left to step out, pushing them towards social seclusion, or worse – depression.

When you flip the coin again, you will discover that social media has become an incredible platform for small businesses to grow and earn good profits . The grass-root companies do not have to invest much for advertising and promotion or even own an establishment. All they have to do is to create a grassroots marketing strategy for themselves, and their brand will start selling in no time!

In the end, social media is a game-changer on the World Wide Web. It allows people to connect with the virtual world with the risk of disconnecting with the real world. Then again, businesses are doing well on these platforms. There are indeed two sides to social media, one positive and another negative, and it is up to you which one you lean towards more.

• Argumentative social media essay

A challenging but equally exciting type of essay on social media you should know about is an argumentative essay. It is often written when you are tasked with altering the point of view of the reader, which is of a completely opposite belief. Here is a sample for your better understanding.

Social networks have an uncertain future with the string impression they leave on users, especially the younger generations. Parents panic with the first mention of social media sites by their children and learning about their presence on these platforms because they are afraid of cyberbullying. They do not want their children to get cat-fished by some stranger on Reddit when they are not around.

Moreover, social media platforms are the reason why several individuals are losing their confidential data every day to corporate houses. These businesses are using the information to bug users with ads about stuff they do not want to buy.

If such instances carry on, the day is not far when the government will start to keep checks on the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other channels. Massive surveillance will be imposed on these sites to prevent malicious minds from harming innocent teenagers physically or by hacking into their systems. So, before you get a chance to ask " have I been hacked ", know that someone is taking care of it.

Having an attractive topic for your social media essay does not mean using poetic words in it. You should have an issue relevant to the current scenario. In the process of selecting a fascinating topic, do not forget to keep it within the extents of your knowledge. If it becomes too complicated for you to write about, you will be stuck when coming up with arguments and ideas.

The perfect topic would be the one which offers good potential for research and is interesting for the readers too. Even if you present profound arguments about such topics, they should be in a logical, comprehensible, and readable format for people to understand easily.

Writing a social media essay is no cakewalk, whether you are a high-school student or university student. All you need to do is, structuralize it properly, be clear with the ideas and arguments you are planning to present, pick the tone of your essay, and began writing. Do not forget to top your essay up with a catchy topic so that your entire hard work doesn't fall flat.

Published on Sep 03 2020

Gintaras is an experienced marketing professional who is always eager to explore the most up-to-date issues in data marketing. Having worked as an SEO manager at several companies, he's a valuable addition to the Whatagraph writers' pool.

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Essay on Social Networking Sites for Students in English [Easy Words]

January 6, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Social Networking Sites: Social media offers user-friendly platforms to connect, interact, share happiness and remain updated with our group of friends. Children need to be supervised thoroughly by adults to ensure social networking sites’ right usage. Business people connect with their clients and partners through social networking sites. We should also be careful with cybercrimes, hacking and exploitation.

Essay on Social Networking Sites in 500 Words

We have provided Social Networking Sites Essay in English, suitable for class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Social networking is one of the simplest means of connecting, exchanging and receiving information. This has evolved tremendously in recent years and continues to expand with every moment. It has been part and parcel of our everyday lives. Any platform that lets us communicate and socialise locally or globally is a social network. Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp are popular social networking sites.

The social impacts of each tool are essential. Likewise, social networking sites are not far away and have a significant influence, both positive and negative, on our society. Moreover, though it may seem weird, social networking sites can also impact people’s health.

Advantages of Social Networking Sites

• One of the most significant and amazing benefits of social networking sites is that it helps you to communicate with people throughout the world.
• We do not need to search for news on different blogs, and news can be found on popular social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
• Social networking sites are one of the world’s best marketing channels. Social media marketing is the term used on websites or networks such as Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube and more for Advertising Technologies.
• Social networks maintain awareness and change the way people work. This is life on the web that helps people to discover new, innovative things that can improve their lives.
• Social networking platforms such as Facebook have features such as group sharing and document sharing. You may create a community with a particular purpose and begin to exchange ideas and knowledge. Social networking sites are immensely useful in collecting feedback and opinions on new concepts.

Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites

• Due to social network sites such as Facebook, Instagram, etc., the compulsive behaviour developed leads to detrimental effect. Chicago University researchers have found that dependency on social networking sites can be higher than cigarettes and drug dependence.
• Social networking sites have been associated with increased risk of problems of mental health such as depression, anxiety and loneliness.
• Across many social networking sites, there are billions of fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Within six months, Facebook deletes over three trillion fake accounts and five percent of the monthly active Facebook profiles.
• Fake and misleading news on social media platforms can be viral in no time. More than 80 percent of those who respond to the link do not read the whole article or post on Facebook. That is so many publishers, and spammers are using the sites to exploit the information they exchange.
• Because anyone can access social networking sites to share things, plenty of us use them to convey hatred and violence. The general public is also the victim of cyber bullying.
• Many social networking web users do not learn entirely about the security steps to be taken by using social networking sites. Users on social networking platforms exchange thoughts, personal memories, images etc. These details will help hackers access social media, e-mails, or even their phone to access your accounts.

Society & Social Networking Sites Essay

Introduction, understanding social networking sites, social networking sites: unveiling the defects.

The mounting popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) among Internet users across the world certainly demands an introspection of their shorter-term and longer-terms effects on individuals as well as societies. Available statistics demonstrate that an estimated 1.5 billion people across the globe have already created their profiles in SNSs, with the majority being on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Ning and Tagged (Das et al., 2011).

At the surface, it is believed that SNSs have a great potential to essentially alter the character and scope of our social engagements on all fronts – individual, interpersonal, as well as societal (Ellison et al., 2009).. But while common practice always assumes the shifts to be beneficial, this paper seeks to demonstrate that SNSs have negatively altered the framework for social interactions that bind society together.

In the literature, SNSs are defined as web-based services that provide people with the capacity to

• construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system,
• articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and
• view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system” (Tokunaga, 2011, p. 425).

SNSs popularity continue to rise throughout the world, especially among adolescents, not only because of the way they have changed how this group of the population receive information (Neelamalar & Chitra, 2009), but also due to their equalizing effect as users often feel the freedom to express themselves in ways not possible via other offline channels (Cardon et al., 2009).

However, there exist salient issues that need to be illuminated to understand the actual effects that SNSs are having on the social relationships that act to glue the society together.

By virtue of the fact that online social networking is a type of virtue communication that allows users to connect with each other, there exists a very constricted gap between private and public life in this modern age of communication as users find themselves helpless in controlling the distribution of content they have already uploaded on their profiles (Das et al., 2011).

This disposition has occasioned serious personal and social consequences as individuals increasingly find themselves being rejected for job postings due to content they had posted on the sites, not mentioning that a sizeable number of users have already lost their life savings to online fraudsters who visit their profiles and use the personal information available to estimate a person’s social security number and ‘steal’ other sensitive information.

Advocates of SNSs have argued that users of these sites can change their default privacy preferences to keep the fraudsters at bay, or to prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands.

However, a research conducted on 4000 Facebook profiles of Carnegie Mellon University students revealed that only 1.2 percent of the users took time to change their default privacy settings (Das et al., 2011), implying that many users do not care if their sensitive information, which could fundamentally alter their relationships with other members of the society, becomes open to public discourse.

The second point deals with work productivity, which is known to be the mainstay of the society. It is within the realms of public knowledge that a society that does not work cannot look after itself, not mentioning that it cannot prosper or achieve the dreams of prosperity (Tokunaga, 2011).

However, owing to the proliferation of SNSs, people are spending considerable work hours chatting with their friends and browsing sites to update profiles. Indeed, extant literature demonstrates that “…it becomes a compulsive habit to visit own profile several times in a day for checking friends updates, changing status, and commenting on others photos and videos” (Das et al., 2011).

In the workplace context, the attention of employees is distracted as they routinely visit the sites to update their status and communicate with friends, occasioning major adverse consequences on their productivity and customer satisfaction levels.

Of course some advocates of SNSs would like to argue from the viewpoint that employers can always install monitoring software to dissuade employees from visiting these sites during work hours; however, it has already been found that monitoring of employees’ online activities raises serious ethical and legal concerns (Ellison et al., 2009).

More importantly, the monitoring software is not full-proof, meaning that employees could still engage in these actions that bring adverse societal ramifications in lowered productivity and heightened customer dissatisfaction levels (Cardon et al., 2011). A recent study conducted on 237 corporate workers revealed that about eight in every ten employees use Facebook during work hours, resulting in 1.5% slump in their productivity (Das et al., 2011).

The third point revolves around the fact that some SNSs “…have loosely articulated social or interactional norms dictating appropriate actions and behaviors” (Tokunaga, 2011, p. 426).

In using SNSs, many people are unaware or ignorant of the context-specific social norms because of the inadequately specified set of conventions, further degrading the social fabric because these people end up relying on social behaviors learned and negotiated in offline contexts to direct their online actions and behavior. Equally uninteresting, a sizeable number of users end up relying on social behaviors learned in online contexts to guide and direct their off-line relationships, actions and behavior.

Fourth, many online social norms, according to Tokunaga (2011), are characterized by carelessness and impoliteness, not mentioning that they have the potential to adversely demoralize the interpersonal relationships that act to hold the society together. In other words, it can be argued that constant interactions via social networking platforms have inexorably harmed interpersonal relationships that glue society together by providing a forum for negative incidences that result in relational strain.

On context-specific norms and interpersonal relationships, advocates of SNSs would want to differ by putting up the argument that “…through social networking, people can use networks of online friends and group memberships to keep in touch with current friends, reconnect with old friends or create real-life friendships through similar interests or groups” (Neelamalar & Chitra, 2009, p. 126).

However, the germane issue is the context-specific norms used to relate to online friends and if these norms could still be used in furtherance of offline interpersonal relationships that are key to the stability of the society as a whole.

Findings reported by Tokunaga (2011) demonstrate that not only are the context-specific norms for the two types of relations essentially different and hence cannot compliment each other, but some norms and value systems learnt in SNSs are adversely affecting interpersonal relationships, through which the foundation of the community is grounded.

Lastly, it is a well known fact that the ambiguous and elastic concept of “friends” on social networking platforms has always presented further concerns through which millions of visitors to these sites must navigate. As postulated by Tokunaga (2011), “…friends merely refer to the contacts individuals create on SNSs, which obscures the nature of the relationships between users” (P. 426).

People who have never met even for a single day suddenly become the best of friends because of their presumed shared interests that are matched in the arena of online protocols. Not only has this insensitive disposition of friendship continues to hurt the very basis of society (Das et al., 2011), but the dichotomous categorization of friends and non-friends on many of these networking platforms acts as fuel to many of the social problems encountered by users (Tokunaga, 2011), including falling prey to fraudsters and sexual offenders.

It is possible that advocates of SNSs may seek to downplay this issue of the creation of strange friendship bonds on account that people are free to talk to anyone across the world (Neelamalar & Chitra, 2009), and that these sites have assisted communities to minimize transaction costs for finding and connecting with ‘friends’, who may share one interest or concern but deviate on other dimensions (Ellison et al., 2009).

These assertions, in my view, are valid to the extent that some of these friendship bonds have provided opportunities for some users, including but not limited to, job openings, educational prospects, skills acquisition and knowledge sharing.

But we have seen the consequences of users who unconditionally accept friendship requests from strangers and end up being killed and mutilated in a presumed sex party. We have read in the news how children as young as 10 years are hijacked for ransom by their presumed ‘online friends.’

It is indeed true that most SNSs have beneficial outcomes, but care must be exercised so that these sites do not alter the framework for social interactions that bind society together. Important issues relating to privacy, work productivity, context-specific norms, interpersonal relationships as well as the conception of friendship, need to be evaluated in more detail to ensure that the society does not suffer under the heavy baggage of the social networking sites.

Cardon, P.W., Marshall, B., Jeongil, C., El-Shinnaway, M.M., North, M., Svensson, L…Juan, P. (2009). Online and offline social ties of social network website users: An exploratory study in eleven societies. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 50 (1), 54-64.

Das, B., Sahoo, J.S., & Jyoti, S. (2011). Social networking sites – a critical analysis of its impact on personal and social life . International Journal of Business & Social Science, 2 (14), 222-228. Web.

Ellison, N.B., Lampe, C., & Steinfield, C. (2009). Social network sites and society: Current trends and future possibilities . Web.

Neelamalar, M., & Chitra, P. (2009). New media and society: A study on Indian youth . Estudos em Communicacao, 45 (6), 125-145. Web.

Tokunaga, R.S. (2011). Friend me or you’ll strain us: Understanding negative events that occur over social networking sites. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 14 (7/8), 425-432.

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Essay on Effects and Impact of Social Networking Sites in 700+ Words

• Updated on  
• Mar 5, 2024

Social networking sites are platforms where people can connect, socialise, learn and entertain. These platforms are now a part of the modern world. The first social networking site was SixDegrees, launched in 1997. Today, there are 4 billion users on social networking sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Whatsapp, etc. 

However, social networking sites have given rise to cybercrimes and online frauds, to which youngsters have fallen victim. Recently, Mark Zuckerburg, the CEO of Meta, was slammed by the New Mexico District Attorney for failing to protect children from sexual predators on Facebook and Instagram. 

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Facebook
• 1.2 YouTube
• 1.3 Instagram
• 2 Positive Effects
• 3 Negative Effects
• 4 Impact of Social Networking Sites on Our Health
• 5 Advantages of Not Using Social Networking Sites
• 6 Essay on Effects and Impact of Social Networking Sites PDF

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Popular Social Networking Sites

Also Read: Essay on Peer Pressure in 100, 200 and 350 Words

Positive Effects

• Social networking sites help us connect with our loved ones and distant friends.
• Social networking sites valuable sources of information and keep us updated on the latest trends. 
• Social networking sites can also used for educational purposes. These platforms contain educational content, discussions, and resources that support learning and skill development.
• Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook help businesses and individuals in networking, job searching, and career development.
• Social networking sites allow for real-time communication through features such as instant messaging, video calls, and live streaming.

Negative Effects

• Social networking sites are like addiction. They are designed to be engaging and use algorithms to keep users hooked. Once you start scrolling, you are presented with a constant stream of information, and notifications, and this desire for social validation can create addictive behaviours.
• Social networking sites have given birth to cybercrimes like cyberbullying, sexual harassment, hacking, malware and ransomware, spoofing, etc.
• Constant exposure to idealised representations of other’s lives on social media results in low self-esteem as we try to compare ourselves with others.
• The personal information users share on social networking sites raises concerns about privacy breaches and data misuse by hackers or third parties.
• Excessive use of social networking sites leads to time wastage and decreased productivity. Because of this, we are not able to focus on real-world tasks.
• Excessive use of social media also affects our mental health, as it results in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
• Not everything we see on social networking sites is true. Social networking sites are a breeding ground for fake news, misinformation and rumours. 

Impact of Social Networking Sites on Our Health

• Studies have shown that there is a strong link between excessive use of social networking sites and our health.
• Staying late on social sites and constantly looking at computers or mobile devices results in weakened eyesight and headaches.
• Prioritising online interactions over face-to-face relationships can result in social isolation.
• Falling victim to cyber crimes can result in stress, anxiety and other mental issues.
• Addictive behaviour towards social networking sites can result in sleeping disturbance and mood swings.
• Social networking sites can contribute to the fear of missing out (FOMO). It can lead to feelings of anxiety or dissatisfaction with our own lives.

Advantages of Not Using Social Networking Sites

• One of the best advantages of not using social networking sites is that your data is secured. Your private information is private.
• Not using social networking can alleviate comparison, fear of missing out (FOMO), and the pressure to curate a perfect online persona.
• Without the constant distraction of social media, we will be able to build meaningful relationships.
• Continuous scrolling on social networking sites results in time wastage. We can save a lot of our precious time and indulge in quality work.
• Reducing social media presence can lead to improvements in mental health, including reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
• Avoiding social sites and cell phones at night can result in better sleep quality.

Essay on Effects and Impact of Social Networking Sites PDF

Ans: Social networking sites are platforms where people can connect, socialise, learn and entertain. Social networking sites help us connect with our loved ones and distant friends, can keep us updated on the latest trends and can also used for educational purposes. However, social networking sites are like addiction.  They are designed to be engaging and use algorithms to keep users hooked. Once you start scrolling, you are presented with a constant stream of information, and notifications, and this desire for social validation can create addictive behaviours.

Ans: Social networking sites can lead to addiction, time wastage, and cybercrimes like cyberbullying, sexual harassment, hacking, etc. The personal information users share on social networking sites raises concerns about privacy breaches and data misuse by hackers or third parties.

Ans: One of the best advantages of not using social networking sites is that your data is secured. Your private information is private. Not using social networking can alleviate comparison, fear of missing out (FOMO), and the pressure to curate a perfect online persona.

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Essay on Social Media

Here we have shared the Essay on Social Media in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Social Media in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Social Media in 150 words

Essay on social media in 200-300 words, essay on social media in 500-1000 words.

Social media has revolutionized communication and connectivity, allowing individuals to share content, connect with others, and participate in virtual communities. While it brings opportunities for instant communication and global connectivity, it also presents challenges. Issues like cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation are prevalent. However, responsible use of social media can lead to positive outcomes. It has played a significant role in raising awareness, mobilizing communities, and giving a voice to marginalized groups. Social media can be a platform for positive change and social justice. It is crucial for users to be mindful of their online actions, promote responsible use, and strive for meaningful connections. Social media has transformed the way we communicate, and its impact on society will continue to evolve as we navigate the digital age.

Social media has revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and share information. It refers to online platforms and applications that enable users to create and share content, interact with others, and participate in virtual communities. Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, shaping our relationships, and lifestyles, and even influencing social and political landscapes.

The advent of social media has facilitated instant communication and global connectivity. It has bridged geographical barriers, allowing individuals to connect with others from different parts of the world. Social media platforms have also provided a platform for individuals to express their opinions, share experiences, and raise awareness about various issues.

However, social media also comes with its challenges. It has been associated with issues such as cyberbullying, online harassment, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation. The addictive nature of social media can also negatively impact mental health and well-being.

Nonetheless, when used responsibly, social media can be a powerful tool for positive change. It has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about social causes, mobilizing communities, and facilitating meaningful conversations. Social media has empowered individuals and marginalized groups to have a voice, amplifying their perspectives and advocating for social justice.

In conclusion, social media has transformed the way we interact and communicate in the digital age. While it has its drawbacks, it also presents opportunities for connection, engagement, and advocacy. It is essential for users to be mindful of the impact of their online actions and strive for responsible use of social media platforms to foster meaningful connections, spread positivity, and promote social change.

Title: The Impact of Social Media – Connecting the World, Shaping Society

Introduction:

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, transforming the way we communicate, share information, and engage with the world. This essay explores the impact of social media on society, examining its advantages, challenges, and implications for individuals and communities. It delves into the ways social media has revolutionized communication, bridged geographical barriers, and facilitated the spread of information. Additionally, it discusses the challenges posed by social media, including privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and the proliferation of misinformation. Ultimately, social media has the potential to shape society, empower individuals, and foster social change.

Communication and Connectivity

Social media platforms have revolutionized communication, offering instant connectivity to individuals across the globe. It allows people to stay connected with friends, family, and acquaintances regardless of geographical distances. Social media provides a platform for real-time interaction, enabling individuals to share thoughts, ideas, and experiences in a seamless manner. It facilitates networking, allowing professionals to connect with colleagues, mentors, and industry experts, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Information Sharing and Awareness

Social media platforms serve as hubs of information, allowing users to access news, trends, and developments from around the world. It has democratized the spread of information, enabling individuals to share news, opinions, and insights. Social media has played a significant role in raising awareness about social causes, promoting activism, and mobilizing communities. Hashtags and viral campaigns have led to collective action, creating movements for social change.

Digital Communities and Identity

Social media platforms have given rise to digital communities, where individuals with shared interests, values, or experiences can connect and interact. These communities provide a sense of belonging and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Social media has also contributed to the formation and expression of individual identities. Users can curate their profiles, express their passions and beliefs, and connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of self-expression and empowerment.

Challenges and Concerns

Social media is not without its challenges. Privacy concerns arise as personal information becomes more accessible, raising questions about data security and online surveillance. Cyberbullying and online harassment have become prevalent issues, with harmful effects on individuals’ mental health and well-being. The spread of misinformation and fake news poses a significant challenge, as false information can quickly gain traction, leading to confusion and mistrust.

Influence on Society

Social media has a profound influence on society, shaping public opinion, consumer behavior, and even political landscapes. It has democratized the dissemination of information, allowing individuals to challenge established narratives and amplify marginalized voices. Social media provides a platform for public discourse, enabling individuals to participate in discussions on social, political, and environmental issues. Activism and advocacy have been facilitated through social media, leading to mobilization and social change.

The Power of Influence and Responsiveness

Social media platforms have become influential channels for businesses, celebrities, and public figures to connect with their audiences and shape public opinion. It has transformed marketing and advertising, allowing for targeted campaigns and personalized content. However, with this power comes the responsibility to use social media ethically and responsibly. Users and influencers must be aware of the impact their words and actions have on others, considering the potential consequences.

Conclusion:

Social media has transformed the way we communicate, share information, and engage with the world. It has revolutionized communication and connectivity, bridging geographical distances and enabling real-time interaction. Social media has facilitated the spread of information and raised awareness about social causes. However, it also presents challenges, including privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and the spread of misinformation. The influence of social media on society is undeniable, shaping public opinion and fostering social change. To harness the positive potential of social media, users must be responsible, mindful of their impact, and promote ethical use. By leveraging the power of social media, we can create a more connected, informed, and inclusive society.

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148 Social Networking Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on social networking, 🔎 easy social networking research paper topics, 👍 good social networking research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting social networking research titles, 💡 simple social networking essay ideas, ❓ social networking research questions.

• Schools Should Block Social Networking Sites
• Social Networking Advantages and Disadvantages
• The Uses and Abuses of Social Networking Sites
• Social Networks’ Advantages and Disadvantages
• Excessive Use of Social Networks
• People’s Attitude toward Social Networking Services
• The Role of Social Networks in the Political and Social Activism of Citizens
• Aspects of Social Networking Social networking is a multifaceted phenomenon that differs from person to person. It has changed the way of communicating between individuals.
• Google and Social Networks This study discusses about the relationship between Google and other Social networks gives a brief introduction to Google, and how it differs from online social networking.
• TikTok: Getting Acquainted with Social Network It is worth highlighting some of the stigmatization of TikTok. More specifically, this social network has been firmly associated with “dancing,” “lip-syncing”, etc.
• The Link Between Self-Esteem and Social Network Usage In social networks users’ social comparisons constitute a significant aspect that influences people’s perceptions of themselves as inferior to their peers.
• Social Networks Security: Ethical Issues and Practicies Social networks have been having privacy issues. This paper discusses steps that Facebook should Facebook do with the data transferred to the site by Beacon.
• Google and Social Networks: Integration Paper This integration paper is an overview of the entire week’s projects.And a discussion on the relationship between Google and Social networks.
• Is Social Networking Bad for Society? A modern person starts their day checking social networks for news and messages, during the day this person logs in and out multiple times to review various pages.
• Social Networking at Work: Benefits and Drawbacks Social networks are often criticized by organizations since those can be one of the major distractions for employees during the working hours.
• Social Networking: Positive and Negative Outcomes Social networking creates digital ties, but real world communication channels cease to exist, which can have numerous negative outcomes in future as people can lose ability to create new ties.
• Social Networking Site Facebook Facebook is a good social networking site for it allows its users to connect with friends, learn new cultures and share and/or solve some health-related issues.
• Technical Communication: Social Networking Social networking can be defined as a virtual environment in which individuals form groups for a common goal of socializing.
• Online Privacy on Social Networking Sites Most people do not think twice about providing this information because they assume that the site will take measures to protect their privacy.
• Social Networks: Blocking at Schools It is important for schools to block sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to protect the students from imminent danger, even for just a few hours.
• Social Networks as a New Way of Socialization Social networks have simplified socialization and given more room to find the people and information one needs without stopping at one city or country.
• Freedom of Speech: Restrictions in Social Networks Actions by the US government to influence free speech on Facebook, Twitter, and other such networks are acceptable, but only if they are related to national security.
• Restrictions on Freedom of Speech on Social Networks Social networks control modern restrictions on freedom of speech in many ways, affecting all aspects of people’s lives to reduce the existing imbalance and avoid open hatred.
• Social Network in Hiring Process Although some people are against checking social networks, they will still be helpful when hiring, as managers will be able to learn many candidate characteristics from them.
• Security of Information Sharing on Social Networking Sites The article “Exploring the security of information sharing on social networking sites” focuses on how the social networking site causes a threat to privacy and ethical conduct.
• Employee Access to Social Networks at Work In the day and age of the rise of information technology, social media serves as a powerful tool for communication for people in all areas of life.
• Social Networks’ Destructive Impact on Society As the internet becomes the primary mode of human existence, it becomes necessary to analyze the goals and methods of the few companies that control it.
• Social Networks’ Impact on Society Social networks, while creating many development opportunities, also hinder motivation to use them due to the large flows of information and, thus, distractions.
• Political Censorship in Social Networks The aim of this work is to try to form an objective unbiased idea of ​​what modern political censorship in social networks is.
• The Role of Social Networks in People’s Everyday Lives and Social Movements Social media has changed dramatically and is stuck in our minds in the 21st century; it has become a surrogate for live communication between people.
• An Analysis of the Discourse of Social Networks The paper presents an analysis of the discourse of social networks. It analyzes how users use dehumanizing language and normalize dangerous levels of hatred.
• Self-Esteem & Social Network Usage Link The paper states that social media and its principle of evaluation and approval in the form of likes harm the body’s self-esteem and self-image.
• Aspects of Technology and Social Network Technology and social networks occupy an important place in people’s lives and some individuals, bloggers, even combine work and persona life, as it brings them income.
• Harm From Social Networks and Internet Usage Social networks bring more harm than benefits and cause damage, not benefit to relationships, communication skills, and life quality.
• Social Networks’ Impact on Relationships This paper aims at analyzing the effects of a social network as a key element of an organization, its benefits, downfalls, and effects on relationships.
• Social Networks’ Impact on Companies’ Operations Social networking has become an essential medium for marketers to connect with clients and customers and positively impact business operations.
• Epatient, Social Networking, Personal Health Record Personal Health Record (PHR) is a promising technology because it combines EHR data and information obtained directly from patients even without their participation.
• Data Mining for Predictive Social Network Analysis The paper aims to reveal the mechanism of data mining with the help of Twitter and demonstrate the overall impact of Twitter and similar platforms on present-day companies.
• How IBM Integrated Social Networks Into Their Business Information Systems Business information systems can be made more efficient by improving communication between employees as well as consumers.
• Leader–Member Exchange and Social Network Theory This paper discusses leader-member exchange theory and social network theory, their differences and similarities, and their application in the field of public health.
• Social Networks and Support for Human Health The percentage of deaths among the people that are more involved in social networks is much lower than the rate of those who mostly prefer loneliness.
• Leader-Exchange and Social Network Theory in the Healthcare Setting Leadership in the healthcare setting is vital as it contributes to the development of efficient strategies and methods to provide high-quality services.
• Models of Small-World Social Networks In study uses the Barabási-Albert scale-free network and the Watts-Strogatz small-world network, to assess the implications of different network structures and properties of disease spread.
• Impact of Social Networks on Communication Social networks have become integral parts of everyday life, thus facilitating the exchange of information, including personal and professional.
• Social Media and Social Networking in Modern Life Social media and social networking are relatively new phenomena that already have a significant effect on society.
• Social Networking Sites as a Tool for Shy and Lonely People The use of the internet has been a factor in averting loneliness because the shy and lonely have been less inhibited in online relationships.
• McCain Online Campaign in Form of Social Networking The essay reveals facts about John McCain online campaign in form of Social Networking, discusses its process and gives advantages and disadvantages of this method.
• Privacy Issues in Social Networks Privacy issues and protective measures addressing the challenges of big data in online social networks are current problems in the field of information technology.
• E-Learning and Social Networking: Articles Comparison The paper compares two studies: “The Impact of E-Learning on End-Users Satisfaction” by Singh and “Using Online Social Networking” by Argan.
• Executives’ Compensation Levels: Social Network Analysis This paper discusses how do social network analysis measures affect the compensation levels of executive directors during different economic periods.
• Pinterest: Social Network as a Communication Channel This essay describes how social networks have been used as communication channels for marketing various brands. Pinterest use to promote companies.
• Mental Disorders and Social Networks Correlation Social media is currently a vital component of enhancing communication amongst friends and families through the sharing of personal content.
• Women’s Stress Caused by Social Networks Consumption of social networks ideas creates the desire to be perfect in women leading to low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders, and at times, to suicide.
• Social Networking Sites: Companies Fan Pages Popularity Companies use several points of appeal to attract people and retain them in their fan pages. They often use display advertising where a niche market is targeted based on the profile information.
• Social Networking Benefits in Social Life In article uses the three types of appeal to demonstrate how the Facebook social networking application can actually harm relationships.
• Social Networking Media and the Revolution This paper discusses the roles, which Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have played in speeding up activists’ activities on the world stage in the past years.
• Social Networking: Privacy and Surveillance Social networking sites make an effort to protect the personal information of its users. However, few people recognize the need to enable privacy settings.
• Company’s Social Networking Policies
• Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids
• Internet and Social Networking Privacy
• Children and Social Networking
• The Difference Between Social Networking Relationships and Real-Life Relationships
• Social Networking and Its Applications to Todays Culture
• The Pros and Cons of Social Networking for Teenagers: A Parent’s Guide
• Cyberbullying: Abuse and Social Networking
• Social Networking and Health
• Dangers and Privacy Violations of Social Networking
• Social Networking and Mental Health
• American Students and Social Networking
• Social Networking and Its’ Effects on Everyday Life and How People Communicate
• College Student Social Networking and Its Relationship to Perceived Social Support
• Social Networking Sites Are Taking Control Over Human Behavior and Causing Loneliness
• The Dangers and Consequences of Seeking Popularity on Social Networking Sites
• Social Networking and the Untimely Death of Intelligence
• Online Social Networking and Office Environmental Factors That Affect Worker Productivity
• Social Networking and Effects on Society
• The Evolution and Challenges of Communication and Social Networking Technology
• Social Networking Sites Are Not Responsible for Bullying Acts on the Internet
• Project Management and Social Networking Media
• Social Networking and Its Effects on Children
• Social Networking and Its Impact on the 21st Century
• The Social Networking Sites on the Study Habits of the Students
• Internet and Social Networking and Its Impact on Business
• The Link Between Social Networking and Digital Technology
• Positive and Negative Effects of Social Networking Addiction
• Social Networking Sites Negatively Affecting Our Society
• Good Social Networking and Enterprise Reports
• Database Trigger and Social Networking Option
• Social Networking Websites Who Is Reading Your Personal Information
• Using Social Networking Sites for Teaching and Learning
• Social Networking, Social and Political Awareness
• The Social Networking Industry in the Service Sector
• Social Networking Sites and Key Task of Adolescent Psychosocial Development
• Employee Selection and Recruiting Through Social Networking
• Social Networking Can Impair Communication and Identity
• Advertising Through Social Networking Websites
• Social Networking and Its Effects on Interpersonal
• Using Social Networking Sites to Meet New People
• Factors Affecting Malaysian University Students’ Purchase Intention in Social Networking Sites
• The Advantages and Disadvantages to Using Social Networking Sites to Find Dates
• Social Networking Websites Affecting Mode of Non-Verbal Communication
• The Digital Human Activity on Social Networking Sites
• Social Networking and Transformational Leadership in Learning Organizations
• Giblin Social Networking and Revenue Sharing
• Social Networking Sites: The Privacy Enemy
• Marketing Using Social Networking
• Social Networking and Freedom of Speech
• The Link Between Social Networking Sites and Narcissism
• Social Networking Furthers Participation and Communication in Politics
• Cybercrimes Committed Through Social Networking
• Social Networking and Its Impact on the Future Development of the World
• Positive and Negative Effects of Social Networking
• Social Networking Affects Our Youth
• Ethics and Social Networking: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Evaluating Online Information Disclosure
• Social Networking Has Caused More Harm Than Good to People
• Using Social Networking Websites to Improve Academic Performance
• Social Networking: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Why Isn’t Social Networking Really Social?
• How Does Social Networking Affect Our Generation?
• Does Family Composition Affect Social Networking?
• How Does Social Networking Affect Kids’ Relationships?
• Should Parents Enforce the Usage of Social Networking From Youth?
• Are Social Networking Sites Beneficial for Our Society?
• Does Online Social Networking Hinder the Development of Teenagers?
• How Does Social Networking Affect People’s Lives?
• Are Social Networking Sites Damaging the Quality of America’s Communication?
• Does Privacy Really Exist in Social Networking?
• How Does Social Networking Affect Our Community?
• Why Do Teenagers Like to Use Online Social Networking Sites?
• Are Social Networking Sites Good for Students?
• How Does Social Networking Affect Your Privacy?
• Are Social Networking Sites Necessary?
• How Far Have Chat Rooms and Social Networking Sites Changed the Way of  Young People?
• Are Social Networking Sites Really Insecure?
• Why Are Social Networking Sites So Popular?
• How Has Social Networking Affected Society Media?
• Are Social Networking Sites Worth the Consequences?
• Does Social Networking Affect Our Society Negatively?
• How Have Social Networking Websites Affected Consumers’ Decision-Making Process?
• Should Congress Require Schools and Public Libraries to Block Social Networking Web Sites?
• How Does Social Networking Affect Students’ Lifestyles?
• What Are the Effects of Social Networking on Today’s Society?
• How Has Social Networking Changed Social Interactions?
• Why Do Mobile Users Trust Smartphone Social Networking Services?
• How Does Social Networking Create a Collaboration Culture?
• Are Social Networking Sites a Source of Online Harassment for Teens?
• How Has the Social Networking Changed Communication?

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StudyCorgi . 2022. "148 Social Networking Essay Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-networking-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Social Networking were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 9, 2024 .

PTE EXAM PREPARATION

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Social Networking Essay

Read Social Networking essay in English for students of class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Learn an essay on social networking in just 300 words. Also read social networking sites essay.

Social Networking Essay 300 Words

Social networking is something that helps us connect to people across the globe. We can interact with our loved ones anytime anywhere in the world. People can increase their business and establish connections with people all around the world all thanks to social networking. However, social networking is also considered harmful in many cases as the excess of everything always proves to be bad.

Many social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Watsapp have managed to bring the world closer and helped many people to connect globally and expand their business. Social networking can be categorized into blogging, broadcasting, vlogging and much more. Well, let’s get into the brighter side of social networking. The foremost advantage of social networking is the way it is educating people and helping children learn various things with exceptional experience. Students are able to search for numerous things on them and can make their learning easier.

On the other hand, many businessmen are expanding their reach to global partners and clients with the help of social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram. They showcase their products and services on these sites which help them gain more profit and establish a large online customer base. Also, people searching for jobs can connect with various companies and employers and thus gets a job easily.

However, there is a darker side of it as well which includes cybercrimes and money scams. Everyday many people become prey to cyber hackers and thus lose their private data resulting in great loss of dignity and money as well. Many criminals do sexual exploitation online with kids and under-aged people and thus they become victims of pornography. Also, students nowadays get addicted to these social sites and thus do not focus on their work or studies, which ultimately lead to loss of productivity.

Therefore, we must keep a check on our kids and limit the usage of social networking sites so as to enjoy its benefits rather than bearing the bad consequences of it.

Essay on Social Networking Sites 300 Words

Social networking sites offer a great platform to the people for connecting with each other. Social networking has improved communication and has managed to shrink the world into a small town. Social networking sites offer various benefits in today’s world although it has a negative side as well. The internet marketing industry is growing rapidly and various social networking sites are being developed that have an exclusive purpose for executing various tasks. Here is a list of some of the most prominent social networking sites:

Facebook: It is one of the most powerful and renowned social networking sites with nearly 1.55 billion active users. You can connect with your friends and family through this platform and if you are doing some business, it is a great place to make your business page and increase your sales to grow your business.

Instagram: It is another platform designed for the people to post their pictures, videos and connect with the people globally. Many people have successfully grown their business through Instagram marketing.

LinkedIn: It is a professional networking site that helps millions of people to get employed in some of the renowned companies. Also, this site is mainly focused on the B2B business.

Before these social networking sites, people used to talk to each other through emails and letters but now with the advent of these sites one person can connect to many people at a time and can get information about various events and things happening in the outside world.

Also, these sites are great for marketing your business and services and have already helped many companies to make their name in the online business. People can share their ideas and can collaborate with different people around the globe through these sites. Hence, social networking sites play a significant role in our lives and must be used wisely and ethically to contribute to the prospering of society.

Social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones

Essay on Internet Boon or Bane

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Social networking sites essay

Social networking sites essay , learn from it a lot of important information you want to know about social networking sites that have become widespread and used by adults and young people. And we will also know the importance and disadvantages and also the positives, and all that information will find here in Social networking sites essay.

Social networking sites have been able to bring people closer and make the world a small village, but we have to use it better. All of this we will know here in  in Social networking sites essay.

  Social networking sites

With the development of technology and the invention of a phone that connects distant sites and remote people together, This facilitated communication and the possibility of people knowing each other’s news easily.

The series of tremendous technological developments continued until it reached the use of the Internet in communication,  So this method became widespread not only communicate via voice , but  also the possibility of viewing images and video.

Social networking pages such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have been created that connect the world to each other, enable them to communicate with each other, learn about each other’s news, establish new relationships and consolidate past relationships. These sites can introduce people to each other and remind people of events that friends have. 

Social networking sites are a means of exchanging ideas, information and knowledge, developing skills and creative ideas, as well as learning about the culture of other peoples and leading to the development of societies.

But with all these privileges and benefits of social networking sites, but if used in a negative and wrong way  it will reflect on the user.

Youth and adolescents should not be left on these sites for long times because it may cause addiction.Young men and women are in a rush and love for adventure with little risk assessment.

These sites may lead to a lack of privacy in the life,and cause a lot of wasting time which may occupy the person from work and life and study, and may lead to the isolation of people and mental illness.

In this way we have provided you with Social networking sites essay, and you can read more through the following link:

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WE NEED TO MAKE THE POSITIVE SO LOUD THAT THE NEGATIVE BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR.” -GEORGE COUROS

When the term social networking or social media is used, it tends to automatically migrate to negative thoughts, primarily when accompanied by any words associated with education or “in the classroom..” By definition, a social network is, “an online service or site through which people create and maintain interpersonal relationships’ ‘ (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Social media is the tools and platforms in which the creation and exchange of content occur. Social media isn’t bad per its definition alone. The truth is that all social media platforms have the ability to build up and spread positivity or tear down. The social media tool’s user is often the cause of negativity, not the tool itself. This is where digital citizenship comes into the picture. As teachers in the 21st century, we have an additional responsibility to teach our students to become good digital citizens and to model it. Learning the proper way to become a good citizen online transforms the student into a digital leader. According to Jennifer Casa-Todd’s book, SociaLEADia, Digital leadership is using technology and social media to learn and share learning, to promote important causes , and to positively influence others.(2017)” Social media is not something that should be used all the time in the classroom, balance and moderation are extremely important.

What is important to realize as teachers is that we have a deep desire to foster an environment where students can let their creativity blossom. While social media by definition isn’t bad, negative experiences will still occur. By bringing social media into the classroom and using the tool for a positive and productive learning experience, the students develop a better understanding of how to use social media in a productive manner (Todd, 2017)

Kerric Harvey is an associate professor at George Washington University. She suggests social media can be considered anything that connects people in large-scale conversation, exploration, and opinion-sharing. If we take this thought of social media, it fits directly into building critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills in our students.

The following social networking platforms are commonly used today. Many other social media platforms exist; however the focus here remains social media used in the classroom.

Facebook – free social networking site that allows users to connect with friends, upload photos and videos, like, comment, message, and “Go live.” Facebook is a place for individuals and a place for social media marketing.

YouTube – An online platform that believes everyone should have a voice, a place to listen, and to build community.

Twitter – “An open service that’s home to a world of diverse people, perspectives, ideas, and information” (about.twitter.com).

Instagram – A photo and video sharing social networking service that allows users to create and share.

LinkedIn – A social networking platform used for professional development, career advancement, recruiting, and advertisements.

• What is LinkedIn and How Can I Use It?

Pinterest – Where to find a plethera of ideas and inspiration for the classroom, lesson plans, and everything under the sun!

social networking in education

Social media and social networks are now a part of everyday communication. Almost all of us rely on one form of social networking on a daily basis. Coming alongside of our students in a social media platform can help shape a positive mindset about social media. Using the tool for good and being in the space with them can also provide opportunities for teaching and correction. I will again bring up Jennifer Casa-Todd’s book, SociaLEADia, which offers great examples. Whether we like or not, we live in the digital age and our students grow up with social media as a part of their life. Let’s do our part as educators to use it and model it for good and make a positive impact.

• Reading: How Social Media is Reshaping Today’s Education System by Lori Wade

list of social media tools for the classroom

• Google Classroom

Perform a web search and find three ways that you can use social media in the classroom.

• Explain what you found, what platform you would use to do the activity/assignment, and what grade level?
• What are your thoughts on using social media in the classroom?

Bibliography

Casa-Todd, J. (2017). Social leadia: Moving students from digital citizenship to digital leadership . Dave Burgess Consulting.

Harvey, K. (2014). Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics. SAGE Publications, Incorporated.

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Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) are virtual communities where users can create individual public profiles, interact with real-life friends, and meet other people based on shared interests. They are seen as a ‘global consumer phenomenon’ with an exponential rise in usage within the last few years. Anecdotal case study evidence suggests that ‘addiction’ to social networks on the Internet may be a potential mental health problem for some users. However, the contemporary scientific literature addressing the addictive qualities of social networks on the Internet is scarce. Therefore, this literature review is intended to provide empirical and conceptual insight into the emerging phenomenon of addiction to SNSs by: (1) outlining SNS usage patterns, (2) examining motivations for SNS usage, (3) examining personalities of SNS users, (4) examining negative consequences of SNS usage, (5) exploring potential SNS addiction, and (6) exploring SNS addiction specificity and comorbidity. The findings indicate that SNSs are predominantly used for social purposes, mostly related to the maintenance of established offline networks. Moreover, extraverts appear to use social networking sites for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater usage, as does low conscientiousness and high narcissism. Negative correlates of SNS usage include the decrease in real life social community participation and academic achievement, as well as relationship problems, each of which may be indicative of potential addiction.

1. Introduction

“I’m an addict. I just get lost in Facebook” replies a young mother when asked why she does not see herself able to help her daughter with her homework. Instead of supporting her child, she spends her time chatting and browsing the social networking site [ 1 ]. This case, while extreme, is suggestive of a potential new mental health problem that emerges as Internet social networks proliferate. Newspaper stories have also reported similar cases, suggesting that the popular press was early to discern the potentially addictive qualities of social networking sites (SNS; i.e. , [ 2 , 3 ]). Such media coverage has alleged that women are at greater risk than men for developing addictions to SNSs [ 4 ].

The mass appeal of social networks on the Internet could potentially be a cause for concern, particularly when attending to the gradually increasing amounts of time people spend online [ 5 ]. On the Internet, people engage in a variety of activities some of which may be potentially to be addictive. Rather than becoming addicted to the medium per se, some users may develop an addiction to specific activities they carry out online [ 6 ]. Specifically, Young [ 7 ] argues that there are five different types of internet addiction, namely computer addiction ( i.e. , computer game addiction), information overload ( i.e. , web surfing addiction), net compulsions ( i.e. , online gambling or online shopping addiction), cybersexual addiction ( i.e. , online pornography or online sex addiction), and cyber-relationship addiction ( i.e. , an addiction to online relationships). SNS addiction appears to fall in the last category since the purpose and main motivation to use SNSs is to establish and maintain both on- and offline relationships (for a more detailed discussion of this please refer to the section on motivations for SNS usage). From a clinical psychologist’s perspective, it may be plausible to speak specifically of ‘ Facebook Addiction Disorder’ (or more generally ‘SNS Addiction Disorder’) because addiction criteria, such as neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, mood modifying experiences, tolerance, and concealing the addictive behavior, appear to be present in some people who use SNSs excessively [ 8 ].

Social Networking Sites are virtual communities where users can create individual public profiles, interact with real-life friends, and meet other people based on shared interests. SNSs are “web-based services that allow individuals to: (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system” [ 9 ]. The focus is placed on established networks, rather than on networking, which implies the construction of new networks. SNSs offer individuals the possibilities of networking and sharing media content, therefore embracing the main Web 2.0 attributes [ 10 ], against the framework of their respective structural characteristics.

In terms of SNS history, the first social networking site ( SixDegrees ) was launched in 1997, based on the idea that everybody is linked with everybody else via six degrees of separation [ 9 ], and initially referred to as the “small world problem” [ 11 ]. In 2004, the most successful current SNS, Facebook , was established as a closed virtual community for Harvard students. The site expanded very quickly and Facebook currently has more than 500 million users, of whom fifty percent log on to it every day. Furthermore, the overall time spent on Facebook increased by 566% from 2007 to 2008 [ 12 ]. This statistic alone indicates the exponential appeal of SNSs and also suggests a reason for a rise in potential SNS addiction. Hypothetically, the appeal of SNSs may be traced back to its reflection of today’s individualist culture. Unlike traditional virtual communities that emerged during the 1990s based on shared interests of their members [ 13 ], social networking sites are egocentric sites. It is the individual rather than the community that is the focus of attention [ 9 ].

Egocentrism has been linked to Internet addiction [ 14 ]. Supposedly, the egocentric construction of SNSs may facilitate the engagement in addictive behaviors and may thus serve as a factor that attracts people to using it in a potentially excessive way. This hypothesis is in line with the PACE Framework for the etiology of addiction specificity [ 15 ]. Attraction is one of the four key components that may predispose individuals to becoming addicted to specific behaviors or substances rather than specific others. Accordingly, due to their egocentric construction, SNSs allow individuals to present themselves positively that may “raise their spirits” ( i.e. , enhance their mood state) because it is experienced as pleasurable. This may lead to positive experiences that can potentially cultivate and facilitate learning experiences that drive the development of SNS addiction.

A behavioral addiction such as SNS addiction may thus be seen from a biopsychosocial perspective [ 16 ]. Just like substance-related addictions, SNS addiction incorporates the experience of the ‘classic’ addiction symptoms, namely mood modification ( i.e. , engagement in SNSs leads to a favourable change in emotional states), salience ( i.e. , behavioral, cognitive, and emotional preoccupation with the SNS usage), tolerance ( i.e. , ever increasing use of SNSs over time), withdrawal symptoms ( i.e. , experiencing unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms when SNS use is restricted or stopped), conflict ( i.e. , interpersonal and intrapsychic problems ensue because of SNS usage), and relapse ( i.e. , addicts quickly revert back in their excessive SNS usage after an abstinence period).

Moreover, scholars have suggested that a combination of biological, psychological and social factors contributes to the etiology of addictions [ 16 , 17 ], that may also hold true for SNS addiction. From this it follows that SNS addiction shares a common underlying etiological framework with other substance-related and behavioral addictions. However, due to the fact that the engagement in SNSs is different in terms of the actual expression of (Internet) addiction ( i.e. , pathological use of social networking sites rather than other Internet applications), the phenomenon appears worthy of individual consideration, particularly when considering the potentially detrimental effects of both substance-related and behavioral addictions on individuals who experience a variety of negative consequences because of their addiction [ 18 ].

To date, the scientific literature addressing the addictive qualities of social networks on the Internet is scarce. Therefore, with this literature review, it is intended to provide empirical insight into the emerging phenomenon of Internet social network usage and potential addiction by (1) outlining SNS usage patterns, (2) examining motivations for SNS usage, (3) examining personalities of SNS users, (4) examining negative consequences of SNSs, (5) exploring potential SNS addiction, and (6) exploring SNS addiction specificity and comorbidity.

An extensive literature search was conducted using the academic database Web of Knowledge as well as Google Scholar . The following search terms as well as their derivatives were entered: social network, online network, addiction, compulsive, excessive, use, abuse, motivation, personality, and comorbidity. Studies were included if they: (i) included empirical data, (ii) made reference to usage patterns, (iii) motivations for usage, (iv) personality traits of users, (v) negative consequences of use, (vi) addiction, (vii) and/or comorbidity and specificity. A total of 43 empirical studies were identified from the literature, five of which specifically assessed SNS addiction.

Social networking sites are seen as a ‘global consumer phenomenon’ and, as already noted, have experienced an exponential rise in usage within the last few years [ 12 ]. Of all Internet users, approximately one-third participate in SNSs and ten percent of the total time spent online is spent on SNSs [ 12 ]. In terms of usage, the results of the Parents and Teens 2006 Survey with a random sample of 935 participants in America revealed that 55% of youths used SNSs in that year [ 19 ]. The main reasons reported for this usage were staying in touch with friends (endorsed by 91%), and using them to make new friends (49%). This was more common among boys than girls. Girls preferred to use these sites in order to maintain contacts with actual friends rather than making new ones. Furthermore, half of the teenagers in this sample visited their SNS at least once a day which is indicative of the fact that in order to keep an attractive profile, frequent visits are necessary and this is a factor that facilitates potential excessive use [ 19 ]. Moreover, based on the results of consumer research, the overall usage of SNSs increased by two hours per month to 5.5 hours and active participation increased by 30% from 2009 to 2010 [ 5 ].

The findings of an online survey of 131 psychology students in the US [ 20 ] indicated that 78% used SNSs, and that 82% of males and 75% of females had SNS profiles. Of those, 57% used their SNS on a daily basis. The activities most often engaged in on SNSs were reading/responding to comments on their SNS page and/or posts to one’s wall (endorsed by 60%; the “wall” is a special profile feature in Facebook , where people can post comments, pictures, and links, that can be responded to), sending/responding to messages/invites (14%), and browsing friends’ profiles/walls/pages (13%; [ 20 ]). These results correspond with findings from a different study including another university student sample [ 21 ].

Empirical research has also suggested gender differences in SNS usage patterns. Some studies claim that men tend to have more friends on SNSs than women [ 22 ], whereas others have found the opposite [ 23 ]. In addition, men were found to take more risks with regards to disclosure of personal information [ 24 , 25 ]. Furthermore, one study reported that slightly more females used MySpace specifically ( i.e. , 55% compared to 45% of males) [ 26 ].

Usage of SNSs has also been found to differ with regards to age group. A study comparing 50 teenagers (13–19 years) and the same number of older MySpace users (60 years and above) revealed that teenagers’ friends’ networks were larger and that their friends were more similar to themselves with regards to age [ 23 ]. Furthermore, older users’ networks were smaller and more dispersed age-wise. Additionally, teenagers made more use of MySpace web 2.0 features ( i.e. , sharing video and music, and blogging) relative to older people [ 23 ].

With regards to how people react to using SNSs, a recent study [ 27 ] using psychophysiological measures (skin conductance and facial electromyography) found that social searching ( i.e. , extracting information from friends’ profiles), was more pleasurable than social browsing ( i.e. , passively reading newsfeeds) [ 27 ]. This finding indicates that the goal-directed activity of social searching may activate the appetitive system, which is related to pleasurable experience, relative to the aversive system [ 28 ]. On a neuroanatomical level, the appetitive system has been found to be activated in Internet game overusers and addicts [ 29 , 30 ], which may be linked back to a genetic deficiency in the addicts’ neurochemical reward system [ 31 ]. Therefore, the activation of the appetitive system in social network users who engage in social searching concurs with the activation of that system in people found to suffer from behavioral addictions. In order to establish this link for SNS specifically, further neurobiological research is required.

In reviewing SNS usage patterns, the findings of both consumer research and empirical research indicate that overall, regular SNS use has increased substantially over the last few years. This supports the availability hypothesis that where there is increased access and opportunity to engage in an activity (in this case SNSs), there is an increase in the numbers of people who engage in the activity [ 32 ]. Moreover, it indicates that individuals become progressively aware of this available supply and become more sophisticated with regards to their usage skills. These factors are associated with the pragmatics factor of addiction specificity etiology [ 15 ]. Pragmatics is one of the four key components of the addiction specificity model and it emphasizes access and habituation variables in the development of specific addictions. Therefore, the pragmatics of SNS usage appears to be a factor related to potential SNS addiction.

In addition to this, the findings of the presented studies indicate that compared to the general population, teenagers and students make most use of SNSs by utilizing the inherent Web 2.0 features. Additionally, there appear to be gender differences in usage, the specifics of which are only vaguely defined and thus require further empirical investigation. In addition, SNSs tend to be used mostly for social purposes of which extracting further information from friends’ pages appears particularly pleasurable. This, in turn, may be linked to the activation of the appetitive system, which indicates that engaging in this particular activity may stimulate the neurological pathways known to be related to addiction experience.

3.2. Motivations

Studies suggest that SNS usage in general, and Facebook in particular, differs as a function of motivation ( i.e. , [ 33 ]). Drawing on uses and gratification theory, media are used in a goal-directed way for the purpose of gratification and need satisfaction [ 34 ] which have similarities with addiction. Therefore, it is essential to understand the motivations that underlie SNS usage. Persons with higher social identity ( i.e. , solidarity to and conformity with their own social group), higher altruism (related to both, kin and reciprocal altruism) and higher telepresence ( i.e. , feeling present in the virtual environment) tend to use SNSs because they perceive encouragement for participation from the social network [ 35 ]. Similarly, the results of a survey comprising 170 US university students indicated that social factors were more important motivations for SNS usage than individual factors [ 36 ]. More specifically, these participants’ interdependent self-construal ( i.e. , the endorsement of collectivist cultural values), led to SNS usage that in turn resulted in higher levels of satisfaction, relative to independent self-construal, which refers to the adoption of individualist values. The latter were not related to motivations for using SNSs [ 36 ].

Another study by Barker [ 37 ] presented similar results, and found that collective self-esteem and group identification positively correlated with peer group communication via SNSs. Cheung, Chiu and Lee [ 38 ] assessed social presence ( i.e. , the recognition that other persons share the same virtual realm, the endorsement of group norms, maintaining interpersonal interconnectivity and social enhancement with regards to SNS usage motivations). More specifically, they investigated the We-intention to use Facebook ( i.e. , the decision to continue using a SNS together in the future). The results of their study indicated that We-intention positively correlated with the other variables [ 38 ].

Similarly, social reasons appeared as the most important motives for using SNSs in another study [ 20 ]. The following motivations were endorsed by the participating university student sample: keeping in touch with friends they do not see often (81%), using them because all their friends had accounts (61%), keeping in touch with relatives and family (48%), and making plans with friends they see often (35%). A further study found that a large majority of students used SNSs for the maintenance of offline relationships, whereas some preferred to use this type of Internet application for communication rather than face-to-face interaction [ 39 ].

The particular forms of virtual communication in SNSs include both asynchronous ( i.e. , personal messages sent within the SNS) and synchronous modes ( i.e. , embedded chat functions within the SNS) [ 40 ]. On behalf of the users, these communication modes require learning differential vocabularies, namely Internet language [ 41 , 42 ]. The idiosyncratic form of communication via SNSs is another factor that may fuel potential SNS addiction because communication has been identified as a component of the addiction specificity etiology framework [ 15 ]. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that users who prefer communication via SNSs (as compared to face-to-face communication) are more likely to develop an addiction to using SNSs. However, further empirical research is needed to confirm such a speculation.

Moreover, research suggests that SNSs are used for the formation and maintenance of different forms of social capital [ 43 ]. Social capital is broadly defined as “the sum of the resources, actual or virtual, that accrue to an individual or a group by virtue of possessing a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition” [ 44 ]. Putnam [ 45 ] differentiates bridging and bonding social capital from one another. Bridging social capital refers to weak connections between people that are based on information-sharing rather than emotional support. These ties are beneficial in that they offer a wide range of opportunities and access to broad knowledge because of the heterogeneity of the respective network’s members [ 46 ]. Alternatively, bonding social capital indicates strong ties usually between family members and close friends [ 45 ].

SNSs are thought to increase the size of potential networks because of the large number of possible weak social ties among members, which is enabled via the structural characteristics of digital technology [ 47 ]. Therefore, SNSs do not function as communities in the traditional sense. They do not include membership, shared influence, and an equal power allocation. Instead, they can be conceptualized as networked individualism, allowing the establishment of numerous self-perpetuating connections that appear advantageous for users [ 48 ]. This is supported by research that was carried out on a sample of undergraduate students [ 43 ]. More specifically, this study found that maintaining bridging social capital via participation in SNSs appeared to be beneficial for students with regards to potential employment opportunities in addition to sustaining ties with old friends. Overall, the benefits of bridging social capital formed via participation in SNSs appeared to be particularly advantageous for individuals with low-self esteem [ 49 ]. However, the ease of establishing and maintaining bridging social capital may become one of the reasons why people with low self-esteem are drawn to using SNSs in a potentially excessive manner. Lower self-esteem, in turn, has been linked to Internet addiction [ 50 , 51 ].

Furthermore, SNS usage has been found to differ between people and cultures. A recent study [ 52 ] including samples from the US, Korea and China demonstrated that the usage of different Facebook functions was associated with the creation and maintenance of either bridging or bonding social capital. People in the US used the ‘Communication’ function ( i.e. , conversation and opinion sharing) in order to bond with their peers. However, Koreans and Chinese used ‘Expert Search’ ( i.e. , searching for associated professionals online) and ‘Connection’ ( i.e. , maintaining offline relationships) for the formation and sustaining of both bonding and bridging social capital [ 52 ]. These findings indicate that due to cultural differences in SNS usage patterns, it appears necessary to investigate and contrast SNS addiction in different cultures in order to discern both similarities and differences.

Additionally, the results of an online survey with a student convenience sample of 387 participants [ 53 ] indicated that several factors significantly predicted the intention to use SNSs as well as their actual usage. The identified predictive factors were (i) playfulness ( i.e. , enjoyment and pleasure), (ii) the critical mass of the users who endorsed the technology, (iii) trust in the site, (iv) perceived ease of use, and (v) perceived usefulness. Moreover, normative pressure ( i.e. , the expectations of other people with regards to one’s behavior) had a negative relationship with SNS usage. These results suggest that it is particularly the enjoyment associated with SNS use in a hedonic context (which has some similarities to addictions), as well as the recognition that a critical mass uses SNSs that motivates people to make use of those SNSs themselves [ 53 ].

Another study [ 54 ] used a qualitative methodology to investigate why teenagers use SNSs. Interviews were conducted with 16 adolescents aged 13 to 16 years. The results indicated that the sample used SNSs in order to express and actualize their identities either via self-display of personal information (which was true for the younger sample) or via connections (which was true for the older participants). Each of these motivations was found to necessitate a trade-off between potential opportunities for self-expression and risks with regards to compromising privacy on behalf of the teenagers [ 54 ].

A study by Barker [ 37 ] also suggested there may be differences in motivations for SNS use between men and women. Females used SNSs for communication with peer group members, entertainment and passing time, whereas men used it in an instrumental way for social compensation, learning, and social identity gratifications ( i.e. , the possibility to identify with group members who share similar characteristics). Seeking friends, social support, information, and entertainment were found to be the most significant motivations for SNS usage in a sample of 589 undergraduate students [ 55 ]. In addition to this, endorsement of these motivations was found to differ across cultures. Kim et al. [ 55 ] found that Korean college students sought social support from already established relationships via SNSs, whereas American college students looked for entertainment. Similarly, Americans had significantly more online friends than Koreans, suggesting that the development and maintenance of social relationships on SNSs was influenced by cultural artefacts [ 55 ]. Furthermore, technology-relevant motivations were related to SNS use. The competence in using computer-mediated communication ( i.e. , the motivation to, knowledge of, and efficacy in using electronic forms of communication) was found to be significantly associated with spending more time on Facebook and checking one’s wall significantly more often [ 33 ].

Overall, the results of these studies indicate that SNSs are predominantly used for social purposes, mostly related to the maintenance of established offline networks, relative to individual ones. In line with this, people may feel compelled to maintaining their social networks on the Internet which may lead to using SNSs excessively. The maintenance of already established offline networks itself can therefore be seen as an attraction factor, which according to Sussman et al. [ 15 ] is related to the etiology of specific addictions. Furthermore, viewed from a cultural perspective, it appears that motivations for usage differ between members of Asian and Western countries as well as between genders and age groups. However, in general, the results of the reported studies suggest that the manifold ties pursued online are indicative, for the most part, of bridging rather than bonding social capital. This appears to show that SNSs are primarily used as a tool for staying connected.

Staying connected is beneficial to such individuals because it offers them a variety of potential academic and professional opportunities, as well as access to a large knowledge base. As the users’ expectations of connectivity are met through their SNS usage, the potential for developing SNS addiction may increase as a consequence. This is in accordance with the expectation factor that drives the etiology of addiction to a specific behavior [ 15 ]. Accordingly, the supposed expectations and benefits of SNS use may go awry particularly for people with low self-esteem. They may feel encouraged to spend excessive amounts of time on SNSs because they perceive it as advantageous. This, in turn, may potentially develop into an addiction to using SNSs. Clearly, future research is necessary in order to establish this link empirically.

Moreover, there appear certain limitations to the studies presented. Many studies included small convenience samples, teenagers or university students as participants, therefore severely limiting the generalizability of findings. Thus, researchers are advised to take this into consideration and amend their sampling frameworks by using more representative samples and thus improve the external validity of the research.

3.3. Personality

A number of personality traits appear to be associated with the extent of SNS use. The findings of some studies (e.g., [ 33 , 56 ]) indicate that people with large offline social networks, who are more extroverted, and who have higher self-esteem, use Facebook for social enhancement, supporting the principle of ‘the rich get richer’. Correspondingly, the size of people’s online social networks correlates positively with life satisfaction and well-being [ 57 ], but does neither have an effect on the size of the offline network nor on emotional closeness to people in real life networks [ 58 ].

However, people with only a few offline contacts compensate for their introversion, low-self esteem, and low life-satisfaction by using Facebook for online popularity, thus corroborating the principle of ‘the poor get richer’ ( i.e. , the social compensation hypothesis) [ 37 , 43 , 56 , 59 ]. Likewise, people higher in narcissistic personality traits tend to be more active on Facebook and other SNSs in order to present themselves favourably online because the virtual environment empowers them to construct their ideal selves [ 59 – 62 ]. The relationship between narcissism and Facebook activity may be related to the fact that narcissists have an imbalanced sense of self, fluctuating between grandiosity with regards to explicit agency and low self-esteem concerning implicit communion and vulnerability [ 63 , 64 ]. Narcissistic personality, in turn, has been found to be associated with addiction [ 65 ]. This finding will be discussed in more detail in the section on addiction.

Moreover, it appears that people with different personality traits differ in their usage of SNSs [ 66 ] and prefer to use distinct functions of Facebook [ 33 ]. People high in extraversion and openness to experience use SNSs more frequently, with the former being true for mature and the latter for young people [ 66 ]. Furthermore, extraverts and people open to experiences are members of significantly more groups on Facebook, use socializing functions more [ 33 ], and have more Facebook friends than introverts [ 67 ], which delineates the former’s higher sociability in general [ 68 ]. Introverts, on the other hand, disclose more personal information on their pages [ 67 ]. Additionally, it appears that particularly shy people spend large amounts of time on Facebook and have large amounts of friends on this SNS [ 69 ]. Therefore, SNSs may appear beneficial for those whose real-life networks are limited because of the possibility of easy access to peers without the demands of real-life proximity and intimacy. This ease of access entails a higher time commitment for this group, which may possibly result in excessive and/or potentially addictive use.

Likewise, men with neurotic traits use SNSs more frequently than women with neurotic traits [ 66 ]. Furthermore, neurotics (in general) tend to use Facebook’s wall function, where they can receive and post comments, whereas people with low neuroticism scores prefer posting photos [ 33 ]. This may be due to the neurotic individual’s greater control over emotional content with regards to text-based posts rather than visual displays [ 33 ]. However, another study [ 67 ] found the opposite, namely that people scoring high on neuroticism were more inclined to post their photographs on their page. In general, the findings for neuroticism imply that those scoring high on this trait disclose information because they seek self-assurance online, whereas those scoring low are emotionally secure and thus share information in order to express themselves [ 67 ]. High self-disclosure on SNSs, in turn, was found to positively correlate with measures of subjective well-being [ 57 ]. It remains questionable whether this implies that low self-disclosure on SNSs may be related to higher risk for potential addiction. By disclosing more personal information on their pages, users put themselves at risk for negative feedback, which has been linked to lower well-being [ 70 ]. Therefore, the association between self-disclosure on SNSs and addiction needs to be addressed empirically in future studies.

With regards to agreeableness, it was found that females scoring high on this trait upload significantly more pictures than females scoring low, with the opposite being true for males [ 67 ]. In addition to this, people with high conscientiousness were found to have significantly more friends and to upload significantly less pictures than those scoring low on this personality trait [ 67 ]. An explanation for this finding may be that conscientious people tend to cultivate their online and offline contacts more without the necessity to share too much personal information publicly.

Overall, the results of these studies suggest that extraverts use SNSs for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater SNS usage. With regards to addiction, both groups could potentially develop addictive tendencies for different reasons, namely social enhancement and social compensation. In addition, the dissimilar findings of studies with regards to the number of friends introverts have online deserve closer scrutiny in future research. The same applies for the results with regards to neuroticism. On the one hand, neurotics use SNSs frequently. On the other hand, studies indicate different usage preferences for people who score high on neuroticism, which calls for further investigation. Furthermore, the structural characteristics of these Internet applications, ( i.e. , their egocentric construction) appear to allow favourable self-disclosure, which draws narcissists to use it. Finally, agreeableness and conscientiousness appear to be related to the extent of SNS usage. Higher usage associated with narcissistic, neurotic, extravert and introvert personality characteristics may implicate that each of these groups is particularly at risk for developing an addiction to using SNSs.

3.4. Negative Correlates

Some studies have highlighted a number of potential negative correlates of extensive SNS usage. For instance, the results of an online survey of 184 Internet users indicated that people who use SNS more in terms of time spent on usage were perceived to be less involved with their real life communities [ 71 ]. This is similar to the finding that people who do not feel secure about their real-life connections to peers and thus have a negative social identity tend to use SNSs more in order to compensate for this [ 37 ]. Moreover, it seems that the nature of the feedback from peers that is received on a person’s SNS profile determines the effects of SNS usage on wellbeing and self-esteem.

More specifically, Dutch adolescents aged 10 to 19 years who received predominantly negative feedback had low self-esteem which in turn led to low wellbeing [ 70 ]. Given that people tend to be disinhibited when they are online [ 72 ], giving and receiving negative feedback may be more common on the Internet than in real life. This may entail negative consequences particularly for people with low self-esteem who tend to use SNSs as compensation for real-life social network paucity because they are dependent upon the feedback they receive via these sites [ 43 ]. Therefore, potentially, people with lower self-esteem are a population at risk for developing an addiction to using SNSs.

According to a more recent study assessing the relationships between Facebook usage and academic performance in a sample of 219 university students [ 73 ], Facebook users had lower Grade Point Averages and spent less time studying than students who did not use this SNS. Of the 26% of students reporting an impact of their usage on their lives, three-quarters (74%) claimed that it had a negative impact, namely procrastination, distraction, and poor time-management. A potential explanation for this may be that students who used the Internet to study may have been distracted by simultaneous engagement in SNSs, implying that this form of multitasking is detrimental to academic achievement [ 73 ].

In addition to this, it appears that the usage of Facebook may in some circumstances have negative consequences for romantic relationships. The disclosure of rich private information on one’s Facebook page including status updates, comments, pictures, and new friends, can result in jealous cyberstalking [ 74 ], including interpersonal electronic surveillance (IES; [ 75 ]) by one’s partner. This was reported to lead to jealousy [ 76 , 77 ] and, in the most extreme cases, divorce and associated legal action [ 78 ].

These few existent studies highlight that in some circumstances, SNS usage can lead to a variety of negative consequences that imply a potential decrease in involvement in real-life communities and worse academic performance, as well as relationship problems. Reducing and jeopardizing academic, social and recreational activities are considered as criteria for substance dependence [ 18 ] and may thus be considered as valid criteria for behavioral addictions [ 79 ], such as SNS addiction. In light of this, endorsing these criteria appears to put people at risk for developing addiction and the scientific research base outlined in the preceding paragraphs supports the potentially addictive quality of SNSs.

Notwithstanding these findings, due to the lack of longitudinal designs used in the presented studies, no causal inferences can be drawn with regards to whether the excessive use of SNSs is the causal factor for the reported negative consequences. Moreover, potential confounders need to be taken into consideration. For instance, the aspect of university students’ multi-tasking when studying appears to be an important factor related to poor academic achievement. Moreover, pre-existent relationship difficulties in the case of romantic partners may potentially be exacerbated by SNS use, whereas the latter does not necessarily have to be the primary driving force behind the ensuing problems. Nevertheless, the findings support the idea that SNSs are used by some people in order to cope with negative life events. Coping, in turn, has been found to be associated with both substance dependence and behavioral addictions [ 80 ]. Therefore, it appears valid to claim that there is a link between dysfunctional coping ( i.e. , escapism and avoidance) and excessive SNS use/addiction. In order to substantiate this conjecture and to more fully investigate the potential negative correlates associated with SNS usage, further research is needed.

3.5. Addiction

Researchers have suggested that the excessive use of new technologies (and especially online social networking) may be particularly addictive to young people [ 81 ]. In accordance with the biopsychosocial framework for the etiology of addictions [ 16 ] and the syndrome model of addiction [ 17 ], it is claimed that those people addicted to using SNSs experience symptoms similar to those experienced by those who suffer from addictions to substances or other behaviors [ 81 ]. This has significant implications for clinical practice because unlike other addictions, the goal of SNS addiction treatment cannot be total abstinence from using the Internet per se since the latter is an integral element of today’s professional and leisure culture. Instead, the ultimate therapy aim is controlled use of the Internet and its respective functions, particularly social networking applications, and relapse prevention using strategies developed within cognitive-behavioral therapies [ 81 ].

In addition to this, scholars have hypothesized that young vulnerable people with narcissistic tendencies are particularly prone to engaging with SNSs in an addictive way [ 65 ]. To date, only three empirical studies have been conducted and published in peer-reviewed journals that have specifically assessed the addictive potential of SNSs [ 82 – 84 ]. In addition to this, two publicly available Master’s theses have analyzed the SNS addiction and will be presented subsequently for the purpose of inclusiveness and the relative lack of data on the topic [ 85 , 86 ]. In the first study [ 83 ], 233 undergraduate university students (64% females, mean age = 19 years, SD = 2 years) were surveyed using a prospective design in order to predict high level use intentions and actual high-level usage of SNSs via an extended model of the theory of planned behavior (TPB; [ 87 ]). High-level usage was defined as using SNSs at least four times per day. TPB variables included measures of intention for usage, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Furthermore, self-identity (adapted from [ 88 ]), belongingness [ 89 ], as well as past and potential future usage of SNSs were investigated. Finally, addictive tendencies were assessed using eight questions scored on Likert scales (based on [ 90 ]).

One week after completion of the first questionnaire, participants were asked to indicate on how many days during the last week they had visited SNSs at least four times a day. The results of this study indicated that past behavior, subjective norm, attitude, and self-identity significantly predicted both behavioral intention as well as actual behavior. Additionally, addictive tendencies with regards to SNS use were significantly predicted by self-identity and belongingness [ 83 ]. Therefore, those who identified themselves as SNS users and those who looked for a sense of belongingness on SNSs appeared to be at risk for developing an addiction to SNSs.

In the second study [ 82 ], an Australian university student sample of 201 participants (76% female, mean age = 19, SD = 2) was drawn upon in order to assess personality factors via the short version of the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI; [ 91 ]), the Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI; [ 92 ]), time spent using SNSs, and an Addictive Tendencies Scale (based on [ 90 , 93 ]). The Addictive Tendencies Scale included three items measuring salience, loss of control, and withdrawal. The results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that high extraversion and low conscientiousness scores significantly predicted both addictive tendencies and the time spent using an SNS. The researchers suggested that the relationship between extraversion and addictive tendencies could be explained by the fact that using SNSs satisfies the extraverts’ need to socialize [ 82 ]. The findings with regards to lack of conscientiousness appear to be in line with previous research on the frequency of general Internet use in that people who score low on conscientiousness tend to use the Internet more frequently than those who score high on this personality trait [ 94 ].

In the third study, Karaiskos et al. [ 84 ] report the case of a 24-year old female who used SNS to such an extent that her behavior significantly interfered with her professional and private life. As a consequence, she was referred to a psychiatric clinic. She used Facebook excessively for at least five hours a day and was dismissed from her job because she continuously checked her SNS instead of working. Even during the clinical interview, she used her mobile phone to access Facebook . In addition to excessive use that led to significant impairment in a variety of areas in the woman’s life, she developed anxiety symptoms as well as insomnia, which suggestively points to the clinical relevance of SNS addiction. Such extreme cases have led to some researchers to conceptualize SNS addiction as Internet spectrum addiction disorder [ 84 ]. This indicates that first, SNS addiction can be classified within the larger framework of Internet addictions, and second, that it is a specific Internet addiction, alongside other addictive Internet applications such as Internet gaming addiction [ 95 ], Internet gambling addiction [ 96 ], and Internet sex addiction [ 97 ].

In the fourth study [ 85 ], SNS game addiction was assessed via the Internet Addiction Test [ 98 ] using 342 Chinese college students aged 18 to 22 years. In this study, SNS game addiction referred specifically to being addicted to the SNS game Happy Farm . Students were defined as addicted to using this SNS game when they endorsed a minimum of five out of eight total items of the IAT. Using this cut-off, 24% of the sample were identified as addicted [ 85 ].

Moreover, the author investigated gratifications of SNS game use, loneliness [ 99 ], leisure boredom [ 100 ], and self esteem [ 101 ]. The findings indicated that there was a weak positive correlation between loneliness and SNS game addiction and a moderate positive correlation between leisure boredom and SNS game addiction. Moreover, the gratifications “inclusion” (in a social group) and “achievement” (in game), leisure boredom, and male gender significantly predicted SNS game addiction [ 85 ].

In the fifth study [ 86 ], SNS addiction was assessed in a sample of 335 Chinese college students aged 19 to 28 years using Young’s Internet Addiction Test [ 98 ] modified to specifically assess the addiction to a common Chinese SNS, namely Xiaonei.com . Users were classified as addicted when they endorsed five or more of the eight addiction items specified in the IAT. Moreover, the author assessed loneliness [ 99 ], user gratifications (based on the results of a previous focus group interview), usage attributes and patterns of SNS website use [ 86 ].

The results indicated that of the total sample, 34% were classified as addicted. Moreover, loneliness significantly and positively correlated with frequency and session length of using Xiaonei.com as well as SNS addiction. Likewise, social activities and relationship building were found to predict SNS addiction [ 86 ].

Unfortunately, when viewed from a critical perspective, the quantitative studies reviewed here suffer from a variety of limitations. Initially, the mere assessment of addiction tendencies does not suffice to demarcate real pathology. In addition, the samples were small, specific, and skewed with regards to female gender. This may have led to the very high addiction prevalence rates (up to 34%) reported [ 86 ]. Clearly, it needs to be ensured that rather than assessing excessive use and/or preoccupation, addiction specifically needs to be assessed.

Wilson et al. ’s study [ 82 ] suffered from endorsing only three potential addiction criteria which is not sufficient for establishing addiction status clinically. Similarly, significant impairment and negative consequences that discriminate addiction from mere abuse [ 18 ] were not assessed in this study at all. Thus, future studies have great potential in addressing the emergent phenomenon of addiction to using social networks on the Internet by means of applying better methodological designs, including more representative samples, and using more reliable and valid addiction scales so that current gaps in empirical knowledge can be filled.

Furthermore, research must address the presence of specific addiction symptoms beyond negative consequences. These might be adapted from the DSM-IV TR criteria for substance dependence [ 18 ] and the ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome [ 102 ], including (i) tolerance, (ii) withdrawal, (iii) increased use, (iv) loss of control, (v) extended recovery periods, (vi) sacrificing social, occupational and recreational activities, and (vii) continued use despite of negative consequences. These have been found to be adequate criteria for diagnosing behavioral addictions [ 79 ] and thus appear sufficient to be applied to SNS addiction. In order to be diagnosed with SNS addiction, at least three (but preferably more) of the above mentioned criteria should be met in the same 12-month period and they must cause significant impairment to the individual [ 18 ].

In light of this qualitative case study, it appears that from a clinical perspective, SNS addiction is a mental health problem that may require professional treatment. Unlike the quantitative studies, the case study emphasizes the significant individual impairment that is experienced by individuals that spans a variety of life domains, including their professional life as well as their psychosomatic condition. Future researchers are therefore advised to not only investigate SNS addiction in a quantitative way, but to further our understanding of this new mental health problem by analyzing cases of individuals who suffer from excessive SNS usage.

3.6. Specificity and Comorbidity

It appears essential to pay adequate attention to (i) the specificity of SNS addiction and (ii) potential comorbidity. Hall et al. [ 103 ] outline three reasons why it is necessary to address comorbidity between mental disorders, such as addictions. First, a large number of mental disorders feature additional (sub)clinical problems/disorders. Second, comorbid conditions must be addressed in clinical practice in order to improve treatment outcomes. Third, specific prevention programs may be developed which incorporate different dimensions and treatment modalities that particularly target associated mental health problems. From this it follows that assessing the specificity and potential comorbidities of SNS addiction is important. However, to date, research addressing this topic is virtually non-existent. There has been almost no research on the co-occurrence of SNS addiction with other types of addictive behavior, mainly because there have been so few studies examining SNS addiction as highlighted in the previous section. However, based on the small empirical base, there are a number of speculative assumptions that can be made about co-addiction co-morbidity in relation to SNS addiction.

Firstly, for some individuals, their SNS addiction takes up such a large amount of available time that it is highly unlikely that it would co-occur with other behavioral addictions unless the other behavioral addiction(s) can find an outlet via social networking sites (e.g., gambling addiction, gaming addiction). Put simply, there would be little face validity in the same individual being, for example, both a workaholic and a social networking addict, or an exercise addict and a social networking addict, mainly because the amount of daily time available to engage in two behavioral addictions simultaneously would be highly unlikely. Still, it is necessary to pinpoint the respective addictive behaviors because some of these behaviors may in fact co-occur. In one study that included a clinical sample diagnosed with substance dependencies, Malat and colleagues [ 104 ] found that 61% pursued at least one and 31% engaged in two or more problematic behaviors, such as overeating, unhealthy relationships and excessive Internet use. Therefore, although a simultaneous addiction to behaviors such as working and using SNS is relatively unlikely, SNS addiction may potentially co-occur with overeating and other excessive sedentary behaviors.

Thus, secondly, it is theoretically possible for a social networking addict to have an additional drug addiction, as it is perfectly feasible to engage in both a behavioral and chemical addiction simultaneously [ 16 ]. It may also make sense from a motivational perspective. For instance, if one of the primary reasons social network addicts are engaging in the behavior is because of their low self-esteem, it makes intuitive sense that some chemical addictions may serve the same purpose. Accordingly, studies suggest that the engagement in addictive behaviors is relatively common among persons who suffer from substance dependence. In one study, Black et al. [ 105 ] found that 38% of problematic computer users in their sample had a substance use disorder in addition to their behavioral problems/addiction. Apparently, research indicates that some persons who suffer from Internet addiction experience other addictions at the same time.

Of a patient sample including 1,826 individuals treated for substance addictions (mainly cannabis addiction), 4.1% were found to suffer from Internet addiction [ 106 ]. Moreover, the findings of further research [ 107 ] indicated that Internet addiction and substance use experience in adolescents share common family factors, namely higher parent-adolescent conflict, habitual alcohol use of siblings, perceived parents’ positive attitude to adolescent substance use, and lower family functioning. Moreover, Lam et al. [ 108 ] assessed Internet addiction and associated factors in a sample of 1,392 adolescents aged 13–18 years. In terms of potential comorbidity, they found that drinking behavior was a risk factor for being diagnosed with Internet addiction using the Internet Addiction Test [ 109 ]. This implies that potentially, alcohol abuse/dependence can be associated with SNS addiction. Support for this comes from Kuntsche et al. [ 110 ]. They found that in Swiss adolescents, the expectancy of social approval was associated with problem drinking. Since SNSs are inherently social platforms that are used by people for social purposes, it appears reasonable to deduce that there may indeed be people who suffer from comorbid addictions, namely SNS addiction and alcohol dependence.

Thirdly, it appears that there may be a relationship between SNS addiction specificity and personality traits. Ko et al. [ 111 ] found that Internet addiction (IA) was predicted by high novelty seeking (NS), high harm avoidance (HA), and low reward dependence (RD) in adolescents. Those adolescents who were addicted to the Internet and who had experience of substance use scored significantly higher on NS and lower on HA than the IA group. Therefore, it appears that HA particularly impacts Internet addiction specificity because high HA discriminates Internet addicts from individuals who are not only addicted to the Internet, but who use substances. Therefore, it seems plausible to hypothesize that persons with low harm avoidance are in danger of developing comorbid addictions to SNSs and substances. Accordingly, research needs to address this difference specifically for those who are addicted to using SNSs in order to demarcate this potential disorder from comorbid conditions.

In addition to this, it seems reasonable to specifically address the respective activities people can engage in on their SNS. There have already been a number of researchers who have begun to examine the possible relationship between social networking and gambling [ 112 – 116 ], and social networking and gaming [ 113 , 116 , 117 ]. All of these writings have noted how the social networking medium can be used for gambling and/or gaming. For instance, online poker applications and online poker groups on social networking sites are among the most popular [ 115 ], and others have noted the press reports surrounding addiction to social networking games such as Farmville [ 117 ]. Although there have been no empirical studies to date examining addiction to gambling or gaming via social networking, there is no reason to suspect that those playing in the social networking medium are any less likely than those playing other online or offline media to become addicted to gambling and/or gaming.

Synoptically, addressing the specificity of SNS addiction and comorbidities with other addictions is necessary for (i) comprehending this disorder as distinct mental health problem while (ii) paying respect to associated conditions, which will (iii) aid treatment and (iv) prevention efforts. From the reported studies, it appears that the individual’s upbringing and psychosocial context are influential factors with regards to potential comorbidity between Internet addiction and substance dependence, which is supported by scientific models of addictions and their etiology [ 16 , 17 ]. Moreover, alcohol and cannabis dependence were outlined as potential co-occurring problems. Nonetheless, apart from this, the presented studies do not specifically address the discrete relationships between particular substance dependencies and individual addictive behaviors, such as addiction to using SNSs. Therefore, future empirical research is needed in order to shed more light upon SNS addiction specificity and comorbidity.

4. Discussion and Conclusions

The aim of this literature review was to present an overview of the emergent empirical research relating to usage of and addiction to social networks on the Internet. Initially, SNSs were defined as virtual communities offering their members the possibility to make use of their inherent Web 2.0 features, namely networking and sharing media content. The history of SNSs dates back to the late 1990s, suggesting that they are not as new as they may appear in the first place. With the emergence of SNSs such as Facebook , overall SNS usage has accelerated in such a way that they are considered a global consumer phenomenon. Today, more than 500 million users are active participants in the Facebook community alone and studies suggest that between 55% and 82% of teenagers and young adults use SNSs on a regular basis. Extracting information from peers’ SNS pages is an activity that is experienced as especially enjoyable and it has been linked with the activation of the appetitive system, which in turn is related to addiction experience.

In terms of sociodemographics, the studies presented indicate that overall, SNS usage patterns differ. Females appear to use SNS in order to communicate with members of their peer group, whereas males appear to use them for the purposes of social compensation, learning, and social identity gratifications [ 37 ]. Furthermore, men tend to disclose more personal information on SNS sites relative to women [ 25 , 118 ]. Also, more women were found to use MySpace specifically relative to men [ 26 ]. Moreover, usage patterns were found to differ between genders as a function of personality. Unlike women with neurotic traits, men with neurotic traits were found to be more frequent SNS users [ 66 ]. In addition to this, it was found that males were more likely to be addicted to SNS games specifically relative to females [ 85 ]. This is in line with the finding that males in general are a population at risk for developing an addiction to playing online games [ 95 ].

The only study that assessed age differences in usage [ 23 ] indicated that the latter in fact varies as a function of age. Specifically, “silver surfers” ( i.e. , those over the age of 60 years) have a smaller circle of online friends that differs in age relative to younger SNS users. Based on the current empirical knowledge that has predominantly assessed young teenage and student samples, it appears unclear whether older people use SNSs excessively and whether they potentially become addicted to using them. Therefore, future research must aim at filling this gap in knowledge.

Next, the motivations for using SNSs were reviewed on the basis of needs and gratifications theory. In general, research suggests that SNSs are used for social purposes. Overall, the maintenance of connections to offline network members was emphasized rather than the establishment of new ties. With regards to this, SNS users sustain bridging social capital through a variety of heterogeneous connections to other SNS users. This appeared to be beneficial for them with regards to sharing knowledge and potential future possibilities related to employment and related areas. In effect, the knowledge that is available to individuals via their social network can be thought of as “collective intelligence” [ 119 ].

Collective intelligence extends the mere idea of shared knowledge because it is not restricted to knowledge shared by all members of a particular community. Instead, it denotes the aggregation of each individual member’s knowledge that can be accessed by other members of the respective community. In this regard, the pursuit of weak ties on SNSs is of great benefit and thus coincides with the satisfaction of the members’ needs. At the same time, it is experienced as gratifying. Therefore, rather than seeking emotional support, individuals make use of SNSs in order to communicate and stay in touch not only with family and friends, but also with more distant acquaintances, therefore sustaining weak ties with potentially advantageous environments. The benefits of large online social networks may potentially lead people to excessively engage in using them, which, in turn, may purport addictive behaviors.

As regards personality psychology, certain personality traits were found to be associated with higher usage frequency that may be associated with potential abuse and/or addiction. Of those, extraversion and introversion stand out because each of these is related to more habitual participation in social networks on the Internet. However, the motivations of extraverts and introverts differ in that extraverts enhance their social networks, whereas introverts compensate for the lack of real life social networks. Presumably, the motivations for higher SNS usage of people who are agreeable and conscientious may be related to those shared by extraverts, indicating a need for staying connected and socializing with their communities. Nevertheless, of those, high extraversion was found to be related to potential addiction to using SNS, in accordance with low conscientiousness [ 82 ].

The dissimilar motivations for usage found for members scoring high on the respective personality trait can inform future research into potential addiction to SNSs. Hypothetically, people who compensate for scarce ties with their real life communities may be at greater risk to develop addiction. In effect, in one study, addictive SNS usage was predicted by looking for a sense of belongingness in this community [ 83 ], which supports this conjecture. Presumably, the same may hold true for people who score high on neuroticism and narcissism, assuming that members of both groups tend to have low self-esteem. This supposition is informed by research indicating that people use the Internet excessively in order to cope with everyday stressors [ 120 , 121 ]. This may serve as a preliminary explanation for the findings regarding the negative correlates that were found to be associated with more frequent SNS usage.

Overall, the engagement in particular activities on SNSs, such as social searching, and the personality traits that were found to be associated with greater extents of SNS usage may serve as an anchor point for future studies in terms of defining populations who are at risk for developing addiction to using social networks on the Internet. Furthermore, it is recommended that researchers assess factors that are specific to SNS addiction, including the pragmatics, attraction, communication and expectations of SNS use because these may predict the etiology of SNS addiction as based on the addiction specificity etiology framework [ 15 ]. Due to the scarcity of research in this domain with a specific focus on SNS addiction specificity and comorbidity, further empirical research is necessary. Moreover, researchers are encouraged to pay close attention to the different motivations of introverts and extraverts because each of those appears to be related to higher usage frequency. What is more, investigating the relationship of potential addiction with narcissism seems to be a fruitful area for empirical research. In addition to this, motivations for usage as well as a wider variety of negative correlates related to excessive SNS use need to be addressed.

In addition to the above mentioned implications and suggestions for future research, specific attention needs to be paid to selecting larger samples which are representative of a broader population in order to increase the respective study’s external validity. The generalizability of results is essential in order to demarcate populations at risk for developing addiction to SNSs. Similarly, it appears necessary to conduct further psychophysiological studies in order to assess the phenomenon from a biological perspective. Furthermore, clear-cut and validated addiction criteria need to be assessed. It is insufficient to limit studies into addiction to assessing just a few criteria. The demarcation of pathology from high frequency and problematic usage necessitates adopting frameworks that have been established by the international classification manuals [ 18 , 102 ]. Moreover, in light of clinical evidence and practice, it appears essential to pay attention to the significant impairment that SNS addicts experience in a variety of life domains as a consequence of their abusive and/or addictive behaviors.

Similarly, the results of data based on self-reports are not sufficient for diagnosis because research suggests that they may be inaccurate [ 122 ]. Conceivably, self-reports may be supplemented with structured clinical interviews [ 123 ] and further case study evidence as well as supplementary reports from the users’ significant others. In conclusion, social networks on the Internet are iridescent Web 2.0 phenomena that offer the potential to become part of, and make use of, collective intelligence. However, the latent mental health consequences of excessive and addictive use are yet to be explored using the most rigorous scientific methods.

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Social Networking Sites Essay for Class 7 Students

Essay on social networking sites provided by vedantu.

Vedantu provides Essays on various topics to provide students with an understanding of how to write essays in the exam. Essay writing has many benefits: it allows students to have a strong grip on language, improves sentence formation and grammar. Download essay on the topic Reading is a Good Habit on Vedantu’s site.

Social Networking Sites

Social media is an online platform for communication and the exchange of data. Social media platforms create a virtual world that can be accessible by the internet. One can also define social media as a social network that keeps the entire world connected. Even the world’s richest person Bill Gates suggested to the young entrepreneur the extraction of capitative income from social media in his conference through his quote, “If I was down at the last dollar in my marketing budget, I’d spend it on PR!” PR is nothing but ‘Public Relation’. And PR has a tremendous impact on social networking sites.

Earlier there were post offices to deliver letters from one place to the other. The process was long and tedious. Even for delivery of 30-50 km, at least 7-8 days was minimum awaited. Then the world got a boost with technology. The world started moving at the speed of it. Everything merged up and compacted in this virtual world.

Social networking sites contain connecting websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp and many lesser-known platforms. These websites assist a person to get connected with people who are a thousand miles away. Communication routes are pretty much easier for the messages. Even, it plays a leading role in providing new employment avenues. Many new and lucrative job opportunities have come up due to the rise of social media marketing. Also, job seekers can now submit their resumes or directly communicate with the company owners about their qualities. We can create our profiles online with our business details which assist in promoting businesses. Some businesses are already running on social sites; blogging is most popular amongst all. With the advancement of social media technology, news can spread in a matter of minutes.

A widely popular social media platform is YouTube. YouTube started as a channel for funny videos but it has established itself as a social media website. Platforms like YouTube allows new artists to showcase their talent and earn popularity and money.

Every coin has two sides. On one side where there are so many benefits of such sites, on the other, there are many negative repercussions. Many criminals have the lion’s share in fake accounts. Hacking and other malicious practices have become a common menace. Frequent FIR’s are submitted about money-related frauds. Moreover, women’s safety feels endangered. If proper care is being taken in advance, nothing is going to harm us at all.

Vedantu’s Guidance on Structuring Social Networking Sites Essay

The beauty of writing an essay is in the amount of freedom a writer is offered while writing and structuring it. But if you find it difficult to structure Social Networking Sites Essay, we suggest you stick to the basic pattern followed throughout which is as follows:

Introduction: This will be the first paragraph of your essay where you can introduce the idea of social media and talk about some daily life examples to enhance your point further.

Body: This will be the part of your essay wherein you will put forward your main idea and content. Here you can talk about the emergence of social media, some pioneering social media sites, facts and data, changing marketing dynamics, effects of social media on society, and a lot more.

Conclusion: This is where you will give your final thoughts about social media and try to provide a well-balanced ending note which is optimistic. You can also suggest a few way-forwards.

This is a very basic outline for writing an essay that is universally approved. You can modify this structure as per your writing style to include additional points. Also, remember to stick to the word limit mentioned in the question.

FAQs on Social Networking Sites Essay for Class 7 Students

1. Which are some of the famous social networking sites available today?

Some of the famous social networking sites are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp etc. Facebook is the largest social media site with more than two billion users. All these sites provide a different way to connect to the digital world. These websites not only provide a forum to share and connect but also plays an extensive role in digital marketing and advertising. They have also become a source of news and learning.

2. What are some of the benefits of social networking sites?

Social Media provides a way of connecting with the digital world. Everyone can find new people, make friends and communicate with their loved ones all over the world using social media platforms. It also provides a way for students to widen their knowledge by connecting to teachers and professors all around the globe. It provides a platform to increase the business through advertising and provides a creative way of doing business. People can attend meetings and sign deals sitting in the comfort of their homes.

3. Where can students avail a free essay on the topic ‘Social Networking Sites’?

Students can avail themselves of a free essay on the topic ‘Social Networking Sites’ on online learning platforms like Vedantu. Vedantu is a premier learning platform where students can avail free study materials. Online resources like essays on various topics are written by experts to help students understand how to write impressive essays.

4. What are the important points to mention while writing an essay on the topic ‘Social Media Sites’?

Some of the important points to mention while writing an essay on the topic ‘Social Media Sites’ are:

• It should contain the advantages and disadvantages of Social Media.
• It should briefly explain Social media.
• It must contain information about some of the widely used Social Media Platforms.
• It must contain knowledge about its effect on the younger generation and common peo ple around the globe.

5. How should I approach Social Networking Sites Essay?

Approaching an essay is a challenge for many students, this usually happens due to a lack of understanding of the topic. For writing an essay on Social Networking Sites you first begin with thinking about the structure for your essay. Then you can shift your focus towards collecting data, facts and numbers. You should also try to include your own experiences and observations. This will bring a unique perspective to the essay which will be of your own. After all this exercise, you can progress towards writing the essay.

6. Why is Social Networking Sites Essay an important topic for an English essay?

Social Networking Sites Essay is a very expected topic in any English exam as it is very relevant in contemporary times. As the times are changing so are our ways of interacting with people in general. Social media has affected every part of our lives. Due to pandemics, human to human interaction has been reduced thus the world has started using social media for connecting. Businesses, meetings, learning, shopping, etc. everything has moved online and everyone is trying to create a presence on social media sites. This has provided ample opportunities but also brought with it a new set of challenges. Due to all of these reasons, an essay on social media is very much expected.

7. I find it difficult to express my thoughts while writing Social Networking Sites Essays. How do I tackle this problem?

The thinking process of every student differs and we understand it perfectly. To express your thoughts while writing Social Networking Sites Essays, you can try to fit in your own experience and observation. Try to recall how your childhood was when social media sites were less prevalent and how it has changed now. You can also try to visit a few social media sites and see how they operate and how it is beneficial for businesses and customers. While doing this exercise keep noting your observations then try to fit these in your essay. You may refer to Vedantu's guide to writing an essay to structure your essay. Also, you may read the above essay for your reference and then start working on your ideas.

8. Do I need to memorize Social Networking Sites Essays word by word for the exam?

No not at all. There is no need to memorize Social Networking Sites Essay or for that matter, any English essay present on Vedantu’s website. You only need to focus on the structuring of the essay, content to be covered in each part, technical terms and keywords. With these, you will be well equipped to write an entire essay on your own in the exam. Practising a few essays from Vedantu's website will boost your confidence and will prepare you to write an essay on any given topic in the exam hall on the day of the exam.

9. How should I show that social media has various benefits while writing a Social Networking Sites Essay?

You need to highlight the benefits of social media while writing Social Networking Sites Essay. To cover this theme in the essay, you can talk about how social media has changed the world and society for good by bringing people close to each other. Today customers can get access to international businesses, consumers can get access to international products, common people can showcase their talents on various social media sites, a wide variety of educational content is available on these sites, lectures are conducted online for students to attend, etc.

Kids-learning • Class 7

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What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's what you need to know

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot with natural language processing (NLP) that allows you to have human-like conversations to complete various tasks. The  generative AI  tool can answer questions and assist you with tasks such as composing emails, essays, code, and more.

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It's currently  open to use for free . A paid subscription version called ChatGPT Plus launched in February 2023 with access to priority access to OpenAI's latest models and updates.

Who made ChatGPT?

AI startup OpenAI launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022. OpenAI has also developed  DALL-E 2  and DALL-E 3 , popular  AI image generators , and Whisper, an automatic speech recognition system. 

Who owns ChatGPT currently?

OpenAI owns ChatGPT. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI thanks to multiyear, multi-billion dollar  investments. Elon Musk was an investor when OpenAI was first founded in 2015, but has since completely severed ties with the startup and created his own AI chatbot, Grok .

How can you access ChatGPT?

On April 1, 2024, OpenAI stopped requiring you to log in to use ChatGPT. Now, you can access ChatGPT simply by visiting  chat.openai.com . You can also access ChatGPT  via an app on your iPhone  or  Android  device.

Once you visit the site, you can start chatting away with ChatGPT. A great way to get started is by asking a question, similar to what you would do with Google. You can ask as many questions as you'd like.

Also: ChatGPT no longer requires a login, but you might want one anyway. Here's why

There are still some perks to creating an OpenAI account, such saving and reviewing your chat history and accessing custom instructions. Creating an OpenAI account is entirely free and easy. You can even log in with your Google account.

For step-by-step instructions, check out ZDNET's guide on  how to start using ChatGPT . 

Is there a ChatGPT app?

Yes, an official ChatGPT app is available for both iPhone and Android users. 

Also: ChatGPT dropped a free app for iPhones. Does it live up to the hype?

Make sure to download OpenAI's app, as there are a plethora of copycat fake apps listed on Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store that are not affiliated with the startup.

Is ChatGPT available for free?

ChatGPT is free to use, regardless of what you use it for, including writing, coding, and much more. 

There is a subscription option , ChatGPT Plus, that users can take advantage of that costs $20/month. The paid subscription model guarantees users extra perks, such as priority access to GPT-4o and the latest upgrades. 

Also: ChatGPT vs ChatGPT Plus: Is it worth the subscription fee?

Although the subscription price may seem steep, it is the same amount as Microsoft Copilot Pro and Google One AI, Microsoft's and Google's premium AI offerings. 

The free version is still a solid option as it can access the same model and most of the same perks. One major exception: only subscribers get guaranteed access to GPT-4o when the model is at capacity. 

I tried using ChatGPT and it says it's at capacity. What does that mean?

The ChatGPT website operates using servers. When too many people hop onto these servers, they may overload and can't process your request. If this happens to you, you can visit the site later when fewer people are trying to access the tool. You can also keep the tab open and refresh it periodically. 

Also: The best AI chatbots

If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, you can subscribe to  ChatGPT Plus  for general access during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements, including priority access to GPT-4o.

You can also try using Bing's AI chatbot, Copilot . This chatbot is free to use, runs on GPT-4, has no wait times, and can access the internet for more accurate information.

What is ChatGPT used for?

ChatGPT has many functions in addition to answering simple questions. ChatGPT can compose essays , have philosophical conversations, do math, and even code for you . 

The tasks ChatGPT can help with also don't have to be so ambitious. For example, my favorite use of ChatGPT is for help creating basic lists for chores, such as packing and grocery shopping, and to-do lists that make my daily life more productive. The possibilities are endless. 

ZDNET has published many ChatGPT how-to guides. Below are some of the most popular ones. 

Use ChatGPT to: 

• Write an essay
• Create an app
• Build your resume
• Write Excel formulas
• Summarize content
• Write a cover letter
• Start an Etsy business
• Create charts and tables
• Write Adruino drivers

Can ChatGPT generate images?

Yes, ChatGPT can generate images, but only for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. Since OpenAI discontinued DALL-E 2 in February 2024, the only way to access its most advanced AI image generator, DALL-E 3, through OpenAI's offerings is via its chatbot and ChatGPT Plus subscription.

Also: DALL-E adds new ways to edit and create AI-generated images. Learn how to use it

Microsoft's Copilot offers image generation, which is also powered by DALL-E 3, in its chatbot for free. This is a great alternative if you don't want to shell out the money for ChatGPT Plus.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT runs on a large language model (LLM) architecture created by OpenAI called the  Generative Pre-trained Transformer  (GPT). Since its launch, the free version of ChatGPT ran on a fine-tuned model in the GPT-3.5 series until May 2024, when the startup upgraded the model to GPT-4o. 

Also:   Here's a deep dive into how ChatGPT works  

With a subscription to ChatGPT Plus , you can access GPT-3.5, GPT-4, or  GPT-4o . Plus, users also have the added perk of priority access to GPT-4o, even when it is at capacity, while free users get booted down to GPT-3.5. 

Generative AI models of this type are trained on vast amounts of information from the internet, including websites, books, news articles, and more.

What does ChatGPT stand for?

As mentioned above, the last three letters in ChatGPT's namesake stand for Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), a family of large language models created by OpenAI that uses deep learning to generate human-like, conversational text. 

Also: What does GPT stand for? Understanding GPT 3.5, GPT 4, GPT-4 Turbo, and more

The "Chat" part of the name is simply a callout to its chatting capabilities. 

Is ChatGPT better than a search engine?

ChatGPT is a language model created to converse with the end user. A search engine indexes web pages on the internet to help users find information. One is not better than the other, as each suit different purposes. 

When searching for as much up-to-date, accurate information as you can access, your best bet is a search engine. It will provide you with pages upon pages of sources you can peruse. 

Also: The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and more

As of May, the free version of ChatGPT can get responses from both the GPT-4o model and the web. It will only pull its answer from, and ultimately list, a handful of sources, as opposed to showing nearly endless search results.

For example, I used GPT-4o to answer, "What is the weather today in San Francisco?" The response told me it searched four sites and provided links to them. 

If you are looking for a platform that can explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner, then ChatGPT might be what you want. If you want the best of both worlds, there are plenty of AI search engines on the market that combine both.

What are ChatGPT's limitations?

Despite its impressive capabilities, ChatGPT still has limitations. Users sometimes need to reword questions multiple times for ChatGPT to understand their intent. A bigger limitation is a lack of quality in responses, which can sometimes be plausible-sounding but are verbose or make no practical sense. 

Instead of asking for clarification on ambiguous questions, the model guesses what your question means, which can lead to poor responses. Generative AI models are also subject to hallucinations, which can result in inaccurate responses.

Does ChatGPT give wrong answers?

As mentioned above, ChatGPT, like all language models, has  limitations  and can give nonsensical answers and incorrect information, so it's important to double-check the data it gives you.

Also: 8 ways to reduce ChatGPT hallucinations

OpenAI recommends that you provide feedback on what ChatGPT generates by using the thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons to improve its underlying model. You can even join the startup's Bug Bounty program , which offers up to $20,000 for reporting security bugs and safety issues.

Can ChatGPT refuse to answer my prompts?

AI systems like ChatGPT can and do reject  inappropriate requests . The AI assistant can identify inappropriate submissions to prevent the generation of unsafe content.

Also:  6 things ChatGPT can't do (and another 20 it refuses to do)

These submissions include questions that violate someone's rights, are offensive, are discriminatory, or involve illegal activities. The ChatGPT model can also challenge incorrect premises, answer follow-up questions, and even admit mistakes when you point them out.

These guardrails are important. AI models can generate advanced, realistic content that can be exploited by bad actors for harm, such as spreading misinformation about public figures and influencing elections .

Can I chat with ChatGPT?

Although some people use ChatGPT for elaborate functions, such as writing code or even malware , you can use ChatGPT for more mundane activities, such as having a friendly conversation. 

Also:  Do you like asking ChatGPT questions? You could get paid (a lot) for it

Some conversation starters could be as simple as, "I am hungry, what food should I get?" or as elaborate as, "What do you think happens in the afterlife?" Either way, ChatGPT is sure to have an answer for you. 

Is ChatGPT safe?

People are expressing concerns about AI chatbots replacing or atrophying human intelligence. For example, a chatbot can write an article on any topic efficiently (though not necessarily accurately) within seconds, potentially eliminating the need for human writers.

Chatbots can also write an entire essay within seconds, making it easier for students to cheat or avoid learning how to write properly. This even led  some school districts to block access  when ChatGPT initially launched. 

Also:  Generative AI can be the academic assistant an underserved student needs

Now, not only have many of those schools decided to unblock the technology, but some higher education institutions have been  catering their academic offerings  to AI-related coursework. 

Another concern with AI chatbots is the possible spread of misinformation. ChatGPT itself says: "My responses are not intended to be taken as fact, and I always encourage people to verify any information they receive from me or any other source." OpenAI also notes that ChatGPT sometimes writes "plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers."

Also:  Microsoft and OpenAI detect and disrupt nation-state cyber threats that use AI, report shows

Lastly, there are ethical concerns regarding the information ChatGPT was trained on, since the startup scraped the internet to train the chatbot. 

It also automatically uses people's interactions with the free version of the chatbot to further train its models, raising privacy concerns. OpenAI lets you turn off training in ChatGPT's settings.

Does ChatGPT plagiarize?

Yes, sort of. OpenAI scraped the internet to train ChatGPT. Therefore, the technology's knowledge is influenced by other people's work. Since there is no guarantee that when OpenAI outputs its answers it is entirely original, the chatbot may regurgitate someone else's work in your answer, which is considered plagiarism. 

Is there a ChatGPT detector?

Concerns about students using AI to cheat mean the need for a ChatGPT text detector is becoming more evident. 

In January 2023, OpenAI released a free tool to target this problem. Unfortunately, OpenAI's "classifier" tool could only correctly identify 26% of AI-written text with a "likely AI-written" designation. Furthermore, it provided false positives 9% of the time, incorrectly identifying human-written work as AI-produced. 

The tool performed so poorly  that, six months after being released, OpenAI it shut down "due to its low rate of accuracy." Despite the tool's failure, the startup claims to be researching more effective techniques for AI text identification.

Also: OpenAI unveils text-to-video model and the results are astonishing

Other AI detectors exist on the market, including GPT-2 Output Detector ,  Writer AI Content Detector , and Content at Scale's AI Content Detection  tool. ZDNET put these tools to the test, and the results were underwhelming: all three were found to be unreliable sources for spotting AI, repeatedly giving false negatives. Here are  ZDNET's full test results .

What are the common signs something was written by ChatGPT?

Although tools aren't sufficient for detecting ChatGPT-generated writing, a  study  shows that humans could detect AI-written text by looking for politeness. The study's results indicate that  ChatGPT's writing style is extremely polite . And unlike humans, it cannot produce responses that include metaphors, irony, or sarcasm.

Will my conversations with ChatGPT be used for training?

One of the major risks when using generative AI models is that they become more intelligent by being trained on user inputs. Therefore, when familiarizing yourself with how to use ChatGPT, you might wonder if your specific conversations will be used for training and, if so, who can view your chats.

Also:  This ChatGPT update fixed one of my biggest productivity issues with the AI chatbot

OpenAI will use your conversations with the free chatbot to automatically training data to refine its models. You can opt out of the startup using your data for model training by clicking on the question mark in the bottom left-hand corner, Settings, and turning off "Improve the model for everyone."

What is GPT-4?

GPT-4 is OpenAI's language model that is much more advanced than its predecessor, GPT-3.5. Users can access GPT-4 by subscribing to ChatGPT Plus for $20 per month or using Microsoft's Copilot.

Also: What does GPT stand for? Understanding GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and more

GPT-4 has advanced intellectual capabilities, meaning it outperforms GPT-3.5 in a series of simulated benchmark exams. The newer model also supposedly produces fewer hallucinations. 

What is GPT-4o?

GPT-4o is OpenAI's latest, fastest, and most advanced flagship model. As the name implies, it has the same intelligence as GPT-4. However, the "o" in the title stands for "omni," referring to its multimodal capabilities, which allow it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs and output text, audio, and image outputs. 

Also:  6 ways OpenAI just supercharged ChatGPT for free users

The model is 50% cheaper in the API than GPT-4 Turbo while still matching its English and coding capabilities and outperforming it in non-English languages, vision, and audio understanding -- a big win for developers.

Are there alternatives to ChatGPT worth considering?

Although ChatGPT gets the most buzz, other options are just as good -- and might even be better suited to your needs. ZDNET has created a list of the best chatbots, which have all been tested by us and show which tool is best for your requirements. 

Also: 4 things Claude AI can do that ChatGPT can't

Despite ChatGPT's extensive abilities, there are major downsides to the AI chatbot. If you want to try the technology, there are plenty of other options: Copilot , Claude , Perplexity ,  Jasper , and more.  

Is ChatGPT smart enough to pass benchmark exams?

Yes, ChatGPT is capable of passing a series of benchmark exams. A professor at Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania's business school, used ChatGPT to take an MBA exam and the results were quite impressive. 

ChatGPT not only passed the exam, but the tool scored between a B- and a B. The professor, Christian Terwiesch, was impressed at its basic operations management, process analysis questions, and explanations.

OpenAI also tested the chatbot's ability to pass benchmark exams. Although ChatGPT could pass many of these benchmark exams, its scores were usually in the lower percentile. However, with GPT-4, ChatGPT can score much higher.

For example, ChatGPT using GPT-3.5 scored in the lower 10th percentile of a simulated Bar Exam, while GPT-4 scored in the top 10th percentile. You can see more examples from OpenAI in the chart below.

Can ChatGPT be used for job application assistance?

Yes, ChatGPT is a great resource to help with job applications. Undertaking a job search can be tedious and difficult, and ChatGPT can help you lighten the load. ChatGPT can build your resume  and write a cover letter .

Also :  How to use ChatGPT to write an essay

If your application has any written supplements, you can use ChatGPT to help you write those essays or personal statements . 

What are the most common ChatGPT plugins, and how do I use them?

Plugins allowed ChatGPT to connect to third-party applications, including access to real-time information on the web. The plugins expanded ChatGPT's abilities , allowing it to assist with many more activities, such as planning a trip or finding a place to eat. 

Also:  My two favorite ChatGPT Plus features and the remarkable things I can do with them

On March 19, 2024, however, OpenAI stopped allowing users to install new plugins or start new conversations with existing ones. Instead, OpenAI replaced plugins with GPTs , which are easier for developers to build. 

Users can find 3 million ChatGPT chatbots, also known as GPTs, on the GPT store. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of spam in the GPT store.

What is Microsoft's involvement with ChatGPT?

Microsoft was an early investor in OpenAI, the AI startup behind ChatGPT, long before ChatGPT was released to the public. Microsoft's first involvement with OpenAI was in 2019, when the company invested $1 billion, and then another $2 billion in the years after. In January 2023, Microsoft extended its partnership with OpenAI through a multiyear, multi-billion dollar investment .

Also: ChatGPT vs. Copilot: Which AI chatbot is better for you?

 Neither company disclosed the investment value, but unnamed sources told Bloomberg that it could total $10 billion over multiple years. In return, OpenAI's exclusive cloud-computing provider is Microsoft Azure, powering all OpenAI workloads across research, products, and API services.

Microsoft has also used its OpenAI partnership to revamp its Bing search engine and improve its browser. 

On February 7, 2023, Microsoft unveiled a new Bing tool , now known as Copilot, that runs on OpenAI's GPT-4, customized specifically for search.

What does Copilot (formerly Bing Chat) have to do with ChatGPT?

In February 2023,  Microsoft unveiled  a new version of Bing -- and its standout feature was its integration with ChatGPT. When it was announced, Microsoft shared that Bing Chat, now Copilot, was powered by a next-generation version of OpenAI's large language model, making it "more powerful than ChatGPT." Five weeks after the launch, Microsoft revealed that Copilot had been running on GPT-4 before the model had even launched. 

How does Copilot compare to ChatGPT?

Copilot uses OpenAI's GPT-4, which means that since its launch, it has been more efficient and capable than the standard, free version of ChatGPT. At the time, Copilot boasted several other features over ChatGPT, such as access to the internet, knowledge of current information, and footnotes.

In May 2024, however, OpenAI supercharged the free version of its chatbot with GPT-4o. The upgrade gave users GPT-4 level intelligence, the ability to get responses from the web via ChatGPT Browse with Bing, analyze data, chat about photos and documents, use GPTs, access the GPT Store, and Voice Mode. Therefore, after the upgrade, ChatGPT reclaimed its crown as the best AI chatbot. 

What is Gemini and how does it relate to ChatGPT?

Gemini is Google's AI chat service, a rival to ChatGPT. On February 6, 2023, Google introduced its experimental AI chat service, which was then called Google Bard. Over a month after the announcement, Google began rolling out  access to Bard first via a waitlist . Now, it is available to the general public. 

Artificial Intelligence

How to use chatgpt (and how to access gpt-4o), what does gpt stand for understanding gpt-3.5, gpt-4, gpt-4o, and more, chatgpt vs. chatgpt plus: is a paid subscription still worth it.