Research Question

Question: Does social networking allow people to make stronger connections with others around the world or does it isolate people from real world contact?

            Through social networking, business is made easier and more efficient, as is keeping and maintaining personal relations. Although it can isolate people from the real world to an extent, the positive aspects of social networking do out way the negative aspects.

While researching social networking and its importance I was extremely surprised at just how essential it can be to business. With opening up the option of online communication the possibilities also open up. You could do interviews online with people all around the world, which would save money that otherwise, would have been used on traveling expenses. Besides saving money, social networking also saves time. Instead of flying all the way to see clients, a business could set up and online videoconference to discuss business matters. Even sites such as Facebook could help business associates stay in touch wherever they are. According to Pai and Arnott, “Facebook marked its sixth anniversary in February 2010 with a population of 400 million users” (Pai & Arnott, 2013). A site this big and popular will most likely be around for a very long time so being a part of it could be vital to online communications with people.

Pai, P. & Arnott, D.C. (2013). User adoption of social networking sites: Eliciting uses and gratifications through a means–end approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 1039-1053. Retreived from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2097/science/article/pii/S074756321200177X