Social Networks: For or Against ?

      One of the best new developments on the web has been that of social networks, like Facebook, Twitter or MySpace. Nowadays, the social networks took an important place in the daily life. Indeed, billions of people have a social network account. 

I- The positive side of social networks.

      For a teenager, is very important to have a social network account, like Facebook or Twitter. This account allows him to connect with friends and family, share photos, videos, music and other personal information with either a select group of friends. These social networks are great ways of keeping in touch with friends and family around the world as well as making new connections with people based on similar interests.

However, the social networks represent an important problem with the numerous dangers.

II- The negative side of social networks.

      Nowadays, lots of people and also governments are fighting against the dangers of social networking sites. When you post personal information you should pay attention because there are a number of scammers on social networks who may try to steal or use your information. These information can be used for potential crime such as identity theft or fraud. But also they can use it to destroy your profile and your life, as Amanda Todd, as Manon Duclos specified it.

In the USA, Barack Obama warned American teenagers of the dangers of putting too much personal information on Internet social networking sites. He took part in a question-and-answer session with a group of students. During this one, he said that he wanted every teenagers to be careful about what they post on social networks because, whatever we do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in our life.

He wanted especially to warn teenagers who apply for a job. Indeed, when your CV will fall in the hands of the HR Manager, this one is going to hurry to look for your name on the social networks. That is why, during the career fair, potential employers have come to give some advice to the students and organize job interviews in order to hire employers. They advised students to make their personal content only available to friends. They also advised them to keep their social network account clean and create a professional account on LinkedIn, for example. 

      I think that social networks are very good but you shouldn’t post too personal information and you should make your personal content only available to friends!. It is not the social network itself, which is dangerous. It is the use that we have of it.

I expect you to be careful on social networks now!

PS: If you want to know more about social networks, you can see this video: Social Networking Documentary.

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