SOCIAL NETWORKS

Where are the benefits? Where are the dangers?

Social networks like facebook, twitter or myspace have become the new fashion. Indeed, nowadays, more and more people decide to join one of these websites.

On the one hand, social networks can be very useful.
First, thanks to it, families or friends are able to keep in touch, even if they live far away each other. People just have to connect with they online account to talk together. We can also find old friends, old loves that we lost years ago, by moving in another city or country for example.

Moreover, social networks can be used professionally. Sites such as LinkedIn can boost your chances to be hired. Lot's of compagnies look for new employees on the internet in today's world.

Also, it help people connect with others who have similar interests or goals. Someone can become famous simply by posting a video on his/her online account. Indeed, if people like it, this video may be shared. Then more people will be able to see it, and it will be shared again.

On the other hand, social networking sites can be dangerous.

Indeed, all information we post become public. Therefore, anybody can have access to any information at any time.

On facebook, we can « be friend » with anybody just by doing a « friend request ». Someone said that people did not get to 500 million friends without making few enemies. It was the film director of The social network, a movie showing facebook's creation and how a social network can change relationships between people.

Let's watch the trailer.

These sites are an easy way for cyber-bullies, hackers or other people with mean projects to use the information available, and as a result, the situation could go out of control.

You should consider the consequence and the dangers caused by it. The need to keep personnal information private is very important. Also, you should not post anything which can be compromising or which might be embarrasing to you, especially in a potential employment situation.

Watch this video! It is quite long, but this man explains very well the dangers of social networks.

QUACH Inès - 1S1