what do people think of social networking sites?

February 4, 2012 5:01am CST
I have been using the internet for years and seen lots of social networking sites like facebook, bebo, netlog and used many of them. At first I was naivee and thought they were harmless but now I get bored of them and think that they can actually be harmful, because on some of these sites people get hooked and spend hours on end on them instead of in the real world. I think these sites can be very dangerous as people can pretend to be someone else on these sites by putting up a fake name, fake picture and age etc and then talking to someone. I think lately these sites are being exploited by cyber bullies and perverts. Cyber bullies torment people and send vile messages to random people they do not know and hide behind a computer, perverts on these sites talk to young vulnerable girls, boys and talk about inappropriate things and then at some point will arrange to meet them. I think that some of these sites are better than others the ones with better security settings where you can report people and the site actually acts on it instantly but the sites where you are meant to be able to delete people and then they comeback using a different name from the same IP address. I do not like these sites I use facebook but hardly update it.
2 people like this
9 responses
megamatt
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
8 Feb 12
Social networks are what they are. They are really not something that is for everyone. I have been a part of various social networks but I have really stepped back from them a little bit. There are just a lot of times where people share things that I feel are too personal. And often times, they tend to enable some of the harsher things on the Internet in a way, by not really understanding the concept of privacy. Anything can be used for wrong sadly. I think that social networks really have taken off in a way that few could have ever envisioned. There are times where those who are determined enough to cause torment will find ways around getting booted and often, there is really no escape, which is really an awful thing. Social networks can be the rather a darker place in certain aspects. And a huge timer waster as well.
Kalyni2011
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
5 Feb 12
I agree with you, every thing has a good side and a bad side, so if one has account in the sites you are speaking of, one should be careful, i don't have accounts in any social networking site, not even facebook.. Best of luck. Happy posting, cheers. Kalyani
maidangela7349
@maidangela7349 (1191)
•
5 Feb 12
I am on Facebook but I find cumbersome to use and somehow they managed to mix up my two personalities that I registered and they do not seem to be able to sort that out. I don't bother with it very often. I did register on Twitter but I don't find that very useful. I do however use some more specialized networking sites and contact people who have the same interests as me
Blondie2222
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
4 Feb 12
The only social networking site I use is of course face book. I only use it to play games and talk to family. I don't accept friend requests from people I don't know, you never know who it may be. This world is nuts as it is and like you said to many predators and bullies. I've seen some posts that friends post and the drama it causes. I only post things I think people should know but i try to keep my post to a minimum. I don't post a whole lot about my personal life that people don't need to know on face book, none of their business. But reading some things people post they post things every hour every little thing that their doing and that's a little to much if you ask me. But I agree with your views on them and I do the same don't update to much.
Avinigav
@Avinigav (238)
• Indonesia
4 Feb 12
I can't really answer your question, "What do people think of social networking sites?". I just can answer it about what I think of all social networking. You are right Chillpill90. You have some right point in your writing. All that bad things that you write happened in my Indonesia. Many people use social networking sites as their tools to bring harm to other people. Some cases has been brought to the court just because those social networking. For me, I make my safe line. I don't want to passing through my line. My line is all networking site which I registered are my social network in a real life. So, I will not approve someone request to be my friend in virtual social networking if they are not my friend in a real life. That's my line :)
Triple0
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
5 Feb 12
I use to have Bebo but I just got tired of using it and I only used it to reply to comments. I don't like how you compete with other people for how many friends you have and you're basically just adding some random people someone else knows. It kinda hurts too when someone deletes you as a friend so that's why I'm not a fan of social networks. Also like you said, there are predators on there and cyber bullying has happened a lot with young people. Some people post really inappropriate things up there too and whatever goes on the internet stays on the internet.
GemmaR
@GemmaR (8517)
•
4 Feb 12
I use social networking websites because I like to keep in touch with people who I have not seen for a long time. If you use the websites for this reason then it would be fine, however once people start to use them to cause trouble then this can cause issues for everyone who chooses to use them. I know so many people who add you as a friend just so that they can look at what you're doing and never bother to chat to you, it gets annoying when you see people who you never got on with at school adding you as a friend just to be nosy about what you're up to these days. I will never accept invitations from people like that.
Yanzalong
@yanzalong (18980)
• Indonesia
4 Feb 12
You are right about it. The only one I have joined is facebook, and most of friends are people I know offline. We are never serious about what we write on facebook. Facebook has also a drawback and some people still misuse it. There are also people who finally met and got married. Big families who live far away from another use facebook as a place to say hello and see photos of them. Finally it all depends on how we approach it.
linux7802
@linux7802 (70)
•
4 Feb 12
The facebook, bebo, netlog sites are basically used to get touch with your old as well as new friends, the sites are good but its always our responsibility to select friend request and do not shared contact numbers,addresses on such sites, you can send PM to your friend and make sure that you are changing password once in a month to secure your account