Social Networking

The creation of social networking sites has revolutionized the way in which people can communicate. It allows for clear and open communication with your friends and colleges through the simple use of the internet. The use of social networking sights will revolutionize how business look at consumers and how we communicate with the world on a large scale. Sites such as YouTube and Facebook are a new form of communication in popular culture that allows us to look critically at others ourselves and the world around us through the simple act of discussion.

Facebook right now is the gold standard for social networking sights with over 350 million users worldwide it connects people every day. One of Facebook’s most noteworthy features is the open forum set up. When people communicate on Facebook, such as status updates or posting on someone’s wall, one does that for everyone to see. This allows for an open style of debate for whatever subject a person may be discussing on Facebook, from U.S. foreign policy, to discussing Lady Gaga’s newest song. This allows for all of the user’s friends to chime in and give their own perspectives, sharing of ideas, and not confining the think tank to the two people having the original discussion. A greater number of perspectives on a certain subject make a discussion more dynamic and multifaceted. With such a form of communication we are able to better understand the reasoning behind conflicting arguments as well.

Facebook can also be used as a tool for political awareness and action as well. Right now, one of the biggest political battles is taking place over gay marriage. During the election in November 2008, there were many groups and events being organized both for and against Prop 8. On Facebook there where pages where one could become a fan of Prop 8, or just as well join a group opposing Prop 8. From there the groups could spread the message of protests and demonstrations.

This increases the political awareness of Facebook users and also givers them opportunities to participate in the democratic process. Politicians themselves all have Facebook profiles. I am a fan of President Barak Obama, who has been constantly updating his profile on information about health care reform and other important political happenings. These are just some of the ways Facebook can allow citizens to become insightful and productive members in the ongoing national debate over democratic policies.

YouTube is another social networking site that allows for society to become more critical. The singular best aspect of YouTube is the ability to share experiences with others through the use of posting videos online. This allows for viewers to gain somewhat the same perspective as the person filming. A great example of this would be the videos of Iranian protests during the disputed Presidential election this summer in Iran. Through the use of YouTube we were able to see a young, bright, and beautiful women, Neda, die right before our very eyes. Because of this startling image was so readily available, not only to the members of opposition but the world at large, she became a symbol, a rally point in which people could connect with and marched in the streets of Tehran for. Also, because all forms of foreign of media where banished from the country, YouTube videos and other networking sights such as Twitter became the world’s only window of insight into what was happening in Iran.

Neda is only one example of the new type of celebrity that now exists with the help of sites like YouTube and that is viral video fame. Now a person only needs to do a few seconds of entertaining actions and they can easily become famous on the internet. It is now truer than ever that anyone can be famous. These people include Chris Crokker (Leave Brittney Alone!), Chocolate Rain guy and many others. The invention of YouTube allows for people to create and post content that they hope people will find appealing. Once a video is posted the online community then decides if a video is noteworthy or not. Such fame in this manner can be seen as the online communities’ affirmation that one does have something of value and worth recognition. Such a recognition can be seen a society being critical.

Facebook and other social networking sites also have certain aspects that allow for better communication due to the fact that everyone is equal in the community, and the community is easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This is one of Habermas’ first key deciding factors on whether or not conditions for debate have been met. The second aspect that needs to be taken into account is to answer the question, “who uses social networking sites and how?”  Facebook used to be open to only college students, but as its popularity grew it became open to the whole public. This is good because a larger usership allows for a greater and more open debate. One of the aspects that makes Facebook such a great place for open debate and discussion is the ability to post your own thoughts and ideas on the subject through all different forms of media, from links, to relevant websites, to YouTube videos. These can more effectively illustrate your point then just text. This allows for the encompassing power and influence of the internet to become more accessible and active. This also ties into John Dewey, when he states “We are organisms, we live within an environment that we affect, but that also affects us.” This is due to the fact that all social networking sights are a community of people whose individual action on the site affects the whole. This is a great example of plasticity and how we can both be shaped by our environment, as well as shape it. Because of all these aspects, social networking sites are and will continue to become a great place for debate and discussion.

One of the major aspects of Facebook is, even though it is a completely free service, there is still profit to be gained from it. When on Facebook you can become a fan of anything, from water to the Bush Administration. Throughout one’s use of Facebook, one joins groups, pages, or become a fan. These all become representative of your likes, dislikes, and interests. This is all personal information that can be sold to companies and used to create more direct and to the point advertisement for companies to push their products on you. Every single time a user puts more information about themselves onto their Facebook account, they give advertisers more information. Advertisers have already started to use Facebook to promote their products. I myself am a fan of Dr. Pepper and Blockbuster, both of which have been using Facebook to relay information about special offers and deals coming up. This is dangerous because advertisements get in the way of rational debate because it is strategic action. We must remember, just as we all have equal voice and access to Facebook, so do advertisers. The need for us then becomes even greater to be critical citizens of society and on Facebook, and not only consumers in order to not be persuaded buy the secret codes hidden inside the advertisements.

Facebook and YouTube is a prime example of an existential double edged sword. On the one hand a person can argue that it is existentially empowering because it is a place where people can go and discuss the human condition, which is everything that has to do with our lives. On the other hand it can be seen as existentially dangerous because advertisers, the destroyers of rational debate with their strategic action, have access to it too. Advertisers have the ability to take our mindsets and use them against us to push a product. Some companies have even started using YouTube and trying to make their own viral video campaigns. It is sometimes hard to tell if it is reality or fiction. This is dangerous because parts of society have trouble distinguishing reality from fiction as it is.

The use of social networking sights has redefined how we communicate in the world. They make it easier, quicker and more effective. Sites such as Facebook have cemented themselves as permanent fixtures in the communications landscape and will continue to evolve in their features, influence and popularity.