Are social networks real communities?
The average American spends two hours a day on online social networking sites, per a new Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange research. Those Americans who use no social networks at all are included in this figure. Beyond that, this number illustrates a worldwide trend that is evident to almost anybody living in the twenty-first century: social networks have woven themselves into the very fabric of contemporary existence.
Technology, and thus the internet, control our lives in a significant and growing way. We enter a different world on the internet, one made of radio waves and cables that cross over one another. We send strings of 0s and 1s through this system, and the results are viewed as letters and pixels on display screens. Some of our most important communications—personal, political, and business-related—are transmitted via this system. Our online personas and virtual connections can influence our daily lives just as much as any aspect of the reality we typically consider to be the "real."Referring to user groups on the networks that the internet makes possible, like Facebook or YouTube, as "communities" is a frequent occurrence. In my opinion, this is a really legitimate and adequate word choice. "A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common" is the definition of a community. It is clear that the latter part of this definition—which describes social network members as having a common trait in the mere act of using networks—is how these online "communities" are typically defined.
Moreover, each network contains smaller groups, much as our more physical communities do. Belonging to these communities is frequently, though not always, correlated with belonging to communities associated with real-world events and places. For instance, depending on the Facebook groups I've joined, the friends I have, and the particular media I prefer to consume on Facebook, I identify as a member of the EFA community in addition to being a member of the Facebook community and a former student of an international school in Stockholm. These communities can serve as an extension of our offline social networks or, in other cases—like in alumni associations or old acquaintances' group chats—as a way to preserve our "real-world" communities. Sometimes, though, they are something completely different, allowing users with no connection to one another to unite around a common interest or goal. In my opinion, this kind of event is perfectly appropriate for the word "community."
Going a step further, I would argue that the internet may be viewed as a separate entity and that the daily user community is actually closer than most people realize. I think that the original definition of a community is "a group of people living in the same place" for two reasons: first, since geography is associated with identity, culture, and history, and second, because proximity has historically been the main factor in the formation of communities.
It seems sense that the definition of a community would be spatially bounded when community building necessitates physical proximity, as it typically did before the instantaneous communication facilitated by social media. But when we think of the internet as a world unto itself, a place we enter each time we launch a social media app or connect to a wifi network, we can see how it allows us to be close to anyone and, consequently, invite or form communities with nearly anyone, regardless of where their computers are located—in Delhi or Washington, D.C. Social networks, in my opinion, create more intricate, substantial, and concrete communities than have ever been observed. It is possible, in my opinion, to argue that social networking networks are not only "real," but possibly even more so than the relationships we have outside of them.
Are Social Networks like Facebook real communities? Why or Why not?
Just now, as I wished my friend a happy birthday on Facebook, a ton of blessings poured onto the page. The way that all of the "happy birthday" messages lined up made me feel cozy. The cheerful atmosphere of the birthday cake and the vibrant balloons surrounding the happy guests, gave me the impression that I was at a friendly birthday celebration. Yes, that was only a delusion created by a Facebook timeline. But the memory and the feeling persisted when I was brought back to reality.
The diversity of viewpoints and views only serves to enhance how beautiful the world is. Some people applaud the internet and social media for facilitating convenience and inclusivity in society. However, a lot of arguments are made against social media use due to its detrimental effects on people. Facebook and other online social networks can be misleading and deceitful. False information, imposters, and manufactured goods are all used to entice individuals in an attempt to make money. Particularly teens, whose principles and values are still developing, are susceptible to being lured in the wrong direction by anything that appears appealing. The vibrant, eye-catching species are probably toxic, just like in the wild. Younger folks struggle to exercise self-control.
On the other hand, the effects of harm and fraud on the internet are felt offline. Cyberbullying is a more serious kind of virtual bullying. Online communication allows people to express themselves freely with words. Online hate speech is commonplace as long as there is no real penalty. The victims' emotions are genuine, and they will bring their wounds from the virtual world into the physical world. The real world and the one behind the screens are not all that dissimilar. There is truth to the lies and apathy we witness on the internet. The effects are more obvious and harmful in the actual world. However, the internet offers and provides inspiration and happiness just like the actual world does. I had already gotten in touch with my potential students on the Facebook group before I ever got to EF Academy. Nothing in the actual world could ever match the warmth and positive expectation that each of us felt from the joyful self-introductions. As we strolled about the campus, it was even more thrilling to match our Facebook pals with the actual individuals.
Living in a boarding school in a strange nation can be frightening at first. However, nothing is more suited to get us ready than the Facebook group we had before classes started. It seemed as though we were returning to a place we already knew rather than traveling to a new location with complete strangers. Depending on how we use and perceive social media, we can determine whether it is real or not. We will experience actual and positive outcomes as long as we use it for a worthy cause.
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