Social Networking

The Internet is one of the most addicting things in our society today. You can communicate with friends, check your email, the weather or what your favorite celebrities wore over the weekend. Whatever you decide to view is your choice. The Internet and social networking has both positive and negative aspects that impact our society today.
According to the PBS Presentation, 90% of teens are online. For the teens in today's world, the Internet is addictive, a way to talk to friends, try out different persona's, an outlet for self expression, a place to complain about parents and a means to connect with one another. What was once more popular among adults is now being taken over by the younger generations of society. The Internet has something for all ages and is not a passing fad; it is here to stay. While teens think that Internet is one of the greatest things to enter their social lives, their parents sometimes have a different view. Parents of young teens today are concerned with their safety while they are on the Internet. The Internet can be a dangerous place; with predators and bullies looking for an easy, new target. Teens are known to put their whole lives on the Internet, which makes them easily accessible to these predators. The Internet is something that we should be thankful for that we have today but it is also something that we must use with caution to ensure the safety of ourselves and our families.
The Obama campaign successfully used the Internet as a means to communicate with voters. The online campaign dominated new media and was easily accessible from a home computer. The site made it easy for voters to donate money for Obama's campaign and even gave out information on parties that were located around your community in support of Obama and his campaign. The site helped link supporters of Obama to one another and ultimately created the ultimate online political machine. Spreading the word of Obama's campaign was also done through text messages which most of today's society uses on a day to day basis. Obama was successful in targeting Americans using the things that they use mostly everyday; the Internet and cell phones.
Second Life is an online gaming community that has serious beneficial purposes for its users. The game helps abused children rediscover social skills, gives entrepreneurs a way to test their talents and gives those with cerebral palsy a way to get to experience what it is like to be around others without being judged by trying out social interactions that are hard for them in the real world. The game only costs its users a one time fee of ten dollars and also allows its users to sell their personal items online as well. The game's purpose is for people to be able to interact with one another in a very positive way.
The Internet can be used to lead successful campaigns and to interact socially with others in a positive way that might not be possible in the real world. However, there are dangers to the Internet; such as predators looking for a new target that releases just to much information over the Internet. While gaming is used in a positive way through Second Life, gaming can also become addictive and take over ones life and want to do anything else than sit home and play on the computer. Violence has also been linked to games played over The Internet as well. The Internet is a very powerful thing and if used safely and sparingly, it remains to be one of the greatest inventions of our time.