Social Networking and College Students: The Fate Facebook holds for Students' Face Value
This is a link that shows the data of college student participants who recorded their time on their phones with their literacy skills.
My research on the topic of social networking and its detrimental impact is a tribute to how privacy invaded the life of a former Rutgers student, Tyler Clementi, and how privacy is a crucial and valuable part to maintain a healthy college experience.
Wandel, Tamara L. "Colleges And Universities Want To Be Your Friend: Communicating Via Online Social Networking." Planning For Higher Education 37.1 (2008): 35-48. OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 5 Mar. 2012.
Summary: The scholarly article explained in detail how social networking cites have consumed the lives of college students, using examples and statistics that show 85% of students in American four year universities own a Facebook. The article explained the ways in which these networking cites have been used, with college admission and investigation of students, students searching their potential roommates, and how it reunites people in circumstances like the Virginia Tech massacre. In other instances, Facebook and social networks can ruins one life. The article stated an example of Jessica Binkerd who was sentenced to five years in jail after "photographs of the University of California, student drinking alcoholic beverages with friends were posted after the date of the fatal accident" (Wandel 40). In many ways social networking cites guide and control the lives of college students, deciding if their college acceptance will remain, if the college athlete will keep his scholarship, if the whole campus will see how drunk you were and your stupid decisions; social networks formulate your reputation and future. The article goes into vast detail in each of these circumstances and concludes how students should be aware of its danger, what they post and how it will never be truly deleted.
Terms/Concepts:
Privacy and the ability of college students to seclude themselves and their personal information from the public world.
Facebook and social networks serve as a purpose for students to meet new people, maintain relationships and constantly interact.
Quotes:
" the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is one of many postsecondary institutions that have taken a proactive stance. The university's Department of Athletics created a Student-Athlete Conduct Policy as an educational tool focused on three areas: internet social networking community sites, athletic department policy, and recommendations. As of 2007-08, student-athletes are required to sign a pledge regarding good conduct on social networking sites as part of their code of conduct. (Wandel 41)"
The actions of the University of Michigan reveal the direct efforts of a college to watch and maintain the student athletes. Although privacy is being positively controlled in this scenario, it depicts how one new revolution, social networking, has begun to shape the college student and their expectations at their university.
" Eight percent of students acknowledged that they purposefully misrepresented themselves on Facebook by exaggerating alcohol or drug use. Twenty-three percent said the misrepresentation was done to be funny. Not surprisingly, this is not how students would like to be viewed by potential employers. In fact, 42 percent of students surveyed in the Wiley and Sisson study felt it was a violation of privacy to consider Facebook profiles as part of the hiring process. (Wandel 43) "
These startling statistics are the honest truth but it is inevitable that the open world wide web will be used by colleges and employers to find the little details about their personal lives. Stalking has become as simple as a click of a mouse pad and revealed is information about last weekend's shit show and your rude status about your professor's boring lecture.
" Like it or not, communicating via online social networking sites is what millions of young people do each day. A market research study commissioned by MySpace, Isobar, and Carat USA (Fox Interactive Media 2007) found a tie in the top two choices of what 15 to 34-year-olds would do if they had 15 minutes of time: they would either check out a social networking site or talk on their cell phone. (Wandel 47)"
It has come to that point where I have to consider if the world might be ending. Social media has abducted previous leisure activities and has addicted the overall population to succumb to its horrible habits. It is the generation I live in and I must admit I follow these practices but I would like to find a solution and propose how the future could be influenced more beneficially.
Lastly, this article has really expanded my knowledge about the impact of technology and especially social networks. After reading the newspaper about Clementi's trial I was inspired to take an initiative on his experiences and what he endured. It was his personal privacy that was invaded and he took away his own life rather than finding a solution. The reality is that social networks and the invasion of privacy have this impact. I am not saying that it will be to this extent for a majority of young adults or even many people but it does hold a great deal of uncertainty for their future with regards to careers, graduate school, college if they are still in high school, legal matters, and just an overall reputation. Social networking has led me down a new path away from dorming and I think I prefer this topic. I would like to expand on the power social networks hold for their users and the effects it can have.
On this topic, you should also revisit "The Story of a Suicide", about which I posted last month.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I wonder about is exactly how you plan to use this in your project about dorm living? I see the connection, naturally, but are you using to discuss privacy? the "alone together" way people often share rooms? It's not clear.
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