SOCIAL NETWORKING

Trying to measure the cost or benefit of social networking can be a very difficult task. Depending from the perspective we look at it, it can be bad or good for society. From a business perspective it can be a great tool, take the example of Nissan Motor and its N-Square site. For Nissan it has helped to create a new sense of community for its employees allowing them to interact and share interests and ideas work related or non-work related.

The issue of social networking and its benefits becomes more difficult when it comes to society. Opinions are divided. On one hand we have those that use networking sites to communicate with old friends and family all over the world (Facebook, Myspace). On the other hand, we have those that use it with bad purposes, sexual predators, stalkers, etc.


Can social networking be improved?

If we are talking in terms of security, the answer might be yes. However, that is not going to prevent the “dark side” of it, after all anyone can create a fake identity and pretend to be anyone, even a person with real identity can do everything right until that person gets access to a site and then later use it with a different purpose.

In sum, it is up to you to decide the benefits of social networking. For businesses it is a great tool, for individual it can be good or bad depending on who is using it, for society the answers seems to be unknown until today. You be the judge.


Hall, Kenji. "Why Is Nissan Mimicking MySpace?" Business Week 30 Oct. 2007.