Social Networking Sites and the Benefits of Online Communication

Introduction: Social Networks in the Information Age

The popularity of social networking sites — Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, and Skype — has grown phenomenally in recent years. Social networking has become a defining feature of 21st-century life, phenomenally reshaping the ways in which people connect and interact.

Only a few decades ago, the basic means of communication were mobile phones, letters, e-mails, and direct face-to-face interaction. Today, the general scope of human communication has evolved to include text messages, voice messages, online video calls, and, most importantly, a wide range of social media platforms. With the ongoing development of the Information Age — characterized by the ability to easily access and exchange information through technology — people's options for interacting with one another have continued to advance. This paper outlines how social networks have completely changed and enhanced the way people communicate, with a special focus on relational, educational, and health care benefits.

Relational Benefits: Friendships and Peer Connections

Friendship bonds can be considerably strengthened through online social platforms. Because internet sites such as America Online or Facebook encourage groups of users to connect with other groups, people are able to engage in group-forming activities similar to those of face-to-face groups. A 2006 study illustrated this tendency, revealing that 43% of internet-using participants who belonged to online communities felt as strongly about them as they did about their real-life equivalents (Giffords, 2009). Moreover, it is believed that individuals who use social networking may be more inclined to establish mutually beneficial relationships built on constant support, assistance, and the flow of information (Giffords, 2009).

Research has also found that the benefits of online communication include enhancement of people's ability to relate to one another, to understand and accept different viewpoints, to thoroughly express thoughts and feelings in an organized and fulfilling way, and to develop critical thinking skills (Hinduja & Patchin, 2008). An additional advantage is that social networks increase the possibility of connecting with peers, thereby boosting self-esteem and creating feelings of well-being (Selfhout et al., 2008). In this light, social networking can be seen as an ideal environment for sharing personally significant items — such as stories, music, or photos — and for maintaining close connections with friends regardless of geographic distance.

Research conducted among adolescents further indicates that young people who form virtual friendships consider them to be just as real as their other relationships, viewing them as trusting, long-term, and meaningful (Mishna et al., 2009). Importantly, it was found that socially challenged teenagers should be encouraged to take advantage of online friendships, as these connections may serve as initial stepping stones back into comfortable face-to-face interaction (Wolak et al., 2003). These benefits collectively favor virtually defined interpersonal relationships, especially for adolescent participants who are in the process of exploring their own identities and developing their social skills.

Romantic and Family Relationships Online

Social media has the potential to broaden the communicational horizon for romantic relationships, increasing individuals' ability to meet potential partners from across the world whom they may not have encountered otherwise. For single individuals and those who are uncommitted, this represents a remarkable advantage, opening up numerous dating opportunities with a real person chosen from a vast spectrum. Facebook, for instance, enables a global reach that allows people to connect with others they might never have met. Similarly, platforms such as OKCupid and eHarmony provide a wide range of options for those seeking meaningful connections, and they help alleviate communication challenges for shy individuals or those who have difficulty making friends, allowing them to relate to more like-minded people.

Beyond dating opportunities, social platforms can also serve as a bridge between the offline and online worlds for established partnerships, thereby helping to consolidate already existing relationships. Computer-mediated communication — through tools such as Skype, for example — is highly useful for keeping in touch and represents a promising avenue for helping relationships grow stronger.

Familial relationships also stand to benefit greatly from virtual communication. The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication examined computer-mediated communication in households and concluded that family members who communicated through both online and face-to-face forms were able to connect more closely than those who did not engage in online activity (Lee, 2009). Social networks, therefore, may simply add another meaningful dimension to family communication.

Computerized communication tools are frequently used to stay in touch with relatives who are out of reach (Kim et al., 2007). Those who are unable to physically be together now have the option to remain connected in ways that no other communication type could previously offer. This is an especially useful tool for people separated by many miles, who can now communicate just as easily as those who share the same neighborhood. Browsing photos of loved ones or viewing status updates on Facebook may even create a sense of immediate connection between family members who are physically distant, offering the comforting impression of closeness rather than separation.

The availability of accessible ways to reach distant relatives continues to expand. Family members are now capable of forming multiple visual and audio connections simultaneously — a significant improvement over phone calls, which connect only two individuals at a time and only in audio. Skype, for example, introduced the valuable option to video-call in pairs or groups for an unlimited duration. This is an admirable technological resource for families separated for short- or long-term reasons who need to maintain close contact.

Conclusion

Overall, it can be asserted that social networking helps to fulfill and improve friendships, family ties, and romantic partnerships, making it a wholesome and rewarding medium of communication. The benefits that this computer-reliant form of communication can bring to the educational and health care systems are similarly significant, and may give rise to further innovative possibilities if used constructively.

References

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Harper, L. (2013, April 24). 4 ways to improve school communication using social media. Edudemic. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from www.edudemic.com/2013/04/improve-school-communication-using-social-media/

Heckley, P. H. (2010). Issue brief: Social networks in health care: Communication, collaboration and insights. Washington, DC: Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. (2008). Personal information of adolescents on the internet: A quantitative analysis of MySpace. Journal of Adolescence, 31, 125–146.

Kim, H., Kim, G. J., Park, H. W., & Rice, R. E. (2007). Configurations of relationships in different media: FtF, email, instant messenger, mobile phone, and SMS. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, 1183–1207.

Lee, S. J. (2009). Online communication and adolescent social ties: Who benefits more from internet use? Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14, 509–531.

Mishna, F., et al. (2009). Bullying of lesbian and gay youth: A qualitative investigation. British Journal of Social Work, 39(8), 1598–1614.

Selfhout, M., Branje, S., Delsing, M., Bogt, T., & Meeus, W. (2009). Different types of internet use, depression, and social anxiety: The role of perceived friendship quality. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 819–833.

Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2003). Escaping or connecting? Characteristics of youth who form close online relationships. Journal of Adolescence, 26, 105–119.