Social Networking Sites: Risks and Benefits for Teens

Introduction

Social networking has in recent years stirred considerable debate among politicians and scholars alike. The level of risks and benefits associated with social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace — especially for children and teenagers — has elicited mixed reactions among the debating parties. This paper presents a systematic analysis of the implications of social networking sites for both children and teenagers, with a sharp focus on Facebook. It also examines the benefits of these platforms as well as the issues surrounding their use, drawing on relevant illustrations. Overall, the paper evaluates how the use of computer technology has impacted society in general and education in particular.

Defining Social Networking

Several scholars have attempted to define the concept of social networking and its components. Boyd and Ellison (2007) define social networking sites as special web-based services developed to allow users to construct either a public or partially public profile within a bounded system. These services also display a list of other site users with whom the individual shares a connection, as well as a list of all connections existing within that bounded system. Techtarget (n.d.) defines social networking as the practice of expanding one's business and social contacts by making appropriate connections with different individuals.

The operation of social networking sites is based on the concept of six degrees of separation — an idea suggesting that any two individuals on earth can contact each other through a chain of no more than five intermediaries. Social networking sites establish highly interconnected online communities that enable members to easily contact one another without the need for real physical contact.

Implications of Social Networking Sites for Children and Society

In recent years, the number of social networking sites has skyrocketed from a niche activity engaged in by a small number of individuals to a phenomenon engaging hundreds of millions of users. The rapid and exponential growth in the popularity and functionality of social networking sites has raised serious concerns among parents, teachers, and government agencies. These concerns focus primarily on the potential risks that social networking sites pose to children and teenagers, who often leave trails of personal information in the public domain without fully understanding the consequences of such actions (Lenhart & Madden, 2007).

A close analysis of statistics on social networking site use by children and teenagers illustrates the impact these sites could have on society and the educational system. The following is a summary of key findings from the Pew Internet Project in 2006 (Lenhart & Madden, 2007):

Fifty-five percent of teenagers who engage in online activities have created at least one online profile for themselves on sites like Facebook and MySpace. Sixty-six percent of teenagers who have online profiles believe their profiles are never visible to the entire internet community, as they significantly limit the level of access to their profiles. About forty-eight percent of teenagers access social networking sites daily or visit them frequently; twenty-six percent make daily visits, while twenty-two percent make several visits a day. The Pew research further indicated that older teenage girls aged 15–17 were more likely to be users of social networking sites.

Social networking sites like Facebook give members a chance to keep in touch with friends and family via the internet. Members can engage in live chats, post messages to each other, participate in online interactive games, and share pictures. The popularity of Facebook in particular has grown exponentially to more than 500 million users worldwide (Facebook Press Room, 2011). According to Corbett (2010), nearly ten percent — approximately 40 million — of Facebook's users are school-going teenagers. These teenagers face greater risks compared to other Facebook users due to their naivety and relative inexperience with assessing risk. The effects of peer pressure make teenagers a particularly vulnerable group, since for many of them, social networking sites like Facebook are an extension of their social and academic life that is not governed by school or parental rules.

There are several risks that teenagers expose themselves to through unmonitored use of Facebook. Worryingly, teenagers, as well as their parents and teachers, are largely unaware of the risks that social networking sites pose (Henderson et al., 2011). Henderson et al. (2011) further noted that the legal risks Facebook poses to teenagers are significant. These include: the unwitting breach of contractual Terms of Service (ToS), infringement of copyrights, violations of confidentiality, privacy, and disclosure norms, risk of defamation lawsuits, and participation in activities that may constitute criminal acts — such as online harassment, the distribution of offensive material, and identity theft.