Social Networking Blog

Social networking and privacy do not go hand in hand. By signing up to a social network, one is essentially giving up their right to privacy. Nothing is private once it is posted on the internet. For this reason, it is encouraged to not post anything one doesn’t want the world to see. The social network site Facebook has a very faulty privacy system. Ironically, Mark Zuckerberg’s own sister fell victim to the lack of privacy enforced by his social network. In the article written by The Atlantic, “Facebook Privacy Is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo Isn't Private,” Randi Zuckerberg had uploaded a family holiday photo onto her Facebook page believing it would be viewed by only her Facebook friends since she had clicked on Friends and not Public, but to her surprise it had spread to the public due to a flawed system. The issue on Facebook’s part is loosely defining the term Friends. It instead means “my friends and all the friends of people tagged in the post.” If one really meant just their Friends, then they’d have to click on Custom and uncheck “the friends of those tagged.” This is only a small-scale example of the dangers that surround social networking.

Despite its flaws, social networking has become a great tool for companies in need of workers and vice versa. Websites such as LinkedIn have emerged due to the rise of social networking. LinkedIn is a professional social network that is used to hire potential job candidates. According to the article “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting”, companies “have started hunting for job candidates using social networking technology.” LinkedIn is a great site for job recruiters because they can search for candidates by typing keywords into the search engine. The site is beneficial for both companies and future job candidates. Those looking for employment can easily market themselves by listing onto their profiles their work experiences and skills.

There are many benefits these technologies bring to society. I think the most important benefit is the efficiency and quickness the technology links its users. Information is spread instantaneously around the world. This is very important because with the old media information took longer to reach those who needed it. Eventually I think these technologies will continue to update especially in their privacy section. Privacy will always remain top priority as long as hackers exists.

Works Cited

Facebook Privacy Is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo Isn't Private,” The Atlantic Wire, Greenfield, R. December 26, 2012 http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/12/facebook-privacy-so-confusing-even-zuckerberg-family-photo-isnt-private/60313/

Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting by Frank Langfitt, NPR, March 16, 2008. available from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf