Speech Social Media Essay Example for Free

Speech Social Media Essay Assalamualaikum and Good evening Puan Wan Narmi Aziana Wan Abdullah our lecturer and my lovely friends. My name is Noor Adibah Binti Abdul Hamid. The reason why I’m standing here because I would like to tell about the advantages and disadvantages of Social Media. First of all, I would like tell you what is social media. Social media is the social interaction among people in which they create, share or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2. 0 and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Think of regular media as a one-way street where you can read a newspaper or listen to a report on television, but you have very limited ability to give your thoughts on the matter. Social media, on the other hand, is a two-way street that gives you the ability to communicate too. Here I will give 3 advantages of social media such as worldwide connectivity, real-time information sharing and free advertising. 1. Worldwide Connectivity No matter if you are searching for that former college roommate, your first grade teacher, or an international friend, there is no easier or faster way to make a connection than via the social network. Although Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace are probably the most well known social networking communities, there are new websites popping up regularly that are dedicated to allowing people to connect and to interact via the Internet. Through such sites, individuals make new friends or business connections or extend their personal base by connecting and interacting with friends of friends and so forth. These connections can help one with a variety of things such as: Finding romance Seeking a new job Locating assistance Getting and giving product and service referrals Receiving support from like-minded individuals Making or receiving advice on career or personal issues In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the general store or at church socials to exchange news and get updated on friends and families. Snail mail pen pals have been replaced by virtual avatars and private messages sent via the social network. 2. Real-Time Information Sharing Many social networking sites incorporate an instant messaging feature, which means you can exchange information in real-time via a chat. This is a great feature for teachers to use to facilitate classroom discussions. A study by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation shows these networks can be used as effective vehicles for students to pursue self-paced online learning. In addition, the Internet is the ultimate online textbook. Students no longer need to take out six library books at a time. Much of what they need to know they can find online. School is not the only setting where this type of real-time information sharing can be beneficial. Social networking can provide a tool for managers to utilize in team meetings, for conference organizers to use to update attendees and for business people to use as a means of interacting with clients or prospects. 3. Free Advertising Whether you are non-profit organization who needs to get the word out about your upcoming fundraiser or a business owner marketing a new product or service, theres no better way to get your message in front of millions of people 24/7. The best part is it that you can spread the word through social networking profiles for free. You can promote one product, service or idea or many because you are limited only by the amount of time you wish to invest in the endeavor. There’s also a disadvantages of social media such as face to face connections are endangered, risk of fraud or identity theft and time waster. 1. Face to Face Connections are Endangered A huge advantage of these social communities has a reverse side effect that  is also a big disadvantage of social networking: they reduce or eliminate face-to-face socialization. Because of the autonomy afforded by the virtual world, individuals are free to create a fantasy persona and can pretend to be someone else. It is hard to say no, be rude, or ignore someone when you are looking them in the eye. Its incredibly easy and quick to unfriend or unfollow someone or simply block their efforts to make a connection. Just one click of the mouse and your problems are over. Unfortunately, this feature of online socialization cheats people of the opportunity to learn how to resolve conflicts in the world outside the Internet and it could retard or cripple ones social skills developments. Tweens and teens are at higher risk because those years are when they are learning to interact with others or build and maintain relationships. A report from the National School Boards Association shows that of the children in these age groups that use a social network, 41 percent spend their time posting messages. They are not spending this time in face-to-face interactions with their peers or others nor are they developing the necessary social skills for future success. 2. Risks of Fraud or Identity Theft Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it. Most thieves need just a few vital pieces of personal information to make your life a nightmare and if they successfully steal your identity, it could cost you dearly. A report on CNET reveals over 24 million Americans put their personal information at risk by posting it on public sites such as social communities. 3. Time Waster A Nielsen report explains that social networking can be a big waste of time that sucks 17 percent of our Internet time down the non-productivity drain. While it is true that some of that time is likely spent in making and maintaining important business, social or professional connections, it is also true that it is easy to become distracted and end up spending valuable time on games, chats or other non-related activities. Dorie Clark of the Huffington Post reports Facebook users spend about six hours each month  on the site, while social networkers spend three times as much time on those communities as they do on other online activities like email. CONCLUSION Because networking in online social communities is still a relatively young online trend, whether or not social networking is harmful is still unknown. Like any other type of networking or social club with which individuals become involved, it is a good idea to do your homework and make sure that you know what you are getting into. Understand the terms of use, the rules and regulations, and be clear on issues like security and privacy. Take responsibility for your own safety and integrity and never join something just because it is trendy or all your friends are doing it. In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of social networking, its best to err on the side of caution and information. After all, the lack of both can have a devastating effect. REFERENCES 1. Kaplan Andreas M., Haenlein Michael (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons 53 (1). p. 61.doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003. 2. Kietzmann, Jan; Kristopher Hermkens (2011). Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Business Horizons54: 241–251. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.005. 3. file:///F:/Social%20media%20-%20Wikipedia,%20the%20free%20encyclopedia.html 4. file:///F:/What%20Is%20Social%20Media%20%20-%20Definition%20and%20Examples.html 5. file:///F:/Advantages%20and%20Disadvantages%20of%20Social%20Networking.html