Social Net'g

         I think it is truly amazing how social networking technologies are being used.  When popular social networking sites where first introduced and began gaining popularity it would have been a far fetch of a thought to ever think these could be used for more than just finding friends and updating ones status.  The article “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting” not only details alternative ways these technologies can be used, it also evidences how its use is beneficial to society.  The article touches on how Linkedin is being used by recruiters to find and contact potential employees.  Unlike other networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, Linkedin caters more towards the professional sector, having users who are top executives.  Profiles for Linkedin are comprised of work experience, education and such where people can take the opportunity to market themselves by creating an attractive profile.  The benefits of this type of social networking are huge because they are not just for the recruiter, but also for the user.  Thus, the recruiter has access to thousands of people who posses the qualities and skills they are searching for.  They are able to contact a greater number of people just as thy are able to narrow their choices down to a select few based on the professional information they come across.  Moreover, users not actively searching for a job can be contacted if their skills match what a recruiter is searching for.

         Needless to say, using such social networking permits corporations to have greater reach and access to talent.  Despite these benefits, I understand that certain aspects of communication need to happen via traditional methods, like phone and person interviews.  However, given the speed in which these technologies are being submersed in recruitment, I would not hesitate to think that the impersonal aspects of social networking recruitment could be facilitated even more.  Thus, video conferencing can, and more than likely already is used for interviews where distance is a limitation. 

         Moreover, these technologies allow for not only greater access and reach to talent worldwide, it also enables businesses to lower costs.  Like the article “What’s Next? Your Future in Social Networking” states corporations can work on projects via virtual worlds comprised of virtual collaborators situated anywhere in the world.  The networks created in these worlds allow work to get done by people with the most diverse of opinions and viewpoints.  In essence, there are no limitations. 

         Furthermore, the benefits to society are also evident in how these technologies are being used to keep the population more involved and communicated.  The article “How Obama Tapped into Social Network’s Power” addresses not only how social networking is being used in presidential elections, but also how it permits the American people to be more participative.  This not only benefits the political campaigns, but also  

the greater populace because a to way relationship is created.  Thus, barriers are lessened, greater masses are reached, unity can be achieved; overall, the population 

is empowered by voice they now have.  Given the utility politics and corporations have found in the use of social networking the manner in which its use will evolve can take any direction.  Personally, I believe that for political campaigns this technology will serve an even greater connecting platform than that which it already is.  I believe that debates and messages will become more popular via this technology, and that even the virtual worlds corporations use can be applied.  Given that virtual worlds allows people to collaborate no matte the distance, which also allows employers to gauge working habits, I think that it wouldn’t be a far stretch for political agendas to be worked out in the same manner. 

            Despite all the benefits social networking technologies brings with it, inevitably there are dark sides to it as well.  Social networking is an engaging technology that has flourished because people participate in it.  Individuals are voluntarily updating statuses, disseminating information that was once deemed private amongst other things.  Thus, our participation in these technologies, due largely to how much we have assimilated them into our lives, has altered the traditional concept of privacy.  Because of this, privacy is a great concern because we divulge too much information; yet, we claim strict privacy rights.  Moreover, our freedom of speech is facilitated, yet it is sometimes exercised in the form of gossip and hate speech used to hurt others.  People seem to think that such conduct is allowed because since here is no face-to-face interaction they hide behind their computer screens or avatars.  This only further complicates the definition of free speech as well as hurts the positive aspects networking technologies has introduced.  Just like any other technology it is important be weary of what seems all too good; it is up to individuals to take due care in their actions and behave responsibly, or else face the consequences.