Social Networking

 

Social networking entails a wide range of significant opportunities for businesses, charities, and groups for a cause. First and foremost, social media serves as a significant marketing opportunity for businesses at a very low cost. Ads printing volume has significantly decreases, because companies have shifted their focus to reaching potential consumers through their mobile devices. Another use is for companies to create a better company culture. The age of new media has increased the transparency of companies, resulting in employees and potential employees seeking a firm with a great culture. By providing their employees a firm-wide social networking site, Nissan was able to reduce bureaucratic channels in their company. Additionally, the site allowed individuals throughout the corporation to form professional relationships. I believe this was a great initiative by Nissan, especially during 2007 when social media was beginning to gains team. 

There are also several benefits to society. Charities and groups that are for a cause can increase the number of participants by using social networking. Also, these groups can promote awareness for international issues that may not receive coverage by the local new stations. People dislike embarrassment, and naturally we all seek to avoid this emotion. In India, people have posted photos of people breaking scofflaws by posting their photos on social media. As this group viewership spreads and people become aware that their photos could be taken then individuals may begin to avoid breaking scofflaws. This yields an increase in people following the law, without an increase in spending on local law enforcement. 

The dark side to social media is that the companies collect massive amounts of data including credit card and other personal information about their users. If the company storing all this data is hacked then all of this information can be ported to those who will use it to cause harm upon the networking site's users.