Write a discussion essay about Social Networking Online

Social Networking Online

Write a discussion essay about social networking. 

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages with social networking online. Try to write it as a journalist; be both objective – show different aspects of the topic and give your own opinion and experience about it.
• Refer to at least three articles and also refer to the TED-talk “Connected, but alone” by Sherry Turkle.
• Use formal English.
• Length: 500-1200 words. Quality before quantity.
• see student examples (the end of the page)

1. Discuss social networking online in general with the help of the following questions (refer to the four articles used at the exam when you can):

1. Do you use social networks online? What kind? How? Why do you use it?
2. What benefits are there with social networks online?
3. Does social networks online change the way you interact with your        friends?
4. Do you think it steals time from other important things like work and studies?
5. Are there any dangers with social networks online?
6. What will social networking online be like in the future?

2. How to write a discussion essay

See instructions below.

https://smedjeback.wordpress.com/discussion-essay/

Learning Rubric for Discussion Essay in English 7

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Content	I show at least two different aspects of the topic without trying to persuade the reader.	I show at least two different aspects of the topic and give arguments for both sides.	I show different aspects of the topic and discuss the complexity of the issue.
Structure	My essay includes: title Introduction Arguments Conclusion My introduction informs the reader about the topic. My essay includes a conclusion. I divide my essay into clear paragraphs.	My essay includes: A good title Introduction Arguments Conclusion My introduction is very informative. My essay includes a clear conclusion with for example  a reflection or a piece of advice. Each paragraph is about one aspect.	My essay includes: A fitting title Introduction Arguments Conclusion My essay includes a very well-written introduction. My essay includes a very well-written conclusion. My essay has a very thought-through structure.
Fluency	I use basic linking words (in a correct way), such as: and, but, or, also, another etc.	I use linking words (in a correct way), such as: because, on the other hand, next, finally, however etc.	I use formal linking words (in a correct way), such as:, in addition, whereas furthermore, nevertheless, even though, in conclusion etc.
Vocabulary	I use some advanced words in my essay.	I use advanced words in my essay.	I use many advanced words in my essay.
References	I have at least two references that are done correctly (with  the name of the author and the year included).	I use my references in a fluent way.	I use my references in a very fluent way.

3. Read the following articles. Think about how you can use and refer to them in your essay.

How Social Networks Have Changed Our World

When you look at the state of social networks today, it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come in just five short years.  

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

ARTICLES | BY ULA NERAK

 

As recently as 2012, social media was still in its infancy.  MySpace was a big deal, Facebook was its up and coming “little brother” and Twitter was little more than a gleam in the eye of computer and mobile device users.  When you look at the state of social networks today, it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come in just five short years.  Social networking is now an essential part of our lives, affecting almost every sector.

Politics & Public Service

This has been one of the areas where social networks have truly made an impact.  Not long ago, we lived in a society where government was the domain of a select few, who had little connection to their constituents.  We voted them into office and then had to hope that they’d actually come through for us.  Now, the ordinary citizen is wielding far more power than ever, and thanks to social media that power reaches far beyond the voting booth.

If we have an opinion on something or would like to inspire change in our communities, we can now turn to social media and get our ideas out there in front of an audience of millions.  More importantly, we can also get those ideas directly to our legislators and they can have a much better idea of exactly what their constituents need.

Marketing & Advertising

Arguably one of the most important changes made by social networking has been giving small businesses the ability to compete actively with the big boys.  The cost of traditional advertising used to be prohibitive to these Mom and Pop shops, but now any business can reach out to a worldwide audience of perspective customers almost instantly and without spending a fortune.  It’s also easier than ever to tailor marketing campaigns to specific target audiences, making them that much more effective.

Journalism

The newsroom was one of the first places to be shaken up by the popularity of social networking and in the last few years it has been completely turned upside down.  Now that the average citizen has the ability to get information through social media at the blink of an eye, they are no longer necessarily relying on large scale media to deliver the news to them.  

This has caused journalists to get on board with social media themselves and it means they are now being held to a higher standard.  Because it is so easy to check the facts, it makes it that much more difficult for the media to get away with publishing fake news stories and we are all better off for it.

The Future

So what does all this mean for our future?  Let’s face it; social networking is not going away…in fact it’s only increasing in popularity with each passing year.  It has become an accepted part of our everyday life on all levels, both personal and professional.  When used properly it can be an effective tool, helping to improve our ability to connect and communicate and work together to build a better world.

Source: http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/networkschangedworld.html

We’re Still Not Ready for Social Media

ARTICLES | BY REMUS HOLLAND
FEBRUARY 5, 2017

For every second that we spend with our noses pressed to our screens, we’re losing sight of what’s going on around us.

Social media is a fact of life.  It’s almost impossible to avoid it, not that most people have even tried.  But just because it’s out there, because you can become a part of it so easily, does that mean you should?  For all of the benefits it may afford, are we as a society really ready for the true impact of social media?

Looking around society today, it would seem that answer is no.  Well, most people would probably claim that they know exactly what they’re doing and social networking is not only a positive but also a necessity for getting along in the world today.   But let’s not kid ourselves; the reality isn’t all a bed of roses.  For every positive there is usually a negative and social media is no exception.

While social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn can help us to connect with people, whether old friends or simply like-minded individuals we may never have met before, it also causes us to disconnect in a big way.  Because for every second that we spend with our noses pressed to our screens, we’re losing sight of what’s going on around us.

And what’s really scary is that this epidemic of zoning out is starting earlier and earlier.  With children growing up used to the notion of interacting online, parents have stopped fighting the tide and have allowed computers and smart phones to become electronic babysitters. Kids no longer have to sneak out of the house at night to break the rules; they just “go online.”

What they’re finding online is a world all about judgments.  They can post a picture and watch the “likes” roll in and feel good about themselves, but what does that approval really do for them except build up a false sense of self esteem.  And the need for that approval can lead to dangerous behaviors because not everyone online has good intentions.  It’s one thing to have a school friend like your picture and quite another to have a pedophile use it for his own sick reasons.

The more these vulnerable kids and adults flock to social media for acceptance, the more they open themselves to groups like ISIS, who prey on that kind of naiveté for their own ends.  Or, they become targets for identity theft, cyber stalking and bullying.  Sadly, it’s all too easy to take what started out as a wonderful way of connecting with others and turn it into something nasty.

Unfortunately, this is all part of the package that we sign-on for every time we participate on a social media site.  Given this fact, one has to wonder if we as a society are prepared to take on that kind of responsibility.  And if we aren’t, then perhaps we need to be more cautious before jumping into heavy traffic on the information superhighway.

Source: http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/notreadyforsocialmedia.html

Here are more articles if you want to dig deeper:

‘Our minds can be hijacked’: the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia

The age of envy: how to be happy when everyone else’s life looks perfect

Watch this TED-talk and refer at least once to it in your essay.

TED2012 | February 2012

Student examples of discussion essay

Student example 1

Myspace, why is it a trend now?

I believe that myspace is exact the thing what we need at this point of our live. I mean look at us, we need like 20 minutes to do our needs and we are done. These days we are always searching for more in internet. Myspace isn’t just an internet page that you go and visit for read but it offers friends. It’s like a second world for some people I believe.  There are people you don’t know and you can talk freer because people there don’t know you and in real live you might be ashamed of something that you can’t talk about but in myspace you can because the people don’t know you, and you feel like a stone falling down from your chest. Some people might feel it’s like talking to a psychologist.

The most imported reason is that you need to spend time somewhere and myspace is a place that maintains our interest. I have a lot of friends that spends several of hours sitting on myspace, chatting with unknown people and they say that they enjoy talking to people because most of the people are nice and don’t treat you like in Lunarstorm for example. As you might read in newspaper Lunarstorm, which is a big grown community as myspace been in some trouble because people have report each other. But my friend says that myspace is clean from trouble. Of course neither I nor you will ever know if people argue, but it’s very rare that they report each other in Myspace.

I personally never spend time in that kind of internet pages but I tried once. And I didn’t like it. The reason is that they are too difficult to understand and hard to assign from once you got member. I heard from my American friend that if you become member they will own your picture (that you choose to upload) and everything you do in there. I have as well proof that they do. My friend sent me a copy contract where I could read that they have the rights to do everything they want with your material within 70 years. However if it’s true or not I can’t tell. But anyway, like I said I am not a fan of that kind of internet pages.

 

Student example 2

Julian Assange – Hero or Villain?

Gunsight footage from Baghdad, an Afghan War Diary including 76 900 documents about the war in Afghanistan and 400 000 documents, called the Iraq War Logs, not previously accessible for public review are the latest releases by the non-profit organization Wikileaks. There is no doubt that Wikileaks has been the word on everybody’s lips since it was launched in 2006, and that it has contributed to a tremendous rearrangement of viewings about many different countries in the world   by publishing submissions and messages of private, secret and classified media and documents online. As governments and big business desperately try to prevent Wikileaks from releasing more information of the not so flattering kind, Julian Assange, founder and spokesperson of Wikileaks devours plenty of enemies in high places.

In an interview by Eben Harrell Assange claims that he is motivated to protect victims and that transparency in government leads to reduced corruption. The question is now if it is Wikileaks’ goal to achieve a more transparent society or a more just society. In order to pick a side in the matter of Assange and his Wikileaks you need to elucidate whether using freedom of speech in order to release classified information serves or harms the public.

Assange can certainly be seen as a hero. As head of the organization eager to revile secret information that people have the right to know it is easy to compare him with a modern Robin Hood. As a champion of freedom of speech and freedom of information with the goal of achieving a more just society and to prevent companies, governments and organizations to hide unjust behavior by using secrecy Assange can defiantly be seen as a founder of the beginning of a new era.

But after Assange facing inconvenient sexcrime allegations in Sweden and after a poll published by The Washington Post reveling that the American public is highly critical towards Wikileaks after the recent release of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables, the limelight can be moved from Wikileaks’ save the world agenda, to Assange as public enemy number one causing more harm rather than contributing to a more open society. Many might think that Wikileaks is an attack against an, on the surface, well-functioned and excellent society, and that making classified documents official might lead to a change. Assange might very well be associated with an indefinite and uncertain future.

In order to justify the existence of Wikileaks you need to question the freedom of information. Do the public have the right to know everything or are there certain secrets that shouldn’t be revealed? The answer to that question is undeniably easier said than done. The best solution would be that the freedom of information should cover those secrets that hide unjust and unethical behavior. Is it really the reveling of the secrets, rather than the secret itself that harms our society? As Assange himself suggests in the article Julian Assange “when governments stop torturing and killing people, and when corporations stop abusing the legal system, then perhaps it will be time to ask if free speech activists are accountable.”

Maybe just because the existence of Wikileaks is depending on the freedom of information, killing Julian Assange as a villain wouldn’t be the solution to stop the ravages of Wikileaks, even though he is the founder and spokesperson. There is no doubt that he couldn’t have done it all on his own, and that there are plenty of individuals responsible for the ravages of Wikileaks.