Communication Tool or Time Waster
Communicating with others is a natural human instinct and is a crucial part in satisfying one of psychologist Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs known as, the need to belong. So it should be to no surprise that in today’s technology driven society, communication has never been easier. Just by logging in to the internet, you can connect with your buddy who lives a few streets over or one of your family members hundreds of miles away. A big reason why communicating with others is easier is because of the rise of social networking websites. According to the class lecture on social networking, a true social networking site is defined as one which must allow users to construct a semi-public profile, allow them to communicate with others you share a connection, and give the user the ability to view the entire network. Networking has become such a popular trend that people spend more time on social networking sites than any other website when on the internet. One of the more famous and flourishing social networking sites today is Facebook. “Facebook usage among the US college students has reached over 90% (Martin, Grasmuck, Zhao, 2008, p. 8).”
Due to its high penetration rate, several studies have been made in regards to how Facebook can have effects on users. Although social networking sites are designed with the intent to let you connect with peers, studies show it has effects on aspects outside of communication. One effect is teacher credibility among students based on their Facebook profiles. Students perceive their teachers who disclosed more information about themselves on their Facebook with higher levels of trustworthiness and caring qualities (Hew, 2011, p.6). By knowing personal information about a teacher, students might feel a stronger connection thus, being able to trust them and see their teacher’s caring humanistic side. Even though students thought favorably of teachers who disclosed more, there was no significant correlation with regard to teacher competence (Hew, 2011, p.6). Another way Facebook can affect students in the classroom is on their actual academic performance. “Researchers found that Facebook users had significantly lower GPAs (M =3.06, out of 4.0) compared to non-users(M =3.82). Facebook users also reported spending fewer hours studying per week than the non-users (Hew, 2011, p.6).” In addition to the negative effect social networking has on students, it was said in class lecture that companies who do not block social networking sites are 1.5% less productive. Overall, social networking has a huge impact on not only students perceptions but the overall work efficiency of its users.
Social networking provides a lot of benefits, but can provide certain effects on the user. On one hand, social networking sites provide entertaining asynchronous communication with many different individuals. On the other hand, it is shown to negatively affect people’s ability to work efficiently. To conclude, social networking sites are a great tool to stay in touch, but create effects on its users in that they help shape their opinion of others, as well as drastically lower work efficiency.
Hew, K.F. (2001) Students and Teachers Use of Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior, 6, 662-667
Ross, C., Orr, E., Sisic, M., Arseneault, J., Simmering, M., Orr, R. (2009). Personality and Motivations Associated With Facebook Use. Computers in Human Behavior, 8, 578-586
Cherry, K. (2011). The Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. About.com, Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds.htm
Facebook is something that should be used in moderation. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. On the other hand, students who excessively use Facebook can get lower grades. This could be because of Facebook’s passive voyeuristic nature, especially regarding the News-Feed or the fact that those who spend excessive time socializing miss out on experiences that can be used to learn and view things from a different point of view. I’m not sure I would want to befriend a teacher on Facebook, but I’m sure if I did I would view the teacher as more of a human than a teacher.
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Chriss.2
I find it very interesting that Facebook users have been proven to have lower overall GPAs than non-facebook users. However, I am not surprised. Many a time that i bring my ipod or laptop to class, I find myself signing on to facebook and browsing other people's pages, or my own throughout the entire class time. I have also been guilty of logging on during work to check my facebook page, something that is highly discouraged at my place of employment. These days, I have heard of more and more companies that have computer access for their employees, blocking certain web pages like facebook so that these things don't occur. I find it a strategic move so that employees stay focused and on task while on the clock. I would find it of interest to see whether or not certain schooling systems will also try to block web-pages like Facebook so that students do not get "lost" chatting or looking at friends' pages.
ReplyDeletedonovan.120@buckeyemail.osu.edu
As I read this I couldn’t help but smile to myself. So many times I have sat down to study or type up some sort of essay only to be sidetracked by getting on Facebook. I had never really given it much thought before, but the GPA difference between Facebook users and those that don’t use it does not really surprise me. I would not have guessed it to be so drastic but I did think there would be some sort of difference. People can look at these numbers and say what they want, but I believe the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to SNSs. In the end, it is the individual’s responsibility to manage their time right and balance their workload with their social life.
ReplyDeletehazelbaker.28
After reading this post, I can say I'm not too surprised by how Facebook is found to decrease work efficiency in people. It is a great site for networking and increasing one's social network, however it can be time consuming if you are not careful. So if someone is trying to study or get things done at work, they could easily be distracted by Facebook. As long as people monitor the amount of time they spend on Facebook and balance it with their work and studies, they can incorporate it in their life without affecting their work efficiency. In the findings, the difference between the GPA of a student who uses Facebook and one who doesn't, doesn't show a huge difference. So I think with careful balance it can be used wisely.
ReplyDelete-stachowicz.4
It's important that we realize the effects that Social Networking Sites can have on our lives. When something can impact a grade point average or your work ethic, we really should take a better look as to what our priorities are. Yes, facebook is a great tool for connecting with people that may or may not live right down the street from you, but there are other issues at hand. It takes time out of our lives and we aren’t being as productive as we could be if Facebook wasn’t in the picture. I think it is essential that we keep our Facebook separate from our school and work, and maybe then we can learn how to balance both and do both equally as well.
ReplyDelete-kalla.2
Facebook is a great social networking tool. For me, personally, it has provided me with a way to stay in touch with friends across the country. Without facebook I find that just because I have a very hectic life I wouldn't be able to stay in contacted with as many friends as I'd like to. With that being said, I do agree with some of the findings in your article. Facebook can be a distraction and today it takes students having to force themselves to not get on until they are done studying. I find that facebook can be addicting and can be a distraction but it takes self-motivation to do the right thing. Just like hanging out with friends or going to a party when you should be studying. It is all about finding a balance and making time for school and socializing.
ReplyDeleteweasel.4