PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

    The development of information technology has brought many technological revolutions in almost all sectors as use of the computers has propagated deeply in all aspects of our life. The advancement of computer and its allied devices has made human life easier than it was ever before. Social networking is one of the youngest services gifted by our new era technology. It is becoming increasingly popular among the masses.

  In narrow sense it may be termed as a computer program, which connects the user to the others which include his/her family members, friends and colleagues. But in contemporary days, a broader meaning can be drawn from the it’s application .It allows the user to explore the whole world by providing latest news and views of the across the globe. Days are gone, when people used to write lengthy letters filled with poignant words. Those words are now replaced by computer graphics created emoticon. Even uses of emails are restricted in the field of formal communication only. The trend is occupied by various social networking websites like facebook, twitter etc. The reason for its unanimous popularity lies behind its user-friendliness, flexibility and simplicity.

Social networking has been playing a pivotal role in modern communication since last few years. There are numbers of website which come under the definition of social networking. It enables us  to locate our old friends  who went far from us in the course of time, without  knowing contact number, even address. The need is just to give a search in his name and send a friend request. Though, it sounds unbelievable, it is fact in nature and that is the reason of calling it as one of the marvel of IT. It is being used not only as communication tool, but also a effective instrument for attaining  entertainment and education .Recent news are published through these sites by the leading news channels ,as most people use this mean, rather than visual medium such as television. It is very fast and effective. Politicians, civil servants, journalists and various governmental ministries are using this mean to contact the masses. One can express its views through it and it is just a matter of second. People also can opine on various issues and discuss the social, political and economical matters. In a succinct way it has brought its users in one platform irrespective of their creed, class and gender. It will not be excess, if we term it as one of the social reforming medium of current time. People are taking it seriously and it is no more used only for contacting family and friends, but also use to address to the society. The uproar of people through social networking has nationalized many issues. A recent example of it is the aftermath of delhi gang rape case, where demand regarding the punishment of the convicts went viral in these websites.

       My pen will be termed as biased, if its pejoratives are not discussed here. A lot of unlawful events are occurring through these websites. Our young and immature lad and ladies are more vulnerable to the dark side of it. Many of us are unaware of IT act, 2000, which enables the legal authority to punish  user, responsible for any kind lascivious expression which appeals to the prurient interest. The punishment may be of three years imprisonment or two lakhs of rupees or both depending on the severity  of the crime, whether it is intentional or unintentional. So we have to be familiar to such laws, rules and ethics regarding social network , before joining such websites. Most popular website facebook has set a minimum age limit of 13 years to become its user under Children’s online privacy protection act (COPPA) of USA. But Delhi high court has raised concern about it by questioning government the reason of not making the age bar to 18 years taking into account of Indian law. Children are likely to take its cons rather than the pros. Some students are seemed to waste their  valuable  times by becoming facebook  addicted. If   young generation takes it in a positive manner it will definitely  give a boost in modernizing our  society .