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Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that tools such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadnt been invented. Sure, theyre great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful.

At first glance, you might think this quote came from a parent or grandparent lamenting on the disadvantages of social networking and how social media has doomed todays children. But it was written by a Seattle-area tenth grader as part of an assignment to answer the question, How has online social networking influenced your relationships with friends and family?

This student goes on to write, The teenage way of life has completely changed from what it was only twenty years ago. Now, there is a dramatic decrease in face-to-face communication, which reduces our generations ability to interact with others on a speaking level.

Not coincidentally, this same message was echoed by the young people interviewed in Tomorrows Change Makers: Reclaiming the Power of Citizenship for a New Generation. Youth engaged in their communities claim that face-to-face interactions is what motivates them to make a difference in the world.

This is a two-part article gleaned from reviewing the essays of a class of tenth graders, with their permission, of course. It is meant to generate additional discussion on the benefits and disadvantages of social networking and its effect on healthy youth development.

Below are the most discussed disadvantages of social networking according to these tenth graders, including quotes from their essays. In a similar format, you can also read reflections on the benefits of social networking in my column at Psychology Today.

A couple weeks ago, one of my friends and I got into a fight and she told me all of her feelings as to why she ignored me for two weeks. Assuming it would have been really hard to say it to my face, she sent me a text message. The negative side was I didnt know if she truly felt sorry because I didnt hear it from her. The quality of a conversation using social media is awful because you cannot sense the emotion or enthusiasm from the other person. It makes you wonder if they actually mean what they say.

I do think it has gotten to an extreme point where you can say things you cant say or get away with in person.

Im disappointed whenever I hear about social media being used as a way to hurt people. I wonder if this happens when the writers forget that there are real people behind the screen.

Computer reliance could hurt a persons ability to have a face to face conversation by making it awkward and unusual to hear something and respond with a thoughtful message through the spoken word because of ones dependence on a keyboard to convey a message.

Social media conversations today are filled with haha, LOL, and other exclamations that are meant to represent laughter. This shorthand has become second nature and is often used when the sender is not even smiling, much less laughing, in real life. On the occasion that our roflcopter is actually put to use at a funny moment, we are replacing actual laughter with, in this case, a simple ten-letter acronym. According to Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford, the actual physical act of laughter, and not the abstract idea of something being funny, is what makes laughing feel so good. If we are so willing to replace the act that, honestly, we all love, with an artificial, typed representation that doesnt even bring the same joy, what else would we be, potentially subconsciously, willing to exchange?

Since the inception of social networking, the quality of conversations has dropped. I believe that people are spending so much time online that they dont always understand the feeling, emotion and/or character of the person they are talking to. When you talk to someone through a message or even a voice, you cant always fully understand them.

Social networking has ruined the thoughtfulness in basically saying hello in person. For instance, you could say hello to your friend in Germany with Facebook, chat in seconds; but what if there was no way to communicate via social networking? Well you would have to write them a letter and that is something very thoughtful.

When I see my friends on their phones and I am around them, I feel disconnected even though we are only two feet apart.. Unfortunately, sometimes friends use their phones so much that it is difficult to have an actual conversation with them. Sometimes friends can get so socially attached to something such as a blog or gaming console that they lose touch with friends, creating small gaps and holes in close friendships/relationships.

The new socially active era causes laziness because instead of running to your friends you can message them. Or instead of walking upstairs to notify the family of dinner, I can blog it. Social networking makes life so convenient that it creates laziness. In my opinion staying fit is important, but it is difficult to go beyond the newly developed status quo.

Its really easy to spend hours doing nothing.Its a fantastic way to waste time.

We tell ourselves lies about ourselves and develop something we are not. We post pictures of us looking perfect and share the good news. We never post pictures of ourselves when our dog dies, when someone we love leaves, and when we lose a job. We never share the bad news that always clouds our lives. We all develop this perfect image of ourselves and some of us actually try to rely on this imaginative thought we have of ourselves instead of staying true to who we are.

Texting, Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail alienate us from our families more than we actually think it does. When my family is spending family time together and watching a movie, in reality my brother and I are on our phones rather than actually watching the movie with our parents.

When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular, important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends or Twitter followers. But what really ends up happening is I begin to talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I got a smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my friends and family.

The disadvantages of social networking and social media will be studied for decades to come. The 10th-grade essays used for this article are five years old now but they could easily have been written today.

In the last five years, social media has proven to be a significant source of concern among privacy advocates, particularly with concerns over how Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data. Parents have become increasingly worried about their childrens safety online and how to protect their personal data.

But clearly, the disadvantages of social networking go much deeper than privacy and safety. These high school students described some of the serious drawbacks to relationships and mental health foundations of human development.

In the past several years, more studies have linked social media to poor mental health. According to a recent Forbes article, several studies have not only shown a correlation but also a causation. Findings suggest that people who limit social media to 30 minutes daily feel significantly better than those who use social media for longer periods of time. By reducing time spent, people were able to reduce depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Recent statistics from the Pew Research Center show that social networking usage has remained unchanged in the past four years. This may suggest a saturation point has been reached. It may also be a hopeful sign that people are learning to manage social media in healthier ways; or at least they dont show an insatiable appetite for more. In addition, most people dont trust news from social networking sitesonly 5% of U.S. adults have a lot of trust in this information.

Among Americans from 12-34 years old, Facebook usage declined from 79% in 2017 to 62% today. The only social network growing among U.S. youth is Instagram, up from 64% to 66% in the past two years.

Researchers suggest that helping children and teens learn to manage social networking is paramount to their healthy development. Most experts agree that parents must lead the way by setting a good example of what healthy computer usage looks like. Family meetings are a great venue to discuss social networking and computer usage with the whole family and get buy-in for solutions.

Listed below are some helpful articles that can spark conversations in your family:

-A special thanks to the students who contributed their voices to this article.

(This article was originally published June 16, 2014. It was updated with new research and information and republished Sept. 6, 2019.)

Published: September 6, 2019

Read more from the original source:
Teens Discuss Disadvantages of Social Networking

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to connect with friends. But there are some social networking safety tips you should always keep in mind.

Manage your privacy settings. Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on your social networking sites. They help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way. You'll find some information about Facebook privacy settings at the bottom of this webpage.

Remember: once posted, always posted. Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn't want your parents or future employers to see. Recent research found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.

Build a positive online reputation. Recent research also found that recruiters respond to a strong, positive personal brand online. So demonstrate your mastery of the environment and showcase your talents.

Keep personal info personal. Be careful how much personal info you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for someone to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.

Protect your computer. Security start with protecting your computer. Install Antivirus software. Keep your operating system, web browser, and other software current. You can use the Pitt Software Update Service to automatically download the latest security updates for Windows.

Know what action to take. If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.

Use strong passwords. Make sure that your password is at least eight characters long and consists of some combination of letters, numbers, and special characters (for example, +, @, #, or $).

Be cautious on social networking sites. Even links that look they come from friends can sometimes contain harmful software or be part of a phishing attack. If you are at all suspicious, don't click it. Contact your friend to verify the validity of the link first.

Make sure you know how to access and use Facebook's privacy settings. Log in to Facebook, click the Settingsmenu.

Continued here:
Best Practices: Safe Social Networking | Information Technology ...

Dreamscapes CEO Rachel Edwards

OLD LYME On Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., Lyme-Old Lyme Community Connections hosts a Networking Luncheon & Discussion at the Old Lyme Country Club.

The guest speaker will be Old Lyme resident Rachel Edwards, CEO of dreamscapes marketing + design of Essex, who will give a valuable and topical presentation titled, Making Your Organizations Social Media Content Matter.

Edwards will discuss social media trends for 2022 heading into 2023, and important topics for local non-profit organizations such as:

Edwards will also touch on the importance of having a paid social media marketing campaign to enhance your organic posts.

A Q & A session, roundtable discussions and networking will follow the presentation.

The cost is $25 and all are welcome. Registration is preferred for planning purposes but walk-ins are always welcome.Register for the event via one of these options:

Checks can be mailed in advance payable to: CommunityConnections, PO Box 589, Old Lyme, CT 06371, or bring payment to the door (with advance reservations.)

Community Connections is a forum to discuss community issues and interests, and offer opportunities for collaboration among organizations serving Lyme and Old Lyme.

For more information, visit http://www.LOLCommunityConnections.org

Read the original here:
Community Connections Host Networking Luncheon in Old Lyme, Wednesday: Includes Talk by Rachel Edwards on Importance of Social Media - lymeline.com

Finn Hafemann / Getty Images

BeReal is a French startup that launched in 2020 and is considered part of the new generation of social media. While the app didnt gain much traction in the beginning, its now ranking No.1 in Social Networking on the App Store and for good reason.

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BeReal has been downloaded almost 28 million times, with the majority of those downloads happening in the past year. According to Apptopia, BeReal monthly active users have skyrocketed from 921,000 in July 2020 to 21.6 million in July 2021 to a whopping 73.5 million this past August.

BeReals latest funding round, a Series B round that took place in May, was anticipated to raise its value to $630 million, quadrupling its previous valuation of $150 million, according to Insider sources. Heres what you need to know about BeReal, which has been hailed as Gen Zs new favorite social media app.

BeReal touts itself as a way to help people be themselves in other words, be real. It states that its a new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life. This is a stark departure from the carefully curated feeds or silly, filter-heavy snaps found on other social media apps, like Instagram and Snapchat.

The way BeReal works is that every day, at a random time, all users of the app are notified that they have two minutes to take and share their photos. These photos arent the typical selfies, however. Instead, the app is unique in that it utilizes both the front and back cameras of your phone to snap photos of both you and your location.

If the photos didnt quite turn out right, you can retake the pictures as long as youre within the two-minute timeframe.

Once you post your photos, youll also be able to view your friends photos an unfiltered view of what they look like and where they are and react to them with RealMojis. RealMojis are pictures you take of yourself making a face like the specific emoji you want to emulate.

Of course, you dont have to take your photos within the two-minute countdown; you can take them later. But in that case you wont be able to see your friends photos until you do and your photos will be labeled X-hr late, indicating that you didnt use the app as intended.

It doesnt, said Dr. Jeremy Britton, DFA SAFin DD and CFO of Boston Trading Co.

Like Facebook in 2007-2009, BeReal is all about accumulating users. Once it has a massive user base, it will possibly update the terms and conditions (a la Facebook) so it can sell user data to major corporations and feature targeted ads.

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The cringe factor is far lower with BeReal than with rivals such as Instagram and Facebook, where people curate their best lives, or the platforms have been accused of deception and promoting body dysmorphia in young girls, said Britton. Just like Calvin Klein using plus-sized models, BeReal is a step towards a more genuine and accepting culture. For some investors, it is not just all about the money, it is also important to have a conscience and invest responsibly.

When it comes to the money, though, investors have reason to be excited. According to The Information, BeReal at a valuation of $600 million would equal $100 per daily active user. Thats less than the $149 each daily active user of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger is worth, but its more than twice than what users of Snapchat and Pinterest are worth, according to The Informations analysis.

But even with all the buzz around how much the app has gained traction with millions of users and how much each of those users are potentially worth, how BeReal will make money is a mystery at this point. According to Gen Z research firm dcdx, ads wouldnt really work well for the app because of the way its designed.

The research firm states, We expect numbers to average around 1.3-1.5 pickups per day for an average time spent of ~5 min per day. Compared to Instagram, Snap or YouTube, those numbers dont stand a chance to bring in the kind of advertising revenue necessary to build the next big social.

According to dcdx, BeReal will make it only if they can figure out how to make money. Monetizing the product is first reliant on a product that actually works, said dcdx.

One of the most frequently noted complaints about BeReal is that it legitimately does not work. Seriously almost never can users actually upload their photos on time. So it seems pretty powerful that people continue to use it in such high numbers despite this major issue, the firm added.

Dcdx went on to state that it checked BeReals careers page and it is currently focusing its hiring efforts on development, which likely means its working hard to get the issues corrected and the app running as smoothly as possible. Only time will tell if this antithesis of the most popular social media apps will survive.

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Gen Z Social Media App Is Set To Quadruple Its Valuation: What You Need To Know About BeReal - GOBankingRates

In recent weeks, Ive been having a lot of conversations about lawyers on social media. Lots of people want to post content or build relationships online because it can be a great way to do business development, find a new career opportunity, or network with peers. The problem is that most people dont know how to get started or cant figure out which platform to focus on. So today Ill share a quick rundown of the four platforms Im most familiar with:

LinkedIn: Humblebrag Your Way To Riches

This is, hands down, the most commonly used platform by lawyers. Probably because the platform started off as a place to brag about your professional accomplishments. Most people are accustomed to using LinkedIn to find new jobs, but over the past few years, its emerged as a place where you can find interesting content and conversations related to the professional world. Having said that, its still full of humblebrags and cringey content so be prepared for that.

The good news is that most people there are extroverts and *want* to connect with each other, so you can build your network quickly. Some entrepreneurial lawyers have even built entire businesses around their audience there. I think LinkedIn is different from most other platforms because people on there have to use their real names and job titles, which lends a certain level of accountability to the interactions. There are fewer trolls on LinkedIn than anywhere else.

Twitter: The Best Way To Impress Other Lawyers

This is the best platform for lawyers to share thought leadership. Theres a ton of quality posts on Twitter, especially when it comes to the latest legal developments. You can build your professional network there too, although its a bit harder than on LinkedIn. Thats because Twitter lawyers are generally less interested in networking for its own sake, and more interested in learning or joking around.

What are the challenges? Well, the bar for quality content is pretty high on Twitter. Its difficult for your posts to stand out from everyone elses. Those who are successful on LinkedIn try to bring the same type of positivity and earnestness to Twitter but it often receives a lukewarm reception. Its a tough game. But if you are able to build a following on Twitter, youll gain a certain level of credibility that you cant get anywhere else.

Instagram: Make Them Jealous Of Your Life

This is the platform for showing your personal side on social media. Historically, Instagram has been a place to share curated, aesthetically pleasing image whether theyre of your family, your travels, or yourself. I still remember when I created my account. Back then, it was all about posting pictures of your food. In recent years though, the content has evolved to include other types of material. In fact, some of the biggest legal memelords out there built their reputations on Instagram.

Having said that, most of what I see from lawyers on the platform is still curated images. If LinkedIn is the best way to brag about your professional life, then Instagram is the best way to brag about your personal life. One major change I do see coming to IG though, is that theres going to be less of a focus on pictures and more of a focus on short form videos the platform is prioritizing Reels as a way to stay competitive against TikTok.

TikTok: Are You Cool Enough?

This is the Wild West of social media. Most of TikToks user base is still relatively young, but its still pretty useful for some lawyers to market themselves or their practices. The algorithm is incredibly good it relies on watch time to determine what other types of content to show you, which ends up being a pretty strong predictor of what you like. Plus, the way that its designed makes the videos easily shareable by others on competing social media platforms and group texts.

The challenge there though is that your videos have to be engaging or entertaining or else the content wont get very many views. Most lawyers are unaccustomed to the video format were more comfortable with text and writing. Which is kind of an opportunity, too. Like Twitter, its kind of tough to win over the crowd, but if you can pull it off the organic reach you can achieve is unparalleled. The fourth video I ever posted on TikTok received over 2 million views even though I had zero followers at the time.

Conclusion

When it comes to social media, theres no single best platform. It all comes down to what your ultimate goals are. Not everyone needs to go viral (but if that is your goal, you should check out this breakdown I wrote about how to create viral posts). And not everyone needs to have a social media presence, but given how many potential clients, hiring managers, and lawyers are active on various platforms today, you should probably at least dip your toe in the water.

Alex Su is currently the Head of Community Development at Ironclad, a leading legal technology company that helps accelerate the contracting process. Earlier in his career, he was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell and clerked for a federal district judge. Alex graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where he was an editor of the law review and the student commencement speaker. In his free time, he writes about his career journey and legal tech in his newsletter Off The Record. You can find Alex on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and yes, even TikTok.

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Intro To Social Media For Lawyers - Above the LawAbove the Law - Above the Law