The Impact of Online Communities and Online Social Networking - Essay Example

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I understand this will involve the EIBT or its contractor copying my work and storing it on a database to be used in future to test work submitted by others. Note: The attachment of this statement on any electronically submitted assignments will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed statement. Signed: Date: Date received from student Assessment/grade Assessed by: Recorded: Dispatched (if applicable): Communication Skills III (COM 202) Trimester 3 Year 2014 Student’s name: Cecilia Zhao ID number: 505680 Report title: The impact of online communities and online social networking Lecturer: Stan Woods Executive summary The evolution of the internet was a revolution that began in 1950s. Useful online communication tools were later invented, such as email, virtual community on web, online communication software and online games. By 1997 the internet had one million sites, blog designed for public community. The internet allowed users to create profiles and list friends. In the beginning of the 21st century, online social networking became more relative in the world of business and commerce, connecting more than seven million computers globally. Online communities and social networking sites served as essential sources of information and advice in precarious progressive periods. In the contemporary society, the technological advancement has enabled instant communication between individuals separated by distance. Researchers acknowledge that knowledge not only exists in people’s minds but it can also be developed through interactive dissertations between individuals. These interactions enhance active participation among students as learners develop skills on how to share knowledge and share and learn from others. Communities such as Leader Networks, organize workshops that facilitate interactive forums where leaders envision and redefine their business models and determine proper ways of defining success. These workshops also organize strategy forums that are critical success factors in the establishment of foundations necessary in meeting the unique needs of their social business. The increasing acceptance of online communities and social networks increased the ability of people to present themselves and expose their cultures in these online networks. This provides a platform upon which individuals from diverse cultures can find points of integration. Online communities and social networking have also played a role in improving cultural competence among different individuals in the professional world. Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Online social networking development 6 3. Impact of online communities and social networking 11 4. Conclusion 17 5. References 18 List of Figures Figure 1Online Social networking Landscape 8 Figure 2International Club members in Melbourne in 1954 10 List of tables Table 1Popular social networking activities 12 1. Introduction Internet as a common social networking technology is a major development on human’s daily life today. Since 1950s the beginning of electronic computer development, there were many useful online communication tools has been invented, such as email, virtual community on web, online communication software and online game. Various online communication and online social networking methods could bring lots of affects to our society, therefore, this report will intent to introduce the impact of online community and online social networking(Social network 2014). Over the last few years, the internet has increased with mighty applications such as instant messaging, online-shopping, blogs, Voice over Internet Protocol, online news, video, multiplayer gaming, photo sharing and a lot of other terms have entered into the vocabulary as these services became popular with internet users(. Online social networking means a group of people who has same purpose or interests for seeking information or easily duly communicates with others through the internet, usually their using webpage for a chat or using blogs for present their personal demand and opinions to others, and other people who browsed this information could reply or communicate with them. This report will use information on online articles and academic journals refers to expound and examples the impact of online community and online social networking through several major points. As the report is intended to provide an overview, most topics have been carefully examined to provide only key points. With the purpose to deeply understanding what is the impact of online communities and online social networking, this report will introduce online social networking through three major points which maintain the history of online social networks development, the positive impact of online social networks and negative impact of online social networks. 2. Online social networking development In the earliest social networking history, first available online social networking was set up by user network groups which called Usenet groups and bulletin boards. They established by like-minded communities to communicate about specific topic. Most early internet users were computer enthusiasts which were only focused on technology and computer science, also the topics they interested in, such as role-playing games. Normally these websites had same feature like chat room for people type messages to each other and receive replication in that time through the online websites. The reason of this happening was because some people had expertise of technology, and some people were interested in technology, however, online social networking was not popular at the earlier time. 2.1 Online social networking revolution The first email was delivered in 1971; seven years after 2 Chicago computer enthusiasts invented the bulletin board system (BBS) to inform friends of meetings, share information through postings. Until 1993 CERN donated the WWW technology to the world, and meantime more 200 web servers were online, and this just the online social networking revolution’s dawning. In 1997, The Web had one million sites, blog has designed for public community, and SixDegrees.com was the first Web which allowed users create profiles and list friends. America On-line Company instant Messenger lets users chat, and Blackboard is founded as an online course management system for educators and learners. One year after, Google opens as a major internet search engine and index. In the beginning of 2000s, online social networking becomes more relative in the world of business and commerce, since those 70,000,000 computers were connected to the internet. In the real-time Wikipedia as the online exoteric encyclopaedia which possible for everyone to read and edit was started. Friendster, a social networking website, in America was opened for people and instant increased users up to 3 million only in three months. Since 2004, Facebook, which becomes most popular and biggest social networking Web was started for students at Harvard College, refers to as a college version of Friendster. From that time, online social networking had a fast and amazing development, a great numbering of networking company or social networking Webs were participate in people’s daily life and becomes a very important means. Until 2014, online social networking has become an integral part of modern society. There are general social networks with user bases larger than the population of most countries. The picture below shows the main area of online social networks covered. Figure 1 Online Social networking Landscape (FredCavazza.net) 2.2 Social networks becomes Social business Social networks, such as Facebook, are increasingly becoming business platforms upon which entrepreneurs get to advertise their products and services. With the soaring levels of Facebook’s standings on the stock market, it is fruitless to deny the impact of social media on the business of marketing (Baym 2010, p. 24). Social networks, in terms of improving business tactics, represent an opportunity for business to acquire the attention of their customers while at the same time building their brand image. These tactics when employed by businesses, they enhance the creation of brand profiles on social networks especially on fan pages and creative advertisement through branded podcasts among other apps (Baym 2010, p. 26). The spread of information through words of mouth helps in the development social networks into businesses considering the fact that different people share some connection on a global platform and casually participate in the lives of each other through online interaction. Activities such as “Liking” or “Following” a brand on Facebook or Twitter can spread quickly throughout the existing networks (Baym 2010, p. 29). This is enhanced by the fact that most individuals trust the opinions of their peers concerning certain brands compared to the adverts that exist. Thousands of people often review existing products and services through sites such as YouTube, which on numerous occasions are shared and disseminated through other social media sites. The ability of products to acquire more views in different social networks enhances the chances that the product or service will be bought or accessed (Baym 2010, p. 33). Figure 2 International Club members in Melbourne in 1954 (Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2013) 3. Impact of online communities and social networking This section provides a critical look on the significance of different online communities and social networking on the operations of diverse sectors of the community. This will include impact on; modern communication behaviour; effects on education; social business opportunities; and effects on intercultural behaviour. 3.1 Morden communication behaviour Online communities and social networks have contributed to the nature of relationships that different members of the society have. Individuals such as teenagers are able to find support through online interaction. Initially marginalized individuals such as the lesbians, gay and those living with disabilities feel satisfied with these platforms as best to enhance conversation. Table 1 Popular social networking activities Online communities and social networking sites serves as essential sources of information and advice in precarious progressive periods. In the contemporary society, the technological advancement has enabled instant communication between individuals separated by distance (Cross & Parker 2004, p. 20). Individuals are able to understand the events that happen in the lives of their friends since these sites enable them to share information in the form of their Facebook updates and their tweets. In addition, individuals are also able to share videos and photos on their sites to constantly update their friends and relatives. It is important to note that face to face communication has been replaced by online communication and this is a common attribute of integration on the local and global platform (Cross & Parker 2004, p. 22). The ability of online communities and social networks to facilitate sharing of information can also be perceived as platforms that hinders efficient interpersonal skill development. Virtual communication minimizes the ability of an individual to earn proper relationship skills that boost co-existence in the society. This means that conflict resolution skills within the young people, who are major subscribers in these sites, often possess limited skills on conflict resolution and this discourages the ability of different communities to enhance cohesion and social integration (Cross & Parker 2004, p. 33). 3.2 Effect of education Online communities and social networking have played an essential role in increasing collaborative education among students. Students use these platforms in sharing of information and enhancing their communication skills among their peers. Sharing of information increases productivity as it intensifies the possibility that student will learn how to effectively work in groups (Gil-Pechuán 2013, p. 86). Researchers agree that knowledge not only exists in people’s minds but it can also be developed through interactive discourses between individuals. These interactions enhance active participation among students as learners develop skills on how to share knowledge and share and learn from others. Social networks and online communities serve as tools that facilitate the development of learning communities. This is done by encouraging collaboration, communication and reinforcing the achievement of desirable learning outcomes (Gil-Pechuán 2013, p. 86). The support to collaborative learning that social media provides supports and strengthens a creative learning process. This is characterized by the ability of students to effectively interact and connect with the course content. Through online communities, students are able to expand their learning environment due to the fact that only a portion of effective students’ learning occurs in the classroom. It is therefore the responsibility of a tutor to find ways of incorporating existing social networks in classroom activities. The ability of a tutor to encourage the use of online communities increases the chance that students will devise new techniques of understanding course material (Warburton & Hatzipanagos 2013, p. 37). The current popularity that social networks enjoy in educational institutions coupled by the speed by which these sites publish and transmit information creates a lax in attitude towards proper spelling and grammar. This minimizes the ability of a student to write grammatically correct sentences without relying on the spell check features on computers. There is a high degree of anonymous and private information available in the internet. There is a high tendency of students to forget the need to filter information that they post (Gil-Pechuán 2013, p. 90). 3.3 Social business opportunity Online communities and social networks have enhanced the abilities of organizations to build effective relationships with stakeholders. Communities such as Leader Networks, organize workshops that facilitate interactive forums where leaders envision and redefine their business models and determine proper ways of defining success (Warburton & Hatzipanagos 2013, p. 44). These workshops also organize strategy forums that are critical success factors in the establishment of foundations necessary in meeting the unique needs of their social business (Hunter 2013, p. 28). As a research and strategy consulting group, Leader Networks focuses on helping organizations in creating significant competitive advantages that ensure goal oriented business results. Through such online communities, organizations are able to share knowledge on the best ways by which they can build innovative ways of listening to, learning about, and enhance an interaction across a wide range of prospective and current suppliers, customers and partners. These platforms have also enhanced corporation among leaders as they desires ways of leading their organizations to desired company outcomes (Hunter 2013, p. 30). 3.4 Effect of intercultural Studies have revealed most individuals, irrespective of their cultural backgrounds, tend to make social networking accounts as soon as they are able to access the internet. The increasing popularity of online communities and social networks increased the ability of people to present themselves and expose their cultures in these online networks (Ocsc et al 2009, p. 67). This provides a platform upon which individuals of diverse cultures can find points of integration. Online communities and social networking have also played a role in improving cultural competence among different individuals in the professional world (Ocsc et al 2009, p. 77). Multinational Corporations such as Coca Cola, Nokia and Toyota use social networks and online communities such as Facebook and Twitter to understand the cultural backgrounds of different communities and the impact that their products and services would have on the wellbeing of different communities (Warburton & Hatzipanagos 2013, p. 56). It is important to note that social networks play a role in building in the development of a global village. This has been propagated by the ability of certain cultures to override other cultures. The American and European cultures have received wide acceptance all over the world. This has been necessitated by the availability of social networks that enhance sharing of cultural information (Ocsc et al 2009, p. 88). 4. Conclusion The evolution of the internet was a major contributor to the eventual development online communities and social networks. Facebook, Twitter, My Space and Skype have been significant in the evolution of individual interaction and businesses. These platforms have enhanced the relationship between individuals separated by distance considering that they are able interact virtually across borders.it is important to done that social media platforms have also improved communication between disadvantaged members of the society. These individuals are able to express their feeling and concerns about different matters in the society. Businesses have been able uses these platforms in promoting their products and services and this increases the likelihood that these commodities will be purchased. Social media had also had an impact on education and intercultural relationship considering the fact that these forms of technology integrate cultures and enhance sharing of information. 5. 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