The Importance of Facebook and Social Bonds - Essay Example

?COMPARING MEDIA SYSTEMS Introduction Facebook is one of the most effective transnational media systems that has made sociocultural, political and economic impact within the society. It has been referred to as transnational since it connects societies globally regardless of their socioeconomic, religious affiliation, and geographical boundaries. Founded in 2004 in California, Facebook has growth tremendously both financially and the number of active users. Currently, revenue has risen to about $5.16 billion making this social media one of the most profitable. However, this financial growth has been attributed to increased number of active users, who according to statistics have hit about 1.15 billion. With objective strategies aimed at making Facebook one of the most competitive social media, the management led by Mark Zuckerberg (founder), has been able to reduce the cost of operation. Currently, it is estimated that this media system has been spending about $536 million to meet its cost of operation. This amount is too low compared to the revenue generated explaining why Facebook continue to dominate the social media industry. Facebook has played a significant role in connecting people from different parts of the world. It is one of the cheapest means of communication that allows friends, and family members to connect and express their emotions. Currently, groups with common interests can are allowed to create a ‘group page’ which they can use to communicate without necessarily having to meet physically. With tight schedules that many people have, meeting physically continues to become a big challenge. Keeping people in touch has some psychological impact. Unlike other transitional media systems such as CNN, Facebook allows individuals to express their emotions through communication. This according to psychologists is imperative in stress alleviation. Facebook is also a source of information that has made it possible for people to know what is happening in different parts of the world. Just like other electronic and print media systems, Facebook can allow individuals know, and even contribute to difference social phenomena happening in different parts of the world. Politicians, businessmen, artists, and other influential forces have taken advantage of the Facebook to target their clients. In 2008 presidential debate in the United States, Facebook was one of the main communication tool that was used to allow target voters to follow events live and make their contributions. With the help of ABC in collaboration with Alselm College, a Facebook App that would make it possible for communication in this kind of setting was developed. This therefore makes facebook one of the unprecedented transnational media systems, which allow people to have a say in political and other social issues. Businesspersons have also taken advantage facebook to market their products, target and retain customers. They keep target customers informed about what they produce, where they can find them, and the price. Facebook has therefore made a positive impact in e-commerce, a phenomenon that has taken shape in the business world. Through this process, many companies have been able to increase their customer base, which consequently leads to more sales and profits. 2. Social impact of facebook While facebook has made a lot of impact on the society, this paper shall focus on the social impact. The latter will seek to analyze how facebook has transformed the lives of the people globally. In dealing with the issue of social impact of Facebook, the following questions shall be addressed: How has facebook enhanced social bonds, and communication? How does facebook enhance information dissemination? How has facebook fostered relationship between clients and businesspersons? What are some of the criticisms of social impact of facebook? 1. Facebook and social bonds The media system theory of dependency is imperative inn explaining the kind of media that people choose. It also explains why people prefer certain kinds of media over others. Depending on the level of social satisfaction, people will choose certain transnational and regional media systems and ignore others. This dependent media system theory also explains how a specific media affects the social, economic, and shapes the political aspects of the society. As indicated before, Facebook is one of the transnational media systems with the highest number of subscribers. As it will be indicated in the figure below, Facebook connects all people regardless of their age, gender and socioeconomic status. Diagram 1: Face book users vs. Age Source (Lee, 2012) From the above figure, people of the ages 18-34 are the highest users of Facebook contributing about 52%. This age depicts a group of people who are out to form social relations. People at this age are networking in order to fulfilling different gaps in their lives. For instance, there are those seeking for friends, long-term partners, job opportunities and people to talk to. The figure also indicates that people at the age of 45-64 also use facebook and contribute to about 13% of the active subscribers. This shows that the old and the young have found facebook to be an important platform where they can connect. The importance of Facebook in fostering social bonds cannot be disputed. In the following diagram, Facebook popularity has been on the increase since inception in 2004. Diagram 2: growing number of Facebook users Source (Lee, 2012) In the above figure, it is clear that the current active users are above 1 billion people, and this is likely to change in the near future. These statatistics indicates the positive social impact that Facebook has on the society. With tight schedules that most people, especially the young have, Facebook becoems the best place to connect (Kazeniac, 2009, 20). It is one of the most convenient transnational media system owing to the fact that people can connect any time so long as they have internet enabled phones. For instance, employees will communicate with their family members and friends during lunchbreaks (Kirkpatrick, 2008, 22). It is one of the platforms that ensures people connect regularly, and in their convenience places. Psychologists and sociologists explain the importance of social bonds in enhancing the welfare of humanbeings. From a psychological point of view, the social connection enables people express their emotional status to one another. Many people, especially the young adults, have a lot of challenges ranging from relational issues, unemployment, divorce and domestic violence. As a result, they suffer emotionala and psychological effects, that affects their daily lives (Pope, 2000, 79). Unless this is addresed, such problems normally lead to stress, major depression, suicide thoughts and acts amongtst other psychological effects (Stark, 2000, 235). With people having little or not time for physical interactions, Facebook has become imperative in expressing such emotions. Psychologists indicate that online couseling has also been on the increase (Douglas, 1999, 67) making it possible to seek help. In his theory of suicide, Emile Durckheim stated the importance of social bonds. In his observation, he learnt that suicide rates were high in people who lacked social bond (Cotterrell, 2010, 78). It was also high amonsgt the singles, protestants, and those who led lonely lives. Facebook has therefore played a significant role as far as promoting social interactions is concerned. it provides those with stressful lives an opportunity to share with those that they trust. It is also a platform that assists those who find it difficult to express their emotions in face-to-face communication. Facebook has also played improtant role in shaping the political world. through social interactions, poeple have been able to have a common stand on what they think is democratically right. For instance, Egypians and Tunisians used the power of Facebook to foster social change in their countries. they were able to tumble the regimes through one voice. Through facebook, individuals can foster change within their countries, by ensuring that the leaders do the right things. However, due to these kinds of social revolutions, facebook have been banned in many countries including China, and Egypt. 2. facebook and informaiton dissemination One of the main aim of the transnational and regional media systems has been to disseminate information. In facebook, dessemination of information is done at the clients’ pleasure. This means that for them to receive particular information, they have to subscribe to certain pages, or follow certain links. This makes the Facebook one of the most interesting transnational media system, since users are not forced to watch or read what they do not want. For instance, those who want to know more about politics may read that in certain pages. Facebook, unlike other media provides information of all kinds, including advice from experts. This ensures that people are kept informed at all times. They are also given the opportunity to choose which kind of informaiton they deem important to them. 3. facebook and e-commerce E-commerce is the current social phenomenon that the world is experiencing (Chaudhury, 2002, 89). It is the other form of social interaction in the world of business, connecting target clients with companies (Kotler, 2009, 90). It is one of the startegies that has been used by major companies such as Samsung, Sony and Apple Inc. to market their goods, as well as interact with their customers. through the Facebook page, the marketing departments have provided links that facebook users can use to navigate to the company’s profile. Through this, customers not only purchase learn about the goods, and prices, but they also get an opoortunity to get to ask questions and give their recommendations. Facebook has acted as a platform that connects the customers with the people providing them with goods. through their facebook pages, the companies have been able to increase the number of customers througout the world. it is a platform that allows for direct marketing, which is said to be the best strategy of atttracting as many clients as possible. Facebook has therefore contributed to social change in the world of business, where people can buy and sell their products online (Miller, 2002, 124). 4. Criticisms of facebook in social lives While this form of transnational media system has significantly impacted the lives of societies across the world, it has been criticized for a number of problems. Psychologists lament that this social network has contributed to antisocial behavior. Unlike in the past where people would sacrifice their time to meet and connect, Facebook has hindered face-to-face communication. Social scientists see this as a big problem to the society, owing to the benefits of face-to-face communications (Cotterrell, 2010, 90). For instance, it is difficult to tell whether people are genuine in what they say on Facebook or not. With increased cyber insecurity (Eldon, 2008, 4), and lack of privacy, it is not possible for people to share all their information. Secondly, unproductivity in the working environment has been attributed to increased Facebook use amongst the employees (Lee, 2012, 79). For instance, in 2007, many companies in Britain burned the use of facebook in the working environment. This according to statistics affected about 43% of the employees. The ban came as a result of unproductivity that was attributed to the increased social interactions on facebook amongst the employees. Thirdly, Facebook has been criticized for lack of ensuring safety for minors. According to statistics, many minors have access to facebook, which according to experts is not a prudent thing (Arrington, 2012, 80). The main disadvantage with this has been the increased cyber-bullying and exploitation where the minors are the main targets. In addition to that, the minors may be the victims of certain social evils such as sexual exploitation. Currently, it is estimated that many minors are being exposed to sexual explicit materials that may affect their normal growth (Arrington, 2012, 89).Despite the disadvantages attributed to facebook, it still remains one of the most important transnational media systems in shaping people’s lives positively (Carlson, 2010, 9). In conclusion, Facebook has become one of the most important tools that connect people from different parts of the world. It has continued immensely to social growth and development through communication and information. With growing number of subscribers, Facebook has become one of the most competitive transnational media that continues to shape lives of people regardless of their sociocultural, economic and regional status. Socially, Facebook has made it possible for families and friends from different parts of the world to connect and communicate. Unlike in the past where people had to make a call or travel in order to connect with such people, facebook has been one of the cheapest way that people can connect on a daily basis. Psychologists have indicated that facebook has played significant role in alleviating emotional and psychological disorders in people. With increased pressures of life, many people look who can listen to them as they express them emotions. However, with busy schedules, it becomes impossible for such people to meet and interact physically. While many people find it difficult to share their emotions face-to-face, facebook acts as the best alternative. Even the psychologists have gone online to offer their services. The theory functional theory of suicide explains the importance of social bonds. According to the proponents of this theory, suicide rates are highest in individuals who feel lonely, unappreciated, and those suffering from different emotional and psychological disorders. With this transnational media system, friends and family members are provided with a platform to both and share their experiences, hence mitigating such negative effects. Apart from connecting family members and friends, another social impact of Facebook has been information dissemination. Through the Facebook page, one of able to access other transnational and regional media systems hence being able to know what is happening in the world. One can read newspapers, and follow stories on electronic media such as Al Jazeera and CNN. With the highest number of subscribers in Facebook, other media have taken the advantage, and therefore target the clients through provision of links. Facebook users are able to like and follow such pages to get more information about what is happening in different parts of the world. Another aspect of social change that has been fostered by Facebook is e-commerce. With companies advertising their goods and services through facebook page, target customers are able to get all the information they need. Major companies such as Apple Inc. Samsung and Sony have taken advantage of this social media to market their latest products. This is imperative in allowing clients to make informed decisions before they can purchase such products. Apart from increasing sales for such companies, the society has also benefited in that they know exactly where to find particular products, and at what price. This avoids wastage of time when moving from place to place looking for goods and services. Facebook, however, has been criticized for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has failed in controlling the minors from acquiring accounts. As a result, minors have been exploited, and exposed to explicit materials information affecting their psychological and emotional statuses. Secondly, link it with increased unproductivity in many organizations, especially when employees spend considerable amount of time chatting with their friends. Despite these challenges, facebook remains one of the unprecedented transitional media systems that have made a huge social impact, changing peoples’ lives positively. References Arrington, Michael 2012. "The Age of Facebook". TechCrunch Carlson, Nicholas 2010. "At Last – The Full Story Of How Facebook Was Founded". Business Insider Cotterrell, Roger 2010. Emile Durkheim: Justice, Morality and Politics. Ashgate (ISBN 978-0-7546-2711-1). Chaudhury, Abijit; Kuilboer, Jean-Pierre 2002. E-Business and e-Commerce Infrastructure. McGraw-Hill Douglas, Jack D. 1999. The Social Meanings of Suicide. Princeton University Press (ISBN 978-0-691-02812-5). Eldon, Eric 2008. "2008 Growth Puts Facebook In Better Position to Make Money". VentureBeat (San Francisco). Retrieved November 10, 2013. Kazeniac, Andy 2009. "Social Networks: Facebook Takes Over Top Spot, Twitter Climbs". Compete Pulse blog. Retrieved November 10, 2013 Kirkpatrick, David, 2006 "Why Facebook matters: It's not just for arranging dates. And it's not just another social network. Facebook offers sophisticated tools for maintaining social relationships", Fortune magazine Lee, Newton, 2012 Facebook Nation: Total Information Awareness. New York, NY: Springer ISBN 978-1-4614-5307-9. Kessler, M 2003. "More shoppers proceed to checkout online", USA today, retrieved January 13, 2004. Kotler, Philip 2009. Marketing Management. Pearson: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 978-81-317-1683-0. Miller, Roger 2002. The Legal and E-Commerce Environment Today (hardcover Ed.). Thomson Learning. ISBN 0-324-06188-9. 741 pp. Miller, Daniel, 2011 Tales from Facebook, Polity 2011, ISBN 978-0-7456-5209-2 Pope, Whitney, and Nick Danigelis. 2000. "Sociology's One Law," Social Forces 60:496-514. Stark, Rodney and William Sims Bainbridge. 2000. Religion, Deviance and Social Control. Routledge, Google Print p. 32 Read More