Just recently I came across this website called What is Social Networking?
On the homepage there’s an article defining what Social Networking is and on a tab on the side there’s a list of topics related to Social networking. These Topics range from Creating a site, to Cyber bullying, and Which sites are useful. I truly didn’t think a site like this existed. Now this isn’t a fancy site with great html and Java script. This is a pretty standard site, text, bad graphics, and suck advertisements; obviously a homemade site, but it’s surprising the kind of information you find.
I explored the site a little and found some of the articles interesting and highly relevant to our class. in Addicted to Social Sites?, the author uses terms like Internet Addiction Disorder, Net Junkie, or online-a-holic to describe people addicted to being alone. it made me think, aren’t we all Net Junkies then? we get most of HW readings online, and while online, we check our email, some of us have our e-mail connected to our phones so we are always in contact, we are also on Facebook, or twitter. Who escapes this term really? The author goes on to describe the tellnig signs of Internet Addiction Disorder: “1) Excessive computer use typically associated with loss of spatial time perception; neglect of basic human drives, proper nutrition, personal hygiene, relationships; 2) Feelings of isolation, withdrawal, depression and extreme agitation, high-anxiety if the computer is unavailable or breaks down; 3) Low tolerance levels, including an unjustifiable need for bigger, better, faster computer equipment, the latest and greatest software; and 4) Low accomplishment level, procrastination, lying, social isolation and chronic fatigue.”
I wonder, how many of us can say we show all four signs?
