Social Networking

     When thinking about the world of technology, the possibilities are quite limitless and seems to be constantly expanding through human ingenuity. One form of technology in particular that has seen a great spurt of usage this recent decade would be social technology. It can be used by almost anyone and has greatly helped in keeping people connected in at least a virtual form. Some prime examples would include Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and even Tinder. LinkedIn can be considered by some as a social network that focuses more on the professional side of keeping in contact. Corporations can scout out potential talent through the use of such technology. Meanwhile Reddit can be used as a method of sharing information and staying involved within the latest happenings of specific interest groups. 

     Some of the benefits of these technologies to our modern society would include ease of access to contacts, whether it is for personal or professional purposes. These social networks also allow people to bring a more humane presence to the concept of the internet allowing for personalized profiles. Keeping in touch with others may be quite difficult at times. but social networking has bridged distance gaps between people all over. Some aspects that can be considered the "dark side" would be that there is a lot of information being stored in the databases that cannot be removed and is owned by the respective social media. The idea of "Big Brother" as mentioned in How Obama Tapped Into Social Networks’ Power is something that we have to be aware of. Seeing as how most of our interactions on social media can be viewed by others, the government can have access to it. Another aspect of the "dark side" also relating to Social Networking would involve the concept of privacy. In Facebook Privacy Is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo Isn't Private, it describes how information thought to be private on Social Networks might not truly be private. Due to certain nuances in settings, it may be difficult to be completely sure that information meant for a select few won't accidentally be spread online. The issue of not having complete control over what one puts online is definitely part of the "dark side". Within the future, I feel that technology will continue closing the gap between the vitual and the real world. Connecting with others through Social Networks may still feel distant, however it will try to imitate real life face to face interactions as much as possible. This may be one of the future projects that Facebook might be working on. It seems to make complete sense with their acquisition of the Oculus Rift which is meant to formulate artificial/virtual reality.