My View on Social Networks

Social networks such as MySpace and Facebook are useful tools not only for meeting new people and connecting with long lost relatives and such but also for marketing and making money.

Myspace now has a system which allows users to advertise their Web sites or products for a starting fee of $25 USD plus a fee according to how many views the ad gets. Bands can reach stardom in no time using just Myspace to promote their music.

Facebook is more for adults and is somewhat less popular among teenagers, possibly for that very fact. In my opinion, Facebook is a lot less useful than Myspace, and is more for enjoying the Apps that Facebook is oh so renowned for.

Some parents are weary about the effects these social networks can have on their kids, and they have every right to be. The internet is a scary place, and can be dangerous if you aren't well aware of how to avoid scams and stalkers alike. A lot of kids get addicted to social networks which can have negative effects on them overall.

In my personal experience, Facebook is a lot safer than Myspace. Myspace has A LOT of fake profiles that steal pictures from other profiles and post them as their own. These people are often middle-aged stalkers or just an ugly teenager that wants to be pretty. I've seen many of these fake profiles on Myspace but have had no such encounters with people like this on Facebook.

But, that's not to say that there aren't people like that on there.

One thing, I've learned is to limit your time on social networks. Time is a limited resource, so do not waste your time trying to get the most friends or comments. Instead, do something positive with your life, like writing.

To avoid the bad side of social networking, there are three main things to remember:

1. Don't be quick to trust people. Stalkers ARE out there.

2. Limit your use of these sites. Addiction is never a good thing.

3. Never give out your personal information to people you can't trust.

To read more about social networks, click here.