Social Networks
When you hear the term "social network," you probably envision websites like Facebook and Twitter. While these ARE social networking sites, the concept of social networking existed way before the internet.
Sociologists have long studied the connections people make with one another, connections called social networks.
A social network is a series of social relationships that links individuals directly to others and through initial links, indirectly to still more people.
Social networks can center on virtually any activity, from sharing job information to exchanging news and gossip. Some networks may constrain people by limiting the range of their interactions, yet networks can also empower people by making vast resources available to them.
Sometimes the connections are intentional and public; other times networks can develop that link us together in ways that are not intentional or even apparent.
Many students might develop networks to find out positive information, such as making connections for information on scholarship money. An athlete might connect with several coaches at colleges in a variety of geographic locations to seek out the best suited sports program. Of course, this intentional network could also be negative, such as finding out how to obtain illegal drugs or purchase alcohol.
An example of an unintentional, non-apparent network is the romantic relationships that high school students can potentially be involved with.
One study at a typical American high school found that 537 of the 832 students they surveyed had been romantically or sexually involved in the past 18 months. Of course, this created a rather tangled web of intimate contact among the students at this high school that many of them were simply not aware of.
Networks can also serve as a social resource that is every bit as valuable to us as economic resources when it comes to shaping our opportunities. Involvement in a social network, commonly known as "networking," can be especially valuable in finding employment. For example, have you ever heard the phrase, "It's not what you know but who you know?" In other words, many times, people try to form social networks as a way of finding a job.
Ultimately, when you think of social networks, you think of social networking websites like Facebook. This is certainly a form of social networking. You connect to people you know and to people that they know and people that they know.
There is a great deal of sociological research that is yet to be done on the effect of internet social networking. Of course, we have already seen some very real effects on today's society. A prime example is internet dating.
1 in 5 married American couples met on the internet.
Another example of an issue that has come up with regard to internet social networking is through the content that individuals post on their personal pages.
Should schools or employers make decisions about your status based on what you post on your Facebook? There have been several documented instances where teachers have been fired after posting photographs of alcohol consumption on their personal Facebook pages. Do you think the school system is justified in terminating employment because Facebook pictures?
Here is another example:
A potential college football scholarship prospect posted pictures of himself participating in activities that appeared to be drug-related on his Facebook. The college decided not to extend this student a scholarship after all. Do you think the college was justified in revoking the student's scholarship offer?
This is a thought-provoking topic. Internet social networking will likely be at the forefront of future sociological studies.
