Pro Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites spread information faster than any other media.

Over 50% of people learn about breaking news on social media. [11] 65% of traditional media reporters and editors use sites like Facebook and LinkedIn for story research, and 52% use Twitter. [12] Social networking sites are the top news source for 27.8% of Americans, ranking close to newspapers (28.8%) and above radio (18.8%) and other print publications (6%). [11] Twitter and YouTube users reported the July 20, 2012 Aurora, CO theater shooting before news crews could arrive on the scene [13], and the Red Cross urged witnesses to tell family members they were safe via social media outlets. [14]

11) Kristin Marino, "Social Media: The New News Source," www.schools.com, Apr. 16, 2012

12) Sabrina Kidwali and Catherine Imperatore, "Social Media as an Advocacy Tool," Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, Sep. 2011

13) John D. Sutter, "Theater Shooting Unfolds in Real Time on Social Media," www.cnn.com, July 20, 2012

14) Trevor Hughes and Carolyn Pesce, "Motive Sought in Deadly Shooting Rampage at Colorado Theater," www.usatoday.com, July 21, 2012

Social networking sites help students do better at school.

59% of students with access to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments. [15] After George Middle School in Portland introduced a social media program to engage students grades went up by 50%, chronic absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20% of students school-wide voluntarily completed extra-credit assignments. [16] [17]

15) National School Boards Association, "Creating and Connecting: Research and Guidelines on Online Social - and Educational - Networking," www.nsba.org, July 2007

16) Sarah Kessler, "The Case for Social Media in Schools," www.mashable.com, Sep. 29, 2010

17) Elizabeth Delmatoff, "How Social Media Transformed Our School Community," www.oregoned.org, Apr. 2010

Social media helps empower business women.

Being able to connect on social networking sites gives business women a support group not readily found offline where female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are outnumbered by male CEOs 15 to 485. [18] Many social media sites are dominated by women: 72% of Pinterest users are women, 58% of Facebook users, 62% of MySpace users, 60% of Yelp users, and 53% of Instagram users. [19] Business women useTwitter chats to support each other, give and receive peer knowledge, and have guest "speakers" share expert knowledge. [20] One.org helps African women entrepreneurs connect on social media to grow their businesses. [21]

18) Bianca Bosker, "Fortune 500 List Boasts More Female CEOs Than Ever Before," www.huffingtonpost.com, May 7, 2012

19) Huffington Post, "Social Media by Gender: Women Dominate Pinterest, Twitter, Men Dominate Reddit, YouTube (Infographic)," www.huffingtonpost.com, June 21, 2012

20) Laura Said-Moorhouse and Stina Backer, "Why Women in Business Are Flocking to Twitter Chat," www.cnn.com, Sep. 27, 2012

21) One.org, "Helping African Women Business Leaders Connect with Social Media," www.one.org (accessed Dec. 5, 2012)

Task 6

Develop an argument against social networking using the following information and incorporate 1 pro social networking statement as a counter argument. You should include a thesis statement, reasons, and a conclusion. You should use paraphrasing and insert in-text citations (MLA style) in writing your argument. (this should be a minimum of 6 sentences and a maximum of 8) (12 marks)