Qynasa+Deveaux+Persuasive+Essay


 * Social Networking Sites Are Not Good For Our Society **

===**On September 22, 2010 an 18 year-old student from New Jersey, named Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge. His roommate Dharun Ravi and hall mate Molly Wei recorded Tyler's sexual encounter with another man and posted it on twitter for everyone to see. People spoke badly about him and he couldn't even turn to his parents because they were also disappointed in him. They next day he posted on Facebook "Jumping off the gw bridge sorry" and committed suicide. It's situations like these that make me think that social networking sites aren't good for our society. I am against it for three reasons: First, because it entices people to spend more time online than face-to-face. Secondly, because social networking sites have no way to verify people are who they claim to be exposing people to predators. Lastly, because it causes more cyber bullying. **===

===**The first reason why I don't think social networking sites are good for our society is because it makes people want to spend time online and not actually face-to-face. Studies show teens spend over 9 hours a week meaning less time talking face-to-face. Not actually speaking with a person actually in person can cause them to inability to have normal face-to-face interactions. Also social networking sites are accounted for 17% of all time spent on the internet. Meaning someone is getting on a social networking site every six minutes which is three times as much in 2008. This proves people spend so much time on social networking sites that they don't have enough time to communicate with people in real life. Getting on social networking sites can cause people to spend too much time online making it hard to speak to people face-to-face. **===

===**The second argument for why I don't think social networking sites are good for our society is because they have no way to verify people are who they claim to be exposing people to predators and stalkers. For instance in February 2009 MySpace identified over 90,000 registered sex offenders. When Facebook was asked they wouldn't tell, leading me to the conclusion that they found more than MySpace. Another thing that is interesting is 25% of Americans that have been stalked are over social networks. Also 25% of youth reported seeing at least one unwanted exposure to sexual pictures by predators on social networks. This is happening every day and no one does anything about it. Social networks can't verify people are who they say they are causing people to be exposed by other people they don't want to know about. **===

===**The last reason why I believe social networking sites aren't good for our society is because they cause more cyber bullying. 36% of middle school students, 40% of high school students, and 27% of college students were victims of cyber bullying on social networks in 2011 which is way higher than the amounts in 2009. 43% of teens are victims of cyber bullying. 8% of those affected by cyber bullying try to commit suicide. 20% of teens had a cyber-bully pretend to be someone else. Social networks cause cyber bullying to be more easy and public. For example, Tyler Clementi was one of the victims of cyber bullying who commit suicide and many others and if there weren't social networks the number would reduce and be as low as they were in the 1990's and early 2000's. Social networks make more cyber bullying, increasing suicide rates. **===

===**Some people may argue that social networking site have minimum age requirements and default settings based on the child's age to make it more safe and keep them away from predators. But when children really want to get on social networking sites and have the same freedom as other people they lie about their age and like they can't verify if the age the child claims to be is really their age. **===

===**People also argue that social networking sites bring people with common interests together and offer exposure to new ideas from around the world. The bad thing about that is while you’re connecting with people from around the world you have bad ads that pop up, spams, and bad connection. With all these problems I’d rather meet someone in person and not have any problems. **===


 *  In conclusion, I believe that social networking sites aren't good for our society because they cause problems to the society like suicides and cyber bulling. Also I believe it would make the world a better place with less stress and things or that sort. Stop Social Networks! **

1 socialnetworking.procon.org 2 protectkidsontheinternet.com 3 nypc.org

