{"id":22218,"date":"2014-10-14T18:01:36","date_gmt":"2014-10-14T10:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/?p=22218"},"modified":"2024-09-03T21:50:07","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:50:07","slug":"benefits-of-social-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/benefits-of-social-networking\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Networking Benefits That Might Surprise You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people are concerned about the negative impact platforms like Facebook and Twitter are having on our youth and even on ourselves. Kids don\u2019t go out anymore; they just text each other on WhatsApp or Skype day in and day out.<\/strong> The latest family trip is all over the \u201cVacations\u201d pinboard on Pinterest. We create business profiles on LinkedIn<\/a> instead of attending networking events.<\/p>\n

Some argue that\u2019s bad. They say online socialization leads to less physical activity. Our chairs are starting to grow roots, causing lower back pain, stiff necks, and the only mobile part remaining is our wrist, which moves the cursor. That\u2019s what they say.<\/p>\n

They say sharing our lives online can lead to negative consequences<\/strong>. Too much information in the hands of the wrong people can hurt us.<\/p>\n

This sounds pretty bad, right? Well, I\u2019m here to offer a different perspective.<\/p>\n

Connecting in Real Life<\/h2>\n

If you were to connect in real life with as many people as you can online, the outcome might be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Being human often means wearing a mask. The word itself comes from the Etruscan word \u201cphersu,\u201d which means mask. Real-life interactions require us to present different versions of ourselves. It\u2019s difficult to interact or connect with others in real life without wearing some kind of mask<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This applies to most of us. Of course, there are leaders who can be themselves, transparent and sincere, almost all the time, regardless of whom they are talking with.<\/p>\n

The rest of us have insecurities. We evaluate people based on what we can gain from them. We think in terms of ROI (return on investment) before agreeing to meet with certain individuals. It\u2019s all business.<\/p>\n

We often avoid friendships with those who are sick or poor because we see them as beneath us. We justify this by saying that everyone is responsible for their own life, as the Law of Attraction suggests. It\u2019s a convenient excuse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even if we do form friendships with people from different social classes, we might not bring them to social gatherings for fear of embarrassment. Wasn\u2019t the friendship just a way to feed our ego and tell ourselves: \u201cI\u2019m different; I can be friends with anyone, no matter their social class\u201d<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Social Networking Brings Out the Best in People<\/h2>\n

All those masks, insecurities, and social class distinctions fade away when we socialize through Twitter, Facebook, or Skype.<\/p>\n

Online, you can be yourself because you feel more secure<\/strong>. You control the environment. You\u2019re less likely to choose online friends based on their wealth. Your connections are more about collaboration and sharing interests<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Social Networking Breaks Down Social Classes<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s say you\u2019re a freelance coder who isn\u2019t particularly sociable. Social networking can gradually change that. It offers a non-intrusive change, made at your own pace<\/strong>. First, you create a Skype ID to talk to clients, then a Facebook profile to promote your work. In a few months, you start uploading pictures of yourself because having a grumpy cat as your profile picture, while funny at first, now feels awkward.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve read about \u2018hot traffic,\u2019 so you set up a blog to attract more clients. Then you start promoting it on Pinterest<\/a> and LinkedIn. You begin sharing knowledge on Quora. You form friendships with people thousands of miles away<\/strong>. It doesn\u2019t matter that you haven\u2019t met in real life; you share the same interests and goals. The connection feels genuine.<\/p>\n

Congratulations. You\u2019ve now become a global citizen.<\/p>\n

Social Networking Knows No Borders<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You now have friends worldwide and work for companies scattered across the globe. You work from different countries<\/a>. You lead a transparent life where anyone can find out what you do, what you like, and where you live, just by looking you up.<\/p>\n

Sounds utopian, right? Just 20 years ago, living like this wouldn\u2019t have been possible.<\/p>\n

Social Networking Is Safe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Social networking enhances who we are<\/strong>. Most people are inherently good, and their true nature shines more online, free from the insecurities of real-life interactions. Consider charities and causes: I\u2019m more likely to donate to a cause I find on Facebook or directly to a person in need, discovered through Facebook. I\u2019m less likely to do so in real life. It\u2019s a matter of convenience<\/strong>. It\u2019s not that I don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just that I don\u2019t care enough to go to the bank or charity to donate. It sounds harsh, but most of us think that way. However, I\u2019ll send money via PayPal. I\u2019ll take the time to have a Skype meeting with someone in need. I\u2019m not even afraid of contracting anything because, hey, I\u2019m still at home.<\/p>\n

Conclusion: Embracing Openness<\/h2>\n

Openness is the paradigm of this new era. The Internet and social networks have brought us closer than ever before<\/strong>. Consider this: as I write this, I\u2019m in my flat in Bucharest. I\u2019m wrapping up and getting ready to email this to my editor somewhere else. Soon, you\u2019ll be reading this from home, on the road, or at work, from any corner of the world.<\/p>\n

Information travels instantaneously, and knowledge is shared and promoted through social networks. Humanity has moved beyond carrier pigeons. But there\u2019s another concern.<\/p>\n

Some people fear the power of social networks<\/a>. They say you can find out almost everything about a person with a simple Google search. It\u2019s all just too exposed. Nothing is private anymore<\/strong>. They argue that this information could be used against you. That\u2019s true.<\/p>\n

But the people who truly control our destinies, those who rule your country and the planet, already have access to your private information. From your smartphone to your tablet to your PC, there are no secrets anymore<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So why not embrace honesty and transparency in your life<\/strong>? Share it all on Facebook. Connect with people worldwide on Skype. Message on WhatsApp. Update your Twitter!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like your Facebook friends will use that information against you-unlike your government might. Flip the tables on them. Become a global citizen!<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many people are concerned about the negative impact platforms like Facebook and Twitter are having on our youth and even on ourselves. Kids don\u2019t go out anymore; they just text each other on WhatsApp or Skype day in and day out. The latest family trip is all over the \u201cVacations\u201d pinboard on Pinterest. We create…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3409],"tags":[],"topic":[4523],"class_list":["entry-content","is-maxi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSocial Networking Benefits That Might Surprise You - Hongkiat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many people are concerned about the negative impact platforms like Facebook and Twitter are having on our youth and even on ourselves. 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