This document provides an overview of social networking including its history and evolution over time. It discusses early social networking platforms from the 1970s through the 1990s like CompuServe, AOL, Classmates, and Friendster. Popular current sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are also examined. Both the pros and cons of social networking are outlined related to privacy, identity theft, and viruses. Statistics on social networking usage in Canada are presented. The conclusion reiterates that social networking has changed culture and brought people together globally online.

1. Course Title: Concepts in a Digital World Instructor: B. Richmond Presentation By: Jodi Cameron & Aisha Mohammad

2. What is social networking? The early stages of social networking Advancement of social networking & today’s future Pros and cons of social networking online Social Networking and Privacy Popularity of social networking List of popular social networking websites Dangers associated with social networking online Conclusion References Any questions?

3. Social networking for those who are unfamiliar with the topic is a large global phenomenon that has attracted millions of users. It is the grouping of individuals in particular groups in society such as; neighborhood communities, social clubs, organizations, committees, schools, and the workplace. But it also exists online where you can find and develop friendships, interactions and exchange conversations thorough chats, forums, blogs and instant messaging. This allows others to share information, topics and experiences on various social networking sites.

4. Social networking websites grant others the access to browse and navigate the web upload photos, stream videos and leave comments. It also allows others to become members of communities regardless of their beliefs, views or whatever. Social networking does not discriminate it invites everyone and allows everyone to create their own page, invite friends, and delete friends and things of that nature. It can be valuable for some to share, interact and learn new things like culture, language, heritage and customs etc.

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6. CompuServe began in the 1970s as a business project but quickly kicked in to high gear as a public domain in the late 1980’s. CompuServe allows members to share files, access news and events online, discussion forums. It was said that CompuServe paved the way for computer interaction. It started out in the eighties and lasted throughout the late nineties (BBS) Bulletin Board Systems an online meeting place. It allowed users to communicate with a fundamental system where they could download files, software games, movies and post messages on other users files. AOL (America Online) a member created community with searchable member profiles where people would give details about themselves. AOL was used everywhere and social networking was becoming more popular because of the various computer communities that were hitting the Internet attracting users across the nation.

7. Mid 1990’s Yahoo has just arrived. Amazon was selling books. Classmates hit the Internet in a different approach to social networking idea that was the reuniting of lost classmates from high school. Unfortunately beginners of the site could not create profile user pages. Classmates today earn around forty million registered accounts.

8. Internet becomes a massive hit with various social networking communities Friendster was a way of connecting people together like most social online communities. It was founded by CEO Jonathan Abrams he describes it as a dating network but not a dating site. Its mandate is to bring all people together to share a common bond. During the following year when Friendster hit the web it brought more than three million users and aplenty of investment opportunities. Sadly things did not remain the same the site was experiencing many technical difficulties and other business concerns the site was quickly plummet and lost North American fortune and it is now being used in some places in Asia. LinkedIn was an online community that was established in 2003 it was used as a networking resource for business people who wanted to connect with other potential clients and such. LinkedIn refers to their contacts as “connections” on their site. Today, LinkedIn generates more than thirty million members.

9. Myspace launched in the year of 2003 it is no longer considered the social networking sites to some its demographic closely focuses on young adults with a fun, music-filled environment. Myspace is very popular in the U.S still today whereas, in Canada Facebook leads the social network community it was founded by a Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg his initial plan was to create a social networking community exclusively for University students his site was used as a campus-oriented computer program. It later took off to the general public in the year of 2006. Facebook has had tens of millions of dollars invested and it even had the help of billionaire and co-founder Peter Thiel of Silicon Valley. Facebook brings an estimate amount of 150 million users. Social Networking Today Social networking today has made a completely different turn. The latest trend as we all know is Twitter where a diverse of people discuss and post their next move and every day events. Twitter the future phenomenon has fuelled much buzz and criticism others claim that we as generation are taking this social networking idea too far to the extreme.

10. Pros The benefits of social networking includes diversity. It offers individuals the access to the worldwide web. Social networking can even help with providing answers to many of your questions online for research or whatever it may be. Allows you to stay in contact with friends, classmates, family members and colleagues. Helps promote business, websites, products and services. Cons Harassment and stalking is a major concern for some. Let’s say if someone has something against you or something you could block or even report that someone who is causing you harm in some kind of way. Identity theft and fraud are on the rise. It is important not to give out your information to any other outside sources. Potentially harmful viruses like spywares, worms etc. Lastly, the question of privacy.

11. Social networking sites have become increasingly popular among Canadian Internet users According to a poll by TNS Canadian Facts, a Canadian marketing and social research firm, online teens and young adults are the heaviest users of social networking sites 83% of 13-17 year olds and 74% of 18-29 year olds having visited at least one such site Six in 10 people in their 30s have visited at least one social networking site 45% of those in their 40s

12. social networking sites have tools available to help protect personal information Most social networking sites offer privacy settings that give users the ability to determine who can access their profile as well as various components thereof such as basic information, personal information, videos and photo albums.

13. Myspace Facebook Twitter YouTube Msn Messenger Flickr Hi5 Bebo Classmates Yahoo! 360 Habbo Google Digg AOL Blogger Linkedln Craig’s List 5

14. Adults and teens need to be fully aware of what type of information can be traced back through a simple conversation For example, telling a stranger online that you live in a certain town and attend a certain high school can direct that person straight to your classroom People have been known to get their : identity stolen be stalked by sexual predators have their photos taken from their online profiles and used in unauthorized ways 6

15. In conclusion, social networking has taken a new leap and a new course. Social networking’s role is to communicate to various people across the globe. It also draws many demographic groups of people world wide together and it has generated much success with just a click of a mouse. Our culture and generation has changed vastly and remarkably fast within the short number of years and it is continuing to do so today. Questions To Consider: Are we really networking in a social sense? Do you think social networks are here only temporarily?

16. http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/ http://www.digitaltrends.com/features/the-history-of-social-networking/ Http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp http://donoue.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/people.jpg http://agentgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/social-networking-sites-thumb.jpg http://www.kernsheriff.com/Investigations/Detective/BurglaryTheft/IDTheft/PublishingImages/identity-theftse.jpg http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Online_Social_Networking_Dangers http://www.priv.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_35_sn_e.cfm