Social Media: Advantages and Disadvantages for college students

Social media sites, like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter are all social norms to many college students. To them, it is a way of life, and without it, many would be out of synch with their peers. But are their disadvantages to putting out an "E-persona?" What happens when when someone posts something negative about you? Do you have any rights to dispute their claims? What are the advantages?

Advantages:

1. Students get up to the minute news, stories or even assignments in an instant.
2. Creates a "safety blanket," meaning, a student can communicate with a person they don't know at a safe distance.
3. Provides a social network that involves awareness of certain groups, like Breast Cancer Awareness or Global Warming. These sites can influence a student to participate in activities that create knowledge and give back to their community, state or nation.
4. Social media creates a global community. Students are able to communicate with other students from across the globe in real time. This creates cultural awareness and understanding.
5. Social media can expand a student's knowledge base. Prior to social media sites, students were restricted to library databases or face to face encounters. With social media networks, a student can locate information from all over the web and receive opinions or advise from anyone from anywhere in the world.
   

Disadvantages:

1. Information is being processed at a dizzying rate. For many students the amount of data and information is overwhelming.
2. Social media sites create "false relationships." That is, students may become "friends" with someone from their university, but really lack the qualities of a true friendship. Some students may then lack the actual social necessities to become friends with someone.
3. Students are becoming more and more reliant on social media to keep them up to date on what is going on with their friends. This leads to fewer phone calls, fewer face to face interactions.
   
4. Social media sites are not reliable sources. Anyone can post a blog about any subject. The reader must be aware of the validity of the blogger.
5. Communication on social media sites can be misinterpreted. What one person may deem as a positive post or positive feedback, another person may interpret as condescending or negative.