In today’s advanced age of technology, new opportunities abound for people to connect with others around the world. Social networking provides a means of communication and dispersion of information.

Families and friends re-acquaint themselves without having to physically meet, allowing convenience and efficient use of time. Furthermore, individuals are able to express their thoughts and opinions through a different medium.

Social networking programs like Skype or Oovoo facilitate virtual interaction through webcam technology. Public figures too, use sites, such as Twitter or Facebook, to inform their followers of current or future plans.

Junior Megan Wells said, “Various sites allow me to communicate with people outside my home or state. I am able to reconnect and talk to old friends, which is always a nice option.”

Additionally, social networking allows a wide range of possibilities for users to expand their knowledge of the world.

Technology coordinator, Randall Pong, said, “Technology is liberating, freeing people to discover what’s around them. We are all so narrow-minded, and social networking exposes us to a variety of cultures outside our current knowledge.”

There is also criticism, however, against the overuse of social networking.

The abundance of electronic means of communication may be making users antisocial, spending more time on the Internet than in physical interaction.

Junior Cierra Ponimoi said, “Personally I don’t believe social networking is necessarily a good thing because people become more comfortable communicating virtually instead of in person. It takes away social skills.”

Private information is also made public when people use WiFi, however, and users can be ignorant of the risks. This makes them vulnerable to predators or tarnished reputations.

Pong said, “Technology like this is relatively new, so we are still in the growing stages. Media can be used ineffectively or inappropriately by dangerous people, enabling them to harm others.”