Social Networking Sites

ZAHEEB AJMAL

This month Samar conducted a survey on Social Networking. We questioned students from various schools and locality of Patna. We selected the students of 15-21 age groups, as we all know these teenagers are more computer savvy than any other age group. We collected some interesting facts which we want to share with you. This survey was conducted by Zaheeb Ajmal and Adil.

The first question was that “Have you heard the name of Orkut, Youtube, Facebook or any other social networking site?” We got the response as expected, only 20% have not heard about these sites, rest of the 80% were very familiar to these sites. It means that computer and internet is rapidly influencing the lives of people. An important point which is mentionable that many answers which were reported in NO was from the female students in majority.
The second questions which was placed in front of these students that “How often do you visit these networking sites?” The answer was unexpected because out of every 10 person 6 of them visit these sites 3 times a week. We can draw inference from this data that how people are getting more and more attached day by day with the computer and its fascinating world of worldwide web. Notably one of the responders told us that he visits social networks sites 50 times a week (whopping!!).

The next question asked was “How many friends do you have in your profile?” Out of every 10 students approached, 5 were having friends over 15. Some answers to these questions were interesting as a student reveals that he visits social networking sites 50 times a week and he is having just 4 friends in his profile. The next question asked was that “Whether your friends on social networking are more open/political/social than those among your friend circle?” 50% of the students think that there friends are not more open/political/social. But 25% do think that they are more open/political/social. (Rest of them can't say). This result means people on social networks try to be as they are. They don't superimpose their new character over real character. So one can determine other's character on these networks.

The next question asked was that “Whether visiting these sites affects your personality badly, if yes then how?” The answer to this questions was straightforward as 50 % of them said no it doesn't affects their personality but 25% who thought yes their personality gets bad effects said they get more addicted towards drugs and negative thinking. (Rest can't say) We can draw an inference from it that people whose life is influenced by these sites are creating danger for their own lives which can consequently result in death.

The next question asked was that “Whether it enhances your intelligence, if yes then how?” the response was good as 50% of them thought that it is a channel through which we talk to other types of people and know about different types of people who has new idea and thinking. 25% of them think that it in no way enhances our intelligence. (Rest can't say). We can have an inference from it that majority of the students are thinking that it is a channel for knowledge sharing.

The other question put up by Samar was that “Do you face any kind of character assassination?” 50% of them said that they do not face any kind of character assassination. 25% of them thought yes they face but were unable to explain how, i.e, there are person who plays a negative part in social networks instead of real life or reel life.

The 8th question asked was “Do you think people on these networks are more open than of general locality or society?” The responses to this question were mixed as not expected. 43% said yes they are more liberal as 57% thought that they are not liberal. We can say that majority of the public thinks that the people on social networking sites are more open .

The next question was a corollary to the previous one “If yes whether they are more liberal than required?” The response to this question was good as 66% think no they are not more liberal than required whereas 33% think yes they are more liberal than required. That means majority of the students think that they are as they are.

The question 10th asked to the students was that “Whether you feel it is a channel to vent out your hidden emotions or thinking?” 50% of the person thinks that no it should not be that we should maintain privacy. Whereas 40% of them think yes it is a channel to express emotions. (Rest can't say). It suggests that although there are people who want to maintain privacy and be personal but there are persons who want to chat about their personal life to a person whom they don't know.

The next question was in accordance with the 10th one “If yes do you think it is fair to express something on these network which you do not say generally among your circle?” The response which we got was a good one as 70% said it is fair to express whereas 30% said no it is not fair.

The last question asked was “Do you think social networking is crossing the barriers of social decency? If yes, how? If no, how?” 50% of the persons thought - yes social network is crossing the barriers of social decency and their reasons were decent as one of them said it reveals our privacy it makes it public nothing remains private. It is a place where murder plan are also decided as it happened in the case of Adnan .And 38% said no it is not crossing decency limit for it is a place where we interact with our near and dear ones rest 12% said that they are not sure whether there is breach in decency limit regarding these networking sites.

Conclusion:
We all know that Orkut, facebook, and other social networking website are helping people to find their lost friends around the globe. But it seems that the general mass(specially teenagers) use these networks to channelise their depressed desires to larger and global community comprising of people of various interest and faculties.

Although all the users are comfortable with their respective communities but they feel that some time it becomes difficult to maintain the decency parameter because it is very easy to cross those lines since there is no accountability check. Propensity towards social networking sites in female respondents found to be low. Although women are more compatible in socialising themselves in their vicinity but perhaps due to less mobility and lesser accessibility to technology and internet their answers are more negative comparing to their male counterparts. If this survey would have been conducted in metropolitans then perhaps more females have answered in YES than NO and then their percentage would have gone higher.