Buzz
In this era of technological boom, traditional children's games and leisurely newspaper reading by the elderly are becoming rare. Nowadays, whenever there's a moment to spare, almost everyone reaches for their phones or computers to browse through various social networking sites. That's why the term SNS is becoming increasingly popular and a 'hot' keyword in search engines. So, what exactly is SNS? How does it relate to social media? Let's dive into it together.
Demystifying SNS
SNS, an acronym for Social Networking Service, is an online medium for establishing connections with individuals who share common interests, backgrounds, professions, or even genuine relationships. Users of this social web service create a profile with personal information, images, and more, forming connections with other profiles in the vast digital landscape.
These users then utilize their connections to nurture relationships through sharing, emailing, chatting, and commenting. Social networking services can also be referred to as 'social media' or simply 'social sites.'
Understanding SNS Better
The world's first SNS, SixDegrees.com, started in 1997, followed by the emergence of Friendster, MySpace, and notably, Facebook. Today, there's a myriad of different SNS, with over half of the world's population having SNS profiles. The scope of SNS ranges from websites where users share common interests to places where users have very specific hobbies.
Renowned SNS include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, and TikTok. SNS profiles are widely popular globally. Facebook alone boasts over 2.4 billion users worldwide.
The business model of social networking services relies on online advertising, targeting users through personalized ads based on personal information, search habits, location, or other individual data. The widespread use of mobile technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, has significantly contributed to the robust growth of social networking usage.
Characteristics of SNS
While social networking services may take various forms, they share common features, such as the necessity to utilize the Internet. Other similar characteristics include:
- User-generated content, including photos, videos, and posts, informing other users about the activities and interests of the content creator.
- Facilitating connections among individuals worldwide, although some platforms advise individuals to acquaint themselves in real life before connecting online.
- Free to use: The business model of social networking services relies on the number of members, so charging fees is likely to backfire. However, there is a possibility that if a social network becomes large and useful enough, charging fees for certain services is still plausible.
- Connecting people with common backgrounds, such as attending the same school, being colleagues, or sharing common interests.
- Can help foster and develop relationships among individuals with shared professions, positions, or business networks.
- Can be utilized to assist individuals in finding information, products, services, or resources relevant to them.
Risks of Using SNS
Despite the undeniable popularity and utilities of SNS, the online space is never entirely secure. As known from reports in March 2018, Cambridge Analytica—a political information company—illegally collected information from around 50 million profiles of U.S. users to target politically charged content.
In addition to risks of information leaks, including tax details, bank accounts, and personal identification information, SNS users who underestimate the importance of setting privacy settings often find that strangers may track their movements or witness questionable images.
Abusing social networking services can lead to depression and anxiety, limiting real-life social interactions. These services also have the potential to create conditions for bullying and other online risks for the safety of children.
Avoid the misuse of social networking services as it may lead to depression.
After the introduction, do you now grasp the essence of SNS? In general, it is an inevitable product of robust technological advancement, bringing numerous benefits to humanity. However, it's not a realm to be used recklessly; one must selectively explore its offerings while ensuring personal privacy and safety. Hopefully, the shared information above proves helpful to you!
