AN EXPLORATION OF SOCIAL NETWORKS:

THE GOOD, THE NEUTRAL & THE BAD OF

VIRTUAL REALITY REALMS

Anna DiNotoDecember 9, 2009

So, who am I? Full-time graduate student pursuing my Psy.D.

and M.A. in Clinical Psychology (@ Argosy University)

Practicum Student at: reSTART: Internet Addiction Recovery Program Internet/Computer Addiction Services

Molding my graduate degree to fit my interest: Media Psychology

I am an avid gamer, social networker and love, Love, LOVE new technology!

Outline Social Networking

Definitions The Good The Neutral The Bad

Critical Thinking Piece Implications Personal Thoughts Question Time!

What is Social Networking A social networking service that is a shared

structure which focuses on building online communities of individuals that share interests and/or activities who seek to gain and explore the interests and activities of others (Boyd, 2007).

So, what does it entail? Blogging, posting pictures, commenting on profiles,

emailing, self-presentation by making “your space your own”, posting information about yourself, sharing links with others, uploading various kinds of information, IMing, microblogging, Skyping, reading news feeds, and the list goes on…

The Good Everyday social practices (Boyd, 2007) Social & Emotional well being (Valkenburg,

Peter, & Schouten, 2006) Meeting social and personal gratifications

& needs (Raacke &Bonds-Raacke, 2008) Job search (Kibbe, 2009) Cyberschooling (Barbour & Plough, 2009;

Zimmerman, 2006) Medical doctors (Messina, 2009)

The Neutral Social networks provide four face-to-face

properties which fundamentally alter social dynamics (Boyd, 2007): Persistence Searchability Exact Copyability/Replicability Invisible Audiences

The Bad Limbic Resonance (Peters, 2008)

Play and social gatherings (Boyd, in press) Mirror Neurons (Wolfe, Gales, Shane, & Shane,

2001) There are four primary, contemporary notions about

online safety which should be noted (Shrock & Boyd, 2008; Boyd & Marwick, 2009) Harassment (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009) Exposure to inappropriate content (Wolak et al., 2006;

Wolak et al., 2007; Ybarra & Mitchell, 2005; Pardun et al., 2005)

Youth-generated problematic content (Shrock & Boyd, 2008; Boyd & Marwick, 2009)

Sexual solicitation (Wolak et al., 2006; Wolak et al., 2008; Boyd & Marwick, 2009)

Critical Thinking The First Amendment

Our freedom of expression Example: China’s rules vs. America’s

Implications Pathological Technology Use (a less

pathologizing word, in my opinion, to use in place of addiction) What does this include?

Abstinence vs. Moderation Management? Therapy, from my perspective…

Meeting the client where they are at

Personal Thoughts “Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral”

(Kranzberg 1986: 454-548) Too much of one thing, is never good! The wise words of my professors…

“It is your job to tease apart all the hypothesis and theories you research and come across, and find your place in the data and make it your own by establishing your very own stances and opinions on issues, to support or refute by in everyday life”

Overall, I personally love technology and I enjoy researching its uses and what deleterious findings have been purported. I advocate its use through moderation management and I encourage mindfulness in all people do- online or offline.

Questions?

My email: argosystudent@gmail.com