Student-+Maassen+-+Glasgow,+A

__**Belonging in the 21st Century TASK #2:**__

1. **Belonging Online :)**
2. a) //Why do you think people choose to belong in this way?// The World of Social Networking. For some, it is uncharted waters, filled with mystique and wonder, for others it is a usual afternoon, communicating with friends and strangers. Social Networking can be defined as; __//a web-based service that provides ways for users to interact, such as file sharing, blogging, and discussion groups, to build communities of people who have common interests.//__ For example, the ancient-Bebo, the middle aged-Myspace and the new-Facebook. We have all heard of these sites before. For some, they provide a way of expressing oneself without the reciprocation of consequences from face-to-face socialising. For others it is a way of showing popularity for the many thousands of friends they have obtained or the many pointless 'status updates' one can produce. But what are the real reasons people choose to belong to these networks? For the majority of us it is just a way of communicating. You hear of a new site people are logging on to and it is just too hard to resist checking it out. The lure of trying something new consumes us all. CONFORMING!!! :) Using Facebook as my prime example, seeing asthough the majority has an account, the site offers people a chance to see what others are doing whilst also posting remarks on their 'Walls' commenting on photos and sharing general information. It is a site of communication. But for the others it is a way of sharing our thoughts and feelings without the worry of what people will do or say. Social Networks offer us this through the ability of annonymity and other ways of disguising who were are. [|Why Facebook?]

b) //Why do you think people chose not to belong?// People like not to conform. They believe that in order to be 'cool' they dont need to conform to the new trend the new social network. They want to rebel society. People might think it is a waste of time and that no-one cares that you are "wanting a sandwhich...just got a sandwhich....eating my sandwhich...finished my sandwhich :( " Others see it as a distraction, something that will get in the way of their daily lives. In my opinion what people dont understand is that no-one critques you if you join a social network, it can be a very good way of communicating if you dont have some-ones number or cant communicate in some way. What it is bad for, is that it is extremely addicting and you cant find a reason why! [|NO MORE FACEBOOK!]

c) //What are the barriers which prevent belonging in this way?// Well the obvious barriers are, if you dont have a computer or the internet you cant access these social networks because they are created through the internet. Other ways you can not acess these networks are if you dont know how to use them, dont know how to 'post' or 'blog'. For some it is the barrier of age, perhaps feeling that these sights are for the younger generation, therefore not thinking you belong online. Other people are pressured to belong online and not really feel asthough they belong to what they are logging onto or dont understand what they are supposed to do.

d) //How does this aspect of belonging reflect human experiences in the 21st century?// The survey conducted showed that people chose their Families as the most important aspect of belonging. With these social networking sites people can connect with their Families in a new way. You can contact family overseas and find people you might not even have known you were related to. It is also easier to connect with people who live away from you as it provides a way of communicating where people feel comfortable and can get to know Family better in a different environment. It also showed Friends as the second highest important aspect of belonging, social networks provide a way of keeping in touch with your friends through different methods and environments. With Lifestyle choices social networks provide a way of showing who you are and your choices in life. It can show your social status, your shared values and cultural practices. People enjoy a way of connecting that allows them to say and do what they like without consequence, and a way of showing themselves, their lifestlye in a different environment.