Historical Context
The debate that has been driving people crazy for years. Is the dress white and gold, or black and blue. In reality, this is just an example of how Social Media, the real debate, is taking over our lives. Or is it? Many have speculated that the Internet, along with Social Media is slowly taking away our real lives, and have been replaced it with digital ones. We can argue that people use things like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. to connect with relatives, and friends as an alternative. But is that really a good thing. While it may seem like a faster way to connect, it isn't really connecting. If anything, it is disconnecting us with the rest of society. We spend hours at a day on our couches, beds, chairs, etc. using a Social Network instead of actually going outside with said people we want to connect with. "A Jan. 2012 Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School study found that the percentage of people reporting less face-to-face time with family in their homes rose from 8% in 2000 to 34% in 2011.” The Internet had just been released to the public, and everyone was getting on board.The people of the world thought it was revolutionary, and it could change the way we do everything. Sixdegres.com was the first website in 1997 that allowed you to create a profile, invite firnds, organize groups, and surf other user profiles. Before Social Networks, people used computers to email each other. It wasn’t later that the incorporated the use of Social Media/ Messaging to further implicate the use of computers. "The first email was sent in 1971 and even though that form of communication is being overrun by texting and Skype, it was the prevailing way to communicate remotely for many years.” Friendster was really the first modern, general social network. Founded in 2002, Friendster is still a very active social network, with over 90 million registered users and 60+ million unique visitors each month. Most of Friendster’s traffic comes from Asia (90% of it)”
Social Networking ProCon.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://socialnetworking.procon.org
The history of social networking. (2014, August 4). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.digitaltrends.com/features/the-history-of-social-networking/
The History Of Social Media. When Did It Really Begin? You May Be Surprised. [Infographic]. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2015, from http://www.inquisitr.com/830664/the-history-of-social-media-when-did-it-really-begin-you-may-be-surprised-infographic/
The History and Evolution of Social Media. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/10/the-history-and-evolution-of-social-media/
The history of social networking. (2014, August 4). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.digitaltrends.com/features/the-history-of-social-networking/
The History Of Social Media. When Did It Really Begin? You May Be Surprised. [Infographic]. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2015, from http://www.inquisitr.com/830664/the-history-of-social-media-when-did-it-really-begin-you-may-be-surprised-infographic/
The History and Evolution of Social Media. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/10/the-history-and-evolution-of-social-media/