Social Networking Essays - Social Information Processing

Social Networking INF 103 Instructor: April 11, 2011 Figure 1: Page 11 Shows timeline for social networking Definition The term ?social networking? does not exclusively belong to digital technology on the Web. On the contrary, social networks had been studied from the beginning of 20th century with the aim to comprehend how the members of a certain community interact and which mechanism can determine the interaction itself. Today social networking commonly refers to all those activities that are carried out within specific online services that provides free space and software tools which allow to create networks of people. In other words, a social networking service is a Web site that allows individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile. The mechanism is the following: social networking services enable users to create a profiles for them, by inserting their personal data. Users? data are not only constituted by vital statistics, but they include a lot of other information which pertains to user hobbies, passions, interests, professional background and so on. This kind of personal data, all spontaneously provided by the user her/himself, permit to create interconnected networks of people who decide to put in common their interests and to have an online identity this fully describes them. The great strength of social networking are the multiple ways the users have to interact. Below is a list of the main communication resources used to build social networks: ?chat; ?messaging; ?wiki; ?email; ?video; ?voice; ?file sharing; ?blogging; ?discussion groups. Brief History All the technologies listed above are not new to the Web users who had been surfing the Web during the last ten years, but today we label ?social networking sites? those which ?reinvented? these technologies in commercial and non-commercial ways. Early social networking sites, like Classmates.com (used to find, connect and keep in touch with old school friends), go back to 1995, while recent phenomenon, such as Facebook and MySpace, go back to 2003. In the figure that follows there is a timeline (it starts from 1997) where it is possible to note the increasing number of social networking sites during the last four/five years. It will be useful to remind that not all these Web sites constitutes ?real? new service, but in many cases they are only a marketing strategy adopted to re-launch certain brands. Context It is not possible to describe social networking without considering the current status of the Web, this is commonly defined as ?2.0?. The biggest innovation in Web 2.0 is the possibility for users to directly and easily create contents, even if they do not possess technical skills. This content production is continuous and the social networking sites that are seeing strong growth is continually refreshed by user generated content. In particular, all the software tools that deal with digital communities are available for free and are very easy to use; as a consequence, every user can add or modify contents, search for existing ones and be part of a large number of communities. Everyone can be an author. Below are some data that summarize the growth of social networking service and their general relevance. In the table are listed ten social networking sites; for each site are indicated in column the millions of unique visitors for April 2005 and April 2006, and the year over year growth percentage. See Excel Chart Applications for ITDE Social networking represents a big resource for e-learning, because of its big impact on the World Wide Web. In fact, the social networking online services implemented a new model of knowledge management, totally based upon the worldwide voluntary contribution of users. But to what extent is social networking powerful for distance education? It is very interesting to point out that the average age of social networking users is strongly and quickly decreasing; the new generations seem to be extremely familiar with this kind of approach to the Web. According to a January 2007 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 55 percent of teens (ages 12 to 17) report having created a personal profile online, and an equal number regularly use social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Of those, 91 percent use the sites to stay in touch with friends they see frequently. With all that screen time, students are acutely attuned to - and sometimes more comfortable with - living in the digital world. Thus, it follows that their teaming should become more digital, say proponent of social networking in distance education. For these reasons, social networking is a big resource for ITDE designing and developing and it could become the ?Trojan horse? to ameliorate the effectiveness of distance education

Ethical Dilemmas On Social Work Practice Social Work Essay Essay Example

Ethical Dilemmas On Social Work Practice Social Work Essay Essay Example Ethical Dilemmas On Social Work Practice Social Work Essay Essay Ethical Dilemmas On Social Work Practice Social Work Essay Essay For this assignment I will explicate personal values, biass, ethical quandary and the impact they have had on societal work pattern by reflecting on one of my beliefs and how I had to dispute myself to get the better of it. Using Marxists and Feminists positions of subjugation I aim to place, recognize, regard and value diverse persons for which I will give an illustration of which happened to me and how I had to dispute favoritism towards others. I will besides discourse theoretical models to undertaking subjugation and favoritism by utilizing the PCS theoretical account and how people can go empowered through groups, protagonism or statute law. Personal values, Biass, Ethical Dilemmas, Conflict of Interest and their impact on Social Work Practice A value is something that concerns person or a belief they hold, this determines how a individual behaves, values do non find if something is said whether it is right or incorrect in today s society. However, a individual s belief s can impact how they behave towards others. Prejudice is a term which has instead negative intensions and is usually taken to intend a hostile attitude towards a individual or group ( Billingham et al. 2008. Pg. 196 ) One of my values and a bias of mine is that any occupation I am employed in will finally travel to people working in a foreign state, particularly India. This all stems from when I worked for a 3rd party recognition card processor, after giving them nine old ages of service I was traveling to be made redundant and my occupation would be actioned from people in India. For the following two months I would hold to develop people from there all the applications I was presently or had worked on. This gave me a quandary do state them all the information I knew or merely some of it? I had to be professional, so I gave them as much information on the applications for which I knew about, I even created user ushers to assistance with the preparation and they could utilize when I had left the company. When speaking to the people I found that we had things in common with each other and they were saddened that a individual would lose their occupation. It was nt their mistake I was being made redundant but the companies in which we worked for. I had successfully challenged the new belief that had risen from a sad state of affairs. Valuess are merely every bit good as the actions they prompt ( Preston-Shoot, 1996. Pg 31 ) When working with people from other states I will necessitate to set my ain values and biass aside, as everyone deserves aid and advice in their lives no affair where they come from in the universe. If I fail to set my values and biass aside whilst working with them it will impact the aid they will have from me, I need to be unfastened minded to all civilizations. Thompson ( 2005 ) explains that there is a demand for genuineness ( congruity ) to be achieved in societal work, that a positive working relationship between service user and societal worker is needed based on trust and regard for each other to develop. Identify, Recognise, Respect and Value Diverse Persons Thompson ( 2006 ) describes favoritism as to place a difference and is non needfully a negative term . But when used in footings of legal, moral or in a political sense it is referred to as being unjust e.g. being below the belt treated for your gender or cultural beginning. If this occurs it can take to a individual being oppressed. When looking at subjugation from a Marxists position DAmato claims that people are oppressed because of the category in which they live in, that adult females, homophiles or people of colored tegument are low-level to the Bourgeoisie and Capitalism is needed in society as it shapes and depends on subjugation for its endurance. Marxists argue that if racism, sexism or homophobia was to be embraced it will intend that a capitalist authorities would necessitate to be overthrown and that subjugation is indispensable to the battle of socialism. From a Extremist Feminists view Zeiber ( 2008 ) argues that adult females are oppressed within the patriarchal system, that matrimony and the household are a consequence of capitalist economy. Holmstrom ( 2003 ) speaks about Socialist Feminism, holding that adult females are oppressed by the laterality of work forces and of the economic inequality because of the places of power males have within society. I work on a farm where we frequently have Polish every bit good as British people working at that place. One twelvemonth a co-worker was doing barbarous gags towards the Polish people, as others were doing merriment at their civilization, and their Catholic beliefs were incorrect. I could see that something was incorrect, so I spoke to them ; they told me they felt they were being discriminated against and started to experience really oppressed because they were non British. Then I spoke to my director about the state of affairs which was go oning and he left me to cover with. I had to believe about how I was traveling to near it so both parties would be happy with the result. So I asked the culprit to come outdoors and speak with me. I told him that the Polish people were unhappy the manner in which he was handling them. He was shocked as he thought they were all holding a laugh with each other. It was difficult for me to face the culprit as it was my male parent, a adult male I looked up to. Reflecting on what had happened I knew I had said the right things to my male parent as they continued to work with each in harmoniousness, non desiring to pique each other, enabling a good working environment for all. Discrimination can be found in establishments like the church, prison or by a individual in a place of power. It can be covertly actioned by utilizing camouflages like the Klu Klux Klan in USA wear masks hiding their individuality or overtly actioned like apartheid in South Africa or the BNP in Britain. Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding Discrimination and Oppression Thompson ( 1997 ) shows how subjugation can be analysed utilizing the PCS theoretical account and there are three degrees: Personal ( P ) an person s positions e.g. bias against a group of people. Cultural ( C ) shared values between others, what is incorrect or right, this in bend signifiers a consensus. Structural ( S ) how subjugation of society is formed through establishment who support cultural norms A ; personal beliefs e.g. faith, media or authorities. Here is an illustration of the PCS theoretical account in action: Phosphorus: Young adult male in the nine you work at makes violative and derogative remarks about a cheery adult male who attends besides. He says that gay people are non natural or normal . Degree centigrades: Gay people mostly repulse the community around him, and many of the community members are involved with the local church, keeping steadfast positions about sexual ethical motives . Second: Popular tabloid media berates the abnormal activities of homosexual people. Religious leaders of all religions back up the instatement of Torahs to halt equal rights for cheery people. Legislation is passed by parliament that compromises the rights of homosexual, sapphic and bisexual people. There is an overpowering consensus of power used in all signifiers of structural life. ( Wood, J. 2001 ) By utilizing the PCS theoretical account it can assist a individual build an thought as to why others act the manner they do e.g. the stereotype of a adolescent have oning a goon, you believe they are problem shapers because of what the media have reported, but non every adolescent is out for problem. Another theoretical model to undertaking subjugation and favoritism is through authorization. By authorising person means to enable a individual to derive control over and taking duty for ain their actions. The Humanist attack by Carl Rogers ( 1959 ) encourages people to go sceptered. As student societal workers we are taught about authorising the service user, to concentrate on their strengths and to work together as peers, we besides need to safeguard vulnerable people, to take into history a individual s economic, political and cultural background at the same clip. Groups besides work to authorise people as they offer support and if they act as one they can go powerful. An illustration of this is from the Times Online dated June 13th 2007 How football made us ( see attachment 1 ) , by organizing a football squad for mentally sick patients they each became sceptered able to make things on their ain without holding aid from others. Make usage of Schemes to Challenge Discrimination, Inequality and Injustice There are schemes in topographic point to assist educate people about inequality, favoritism and unfairness such as protagonism and statute law. As societal workers we need to back up and talk up for persons that face being oppressed or discriminated against. By utilizing protagonism to stand for those who are unable to talk up for themselves. E.g. have larning or communicating troubles. Walker ( 2008 ) advises that protagonism has it strengths but besides has its failings. Strength from utilizing protagonism are: Peoples who have been socially excluded from mainstream society addition a voice, when a service user has a societal worker who listens can be given assurance to talk for themselves, therefore turning in ego assurance and societal workers can larn and understand more on how it feels to be disempowered when listening to a service user. But the failings are: there is a danger that the societal worker can set their ain positions frontward and non those positions of the service user, the advocator can take over, therefore the service user can go disempowered and the societal worker may happen that by utilizing protagonism it can set them in struggle with the administration in which the work for, their truenesss can go split. The statute law in topographic point is to assist and protect people against inequality and favoritism, for illustration: Equal Pay Acts 1970 A ; 1983 prohibits favoritism on the evidences of sex associating to pay and footings of contract. Race Relations Act 1976 prohibits favoritism on the footing of race, coloring material, nationality or cultural beginning. Subsequently amended in 2000 to include a responsibility on public governments in transporting out their responsibilities to hold due respect to extinguish improper favoritism and to advance equality. ( Brayne et al, 2010. Pg. 89-90 ) The British Association of Social Work ( BASW ) has a codification of moralss associating to how societal workers must go more cultural cognizant. Paragraph 4.1.6 ( pg. 49 ) provinces that as a societal worker you will: Recognise diverseness among civilizations and so recognize what the impact of their ain cultural A ; cultural individuality can hold on others. Gain working cognition and apprehension of service users cultural and cultural associations and the values, beliefs and imposts associated with them, even though the service users may be different. Communicate efficaciously in a linguistic communication in which both parties will understand, if demands be so by utilizing an independent translator. By utilizing the tools I have learnt through the class I will be able to dispute favoritism, inequality and subjugation, I will be more unfastened minded to people that need help from societal services and no affair what their cultural background is I will be able to utilize this cognition successfully. Wordss used 1622