2 Essays (3rd semester) "Social networks: advantages and disadvantages". In front of me is the topic of the essay "Social networks: advantages and disadvantages", which interested me because, according to statistics, every second person spends quite a lot of time on social networks. Wikipedia defines a social network as an online platform that is used for communication, dating, creating social relationships between people who have similar interests or offline connections, as well as for entertainment (music, movies, games) and, of course, work. I can assume that social networks are the result of scientific and technological progress, which inevitably leads to such forms of global communication. There are quite a few factors that can be attributed to the advantages of social networks. They expand the circle of communication of people who are separated from each other by all sorts of obstacles. These resources serve as a powerful tool for making new acquaintances online, finding new friends abroad, and communicating with old friends who emigrate to other countries. The uniqueness of social networks begins with their simplicity. To communicate, you only need a computer or any gadget with Internet access. The low payment threshold for communication services allows everyone to use this resource everywhere as the main communication tool. It becomes possible to share images between people in the form of photos, video files or music. Everyone will agree that this is much more interesting than an ordinary letter with text. It should be noted that real-time communication is the most important criterion for the transition from telegrams, letters to social networks. And, of course, there are many disadvantages of social media. And recently, there have been more of them. People spend most of their time in empty conversations with people they don't even know and are unlikely to ever see. Scientists are going to introduce the term "dependence on social networks", and one cannot disagree with them. Most teenagers are moving away from real communication. Many people do not understand that social networks, as a project, are created to make money, and only part of this project brings us real benefits. Social networks are gradually dulling teenagers' thinking and forcing them to live in an illusory virtual world in which everything is possible and everything is allowed. Thus, social networks have a number of disadvantages, but also significant advantages. I agree that the result of the spread of social networks has been a change in humanity's perception of the Internet. If earlier the World Wide Web was perceived as a bottomless chaotic repository of information, now communication opportunities have come to the fore, and this is another sign of the formation of an information society on our planet. But at the same time, we must not forget: virtual communication cannot replace communication in real life. (364 words)
