The PBS documentary Growing up Online addresses the developing problem of adolescents utilizing online networking as their dominant form of socializing. Ninety percent of all teen use online social networking. This demographic of children feels as if they ‘need’ the internet in order to socialize. Generation X has created a virtual society that leaves no room for the baby boomers. The unsolved problem that has arisen from online networking is that there is no form of law or control over this virtual society.
One of the key factors to Obama's election as President of the United was through his campaigns frequent use of social networking. Obama's campaign made the current president accessible to the entire nation. It was no longer only those in the political crowd who could voice their thoughts, it was all the all of those who were connected to a modem. Obama's social networking website listed all of the volunteers in different neighborhoods. Strategists were better able to group together specific volunteers making them very efficient. Obama utilized the power of YouTube allowing him to reach millions and millions of viewers for free.
Virtual communities like the Second Life allow users to extend their real life activities to virtual reality. Virtual reality is easily accessible through Second Life. Social benefits of second allow users to interact without the fear of first impression or judging a book by its cover. For examples, many users have social disabilities, so second life is a way for them to socialize and not be embarrassed by their obvious differences. A social cost of Second Life is that some users may become to comfortable with their second life, and forget about their first life, - reality. Overall I believe that Second Life is a technological and social achievement, and there should be no problem with using it as long as the user does become obsessed.
