Social networking and blogs among students: A threat or blessing

• Main Author: Abd Latiff, Dzaa Imma
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: L Education (General); T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/6828/1/Dza.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/6828/

The growth of social media such as blogs become more sophisticated nowadays in terms of delivering information, interacting, educating and many more. Blogs or weblogs are online journals or diaries which allowed users to record opinions, information, upload photos or video and etc on regular basis. Teenagers stated the highest users of new media, were much more likely than adults to blog and they were more likely to read blogs. As a main source of information, Internet blogs allow readers to interact negatively or positively through comments and participate actively in public opinion. Freedom in finding information through Internet channels lead to more open space for uncertainty or false information. Thus, Internet would be blamed due to misconduct by certain people who unconsciously aware the risks that might happen. Lack of tool or mechanism that helps to filter out all the negative elements of society might shake the stability and unity among races, religious, social class in Malaysia. The presence of fake information and defamation can also deflect thoughts of present and future generations. Besides, the facility to abuse social networking site to commit crime caused students feel irresponsible to find victim on blog or social networking sites.Emergence of several cases related to abuse of social networking and blogs are currently increase and this can be stop if students able to see and make most thoughtful and selective decision on social media. Blogs can also be a tool to condemn others such as to show disgrace for someone, slander, insignificant info, porn pictures and many more. Unfortunately, this new media stated positive respond in motivating students towards better social life and education as well. Nelson (2006) claimed blogs play a significant role in identifying trends, exchanging information and reporting news and opinions.The best practice and preferably social networking and blogs should be used to strengthen relationship and various benefits to themselves and the community as well as to avoid misuse of social networking and blogs that sometimes contribute to hostility and destruction. Indirectly, social networking and blogs can help to produce a generation of integrity, responsible and honorable to life, family, society and nation.