Visual Communication Online

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites are online platforms that allow individuals to create and maintain connections with others virtually. Various social networking sites exist, each with unique characteristics and user base, allowing us to select platforms that best suit our interests.

According to data from Statista, as of July 2023, Facebook ranked first in the number of monthly active users, reaching over 2.9 billion individuals actively engaging with the platform. Following closely were YouTube and Instagram (Dixon, 2023). It is worth noting that the popularity and ranking of social networking sites can change over time. 

Do different social networking sites offer other benefits and drawbacks?

A closer look at each social networking site shows that they each have unique advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, Facebook has a broad user base with diverse demographics, which is advantageous if you want to connect with new people from different backgrounds. It is also excellent for personal connections and connecting with friends and family. I use Facebook as a social networking site to connect with my high school friends who currently live around the world because one of Facebook's key features is forming private groups that create an environment that facilitates interaction. 

One major drawback is privacy and data handling, especially data breaches. Facebook has experienced several data breaches over the years. For example, in 2019, it was reported that over 267 million Facebook user records were exposed in an unsecured database, potentially putting users at risk (Webb, 2019). I recommend you check out this link to learn about this issue: Data Leak Exposes 267 Million Facebook Users.

Another example is LinkedIn, an excellent platform for building professional connections. I find it an ideal space for job hunting and career development since its features enable users to search for jobs and share their skills and expertise in specific industries. 

One significant drawback of LinkedIn is the ability to form casual connections and share personal life updates, a feature that's more common on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. This limitation primarily results from how the platform is designed and its primary focus for professional interactions. 

Is there an ideal number of "friends" or connections individuals have on Facebook that can improve their mental health?

I believe there is no universally ideal number of friends on Facebook or any other social media platform that can improve mental health. It's not about quantity but rather the quality of connections that matters. Supportive and meaningful online connections, even if they are few, can have a positive impact on mental health. In contrast, a more significant number of superficial connections may not offer the same advantages. However, some people believe that an ideal number exists, and it's often thought to be around 150 social friends. Why? According to Dunbar, an evolutionary psychology professor at Oxford University, people can only maintain about 150 social relationships because people don't have the emotional energy to keep in touch with more people than that ideal number (BBC Future, 2022). It is a fascinating but heated debate topic: Dunbar's number: Why we can only maintain 150 online relationships

Citation

1. Dixon, S. J. (2023, October 11). Biggest social media platforms 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ 

2. Webb, K. (2019). Over 267 million Facebook users had their names, phone numbers, and profiles exposed thanks to a public database. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-profile-267-million-users-exposed-names-phone-numbers-2019-12 

3. BBC Future (2022, February 24). Dunbar’s number: Why we can only maintain 150 relationships. BBC Future. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191001-dunbars-number-why-we-can-only-maintain-150-relationships#:~:text=The%20theory%20of%20Dunbar%27s%20number,today%27s%20world%20of%20social%20media%3F