How Social Networking Shapes Interpersonal Relationships (Annotated Bibliography Sample)

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How Social Networking Shapes Interpersonal Relationships
The advancement of social network sites have not only helped people maintain preexisting social relationships, but also have made people establish new friendships online without having to meet physically. While such technological innovation have different benefits in the society, some scholars warn that its continuous use shape people interpersonal relationships from what the society has always been associated with. Although different authors have different thoughts on this issue, a majority think that the use of social networking is negatively affecting people’s interpersonal relationship. While others view the phenomenon as a social change, which people would eventually adapt to and be able to produce desirable social interactions, others views it as a means of causing social isolation and eroding social cohesion, destroying the tight interpersonal relationships that previously dominated the traditional society setup.
 Baek,Young Min, Bae Young,and Jang Hyunmi. "Social and Parasocial Relationships on Social Network Sites and Their Differential Relationships with Users’ Psychological Well-Being." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16.7, (2013): 512-517. Print.
The authors have focused on identifying different types of social network sites (SNS) and how, they relate in shaping social relationships. The article investigates how SNSs cause social isolation and erosion of social of cohesion. The study elucidates how SNS affects users’ psychological well-being by subjecting individuals to loneliness and SNS addiction that eventually affects individuals’ interpersonal trust (Baek 512). Conversely, the article has raised the issue that some scholars think that SNS strengthen pre-existing human networks, which in turn promotes interpersonal trust by reducing loneliness. Such a notion is however, rejected by other researchers who believe that SNS reduces the quality of relationship by inhibiting face-to-face interaction, which is vital for strong relationship development as it provides the hallmark for strong interpersonal trust. The authors adopt the concept of parasocial relationships that tries to explain on unidirectional relationships where participants within a SNS friendship are sometimes unaware about the other parties’ activities as far as the relationship is concerned(Baek 515). For instance, a person may have befriended a celebrity online, where the person knows all the activities of the celebrity, but the celebrity does not know anything to do with the person. This is real sense leaves the person lonely despite the existence of the perceived friendship with the online friend.
The study exhibits a weakness of not having tackled on how SNS affects the intensity of the relationships discussed. It has inadequately explained how SNS influences on intensely interactive relationships such as those involving family members or close friends. However, the study demonstrates how SNS affects interpersonal relationship among people who have met online and have little mutual knowledge about each other(Baek 516). It has also explained well on how mediated relationship characterized by face-to-face interaction work to foster social trust and a sense of belongingness. Owing to its reliability as a research source material, the study provides reliable information suitable for my research. Its discussion on how SNS affects individual social interaction and the issue of social trust is important in providing a clear insight how social networking shapes interpersonal relationships.
Burke, Moira. “Reading, Writing, Relationships: The Impact of Social Network Sites on Relationships and Well-Being.” (2012). Carnegie Mellon University: Dissertations. Paper 185. Print.
In this master dissertation paper, the author starts by affirming that the modern society is characterized by people embracing establishing online relationship in the expense of offline personal relationships. According to the author’s research, the Americans’ community is experiencing a decline in the number of close friendships (Burke 70). This is because millions of the people in the country focus on establishing new relationships online where they have fewer confidants and tend to trust each other less. The author also brings out the point that users of social networks have a stronger social integration and stronger relationship than their offline counterparts. The study has focused on researching how the use of different social networks influences the quality of individuals’ social ties and their overall well-being. It adapted a methodology where communication activities were observed from the server logs of various social networks sites in addition to self-reports of different users concerning their well-being and the strength of their social ties (Burke 11). The study conclusion affirms that face-to-face communication between individuals can be linked with the greatest increase in well-being According to the author, online social network influence on individuals’ interpersonal relationships depends much on how people communicate and interact with one another and whom they interact with (Burke 31). The study provide relevant information for my research as it has include contributions concerning social interactions between passively online friends and those interacting one-on-one, besides focusing on how online social networks affect different kinds of users. The only limitation of the study is that it has failed to account how the content of communication exchanges can influence individuals’ interpersonal relationships. I believe the study provide relevant information suitable for my research owing to the detailed information and a wide spectrum of research presented by the author. Having approved by a reputable University, the paper offers a reliable material for further research in the topic.

Fowlkes, Jasmine. Viewpoint: Why social media is destroying our social skills. USA Today. (October 11, 2012). Web. 25 Nov. 2014. .
In this website, the author has narrated that social media platforms are taking over as the main communication channels among students and young adults. The author is concerned that with the growing trend of social media dominating online and offline conversations, family members and friends are more likely to prefer communicating and interacting through electronic devices than communicating through the conventional face-to-face way that human are used to (Fowlkes). According to the article, researches exist affirming that social media interactions are destroying peoples’ interpersonal social skills. One in every four people sends more time socializing online than they do in person. As more generations embrace social media as the main channels of communication, people would eventually develops difficulties communicating in person with peers. A person would prefer to stay indoors and interact with his/her friends through online social media than to catch up in person and make memories that are important in fostering stronger relationships. The author goes further to give guidance on how people can avoid their over dependence of social media to facilitate a healthy interaction with their peers and family members.
Owing to the credibility of the website, the information provided therein is relation for my research. The author’s reaction to the issue is similar to what other scholars think about the influence of social media in shaping interpersonal relationships and this makes it relevant for my study. The inclusion of the guidance to avoid the over dependence on social media has provide additional information that would help in expanding my research, especially in providing the necessary recommendations on the same, if needed.
Park Namsu, Kee F. Kerk, and Valenzuela n Sebastia´. “Being Immersed in Social Networking Environment: Facebook Groups, Uses and Gratifications, and Social Outcomes.” Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12.6, (2009): 729-733. Print.
This study has focused on portraying social media platforms in a different way from what a majority of scholars about the innovation in shaping interpersonal relationships. The study, which was conducted among college students on Facebook exposes that social media gives people the chance to express their interests and opinion in ways many could not do in the real world situation. Through such facilities as Facebook groups, users can be involved in forums that interest them promoting social interactions in various scopes of the society (Park et al. 732). Social medial have helped people increased their civic and political participation in the society and in other areas of interests such as entertainment where people of the same interest can converge and share their different experiences pertaining to their commonality. According to the study, social media increases the chances of people satisfying their socialization needs by providing a sense of community that supports one interest and beliefs. In this regard, people tend to be more active in communicating and interacting since they find it enjoyable thus promoting their interpersonal relationships. Conversely, the study exhibit a weakness in that it did not include a diversified population by focusing on only students from Texas, in the U.S (Park et al. 731). This limits the generalization of the finding, as it cannot be applied especially on populations with values such as valuing personal relationships and personal communication. For my research, the article provides a reliable source of necessary information needed in creating a wide understanding of how different people perceive the...