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Network

The document discusses social networks and their effects on the human brain. Social networks allow people to communicate using profiles, messages and images. Examples include Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Social networks have grown rapidly due to their effect on the human brain's intermittent reward system, which makes activities like social networking and gambling addictive. Both positive and negative effects of social networking are discussed.

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15 views

Network

The document discusses social networks and their effects on the human brain. Social networks allow people to communicate using profiles, messages and images. Examples include Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Social networks have grown rapidly due to their effect on the human brain's intermittent reward system, which makes activities like social networking and gambling addictive. Both positive and negative effects of social networking are discussed.

Uploaded by

Timson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A social network is a dedicated website or application that allows people to communicate with

others using profiles, messages, comments, and images. Social networks usually include a list of
friends, allowing information to be provided only to the people a user chooses. Examples of
social networks include Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Just a few examples of the many social networks on the internet

Social networks began to gain popularity as internet connections became faster and more
widespread in the early 21st century. As they've expanded, social networks have become
integral parts of people's lives, taking up more time and allowing connection with a much larger
number of people, though generally on a more superficial level. With more than 70% of US
adults now using social networking websites, this is a significant trend with huge implications
for human psychology.

Facebook is currently the most popular social network in the world, with over 1.4 billion users

Effects on the Brain

One of the reasons that social networks have grown so rapidly is the effect that they have on
the human brain. The human brain loves intermittent rewards. Contrary to popular belief, if
you give a reward every time a person does something, the person will be less likely to learn
that behavior than if you give rewards only some of the time. This is why gambling is such a
problem for humans; it feeds directly into this system of intermittent reward that makes people
want to put one more quarter into the slot machine.

Social networks also feed into this intermittent reward system. If you have your computer's
sound turned on while you're using it, it will make a 'ping' noise whenever something happens
that might interest you. When you check to see what happened, what you see can often lead to
a release of endorphins: a friend posted a funny status or a cute cat video, or someone
responded to one of your posts. This noise, and the potential reward that comes with it, makes
social networking highly addictive and distracting.

Any addiction can have negative effects, of course, but that doesn't mean social networking
doesn't have good effects, too. Let's look at some of the positive and negative effects associated
with social networking.

Positive Effects

Have you ever reconnected with a friend you hadn't spoken to in years? One of the benefits of
social networking is that it allows us to connect with people who would normally fall off our
radar. Friends we've lost contact with over the years no longer need to go away. We can check
back in with them whenever we want. People start to collect social connections like coins or
stickers. This can make people feel more connected and in control of their social lives,
especially if they're normally prone to isolation.

An example of the social network of just one person

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