I think networks are about relations and connecting people to each other. One of the main purposes of networking is to find an “in” for yourself and move forward in some way. There is a sense of reciprocity and mutual interest in networks; both people connecting find benefits of networking with each other. One example of a social network is an alumni network at a college or university. These networks are lifelong communities that connect current students with alumni and help them with job opportunities, business deals, funding prospects, and more. If a student interested in marketing goes to an alumni presentation and has a great conversation with an alum who recently created a marketing startup, not only is the student finding a job opportunity in the field they’re interested in, but the alum is benefitting, too, by finding a prospective employee from a school that they know and trust. In general, I think making connections with people is an important life skill, especially when searching for employment or in the business world. People are connecting with each other everyday through networks, whether that’s going to a job fair, following someone on Instagram, or meeting new people at a club meeting. 

Network is one of the biggest forms of communication our society has today, whether this communication is virtual or not. Networking allows for people to form personal or professional connections and it is a good way to promote oneself to the community. When I first think of the keyword “network” I immediately think of the interconnection among individuals on social media networks. Individuals on social media are constantly promoting themselves to the online world. People have the ability to exchange the specific information they would like to exchange with each other. However, there is also an exchange of information that happens behind the scenes of networking social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. Since these apps display things we find appealing, we must ask ourselves how these networks are aware of our wants and needs. We discussed in class whether likes, on Instagram for instance, is a form of networking. I personally think that likes and comments are a form of networking. These app developers are aware of the posts we like and comment on and they show similar posts of things we have liked, knowing it will catch our attention. People who like and comment on similar things instantly form an online connection and therefore community. 

At its origin Facebook attempted to be a digitalization of the social networks that exists in many parts of our lives, including the college campus where Facebook made its genesis. Facebook manages to recreate some of the hierarchy found in traditional networks, by creating status through the amount of followers an individual may have or how many likes they receive on a post. With the creation of Facebook groups, Facebook even allows for individuals to create smaller more specific networks based on a common interest. For example in the documentary series Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, participants used online forums and Facebook groups to come together as amateur sleuths and even broke off to create smaller more selective groups to work on the specific Luka Magnotta case. Even though all these people were very physically separate they were able to create an effective online network over a common goal where certain hierarchies emerged over time. However, as the text points out there are certain limitations to communicating over the internet as all the data in the world will never be able to full encompass the complexity of an individual human.

Link to trailer for Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (available on Netflix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x41SMm-9-i4

In today’s society, the term “networking” has a multitude of meanings; however, I view it as a way of connecting with people whether it is virtual or in-person. New apps such as Facebook and Linkedln allow people, companies, and most-importantly alumni of universities to connect and network through personal connections and business connections. While most networking is for businesses to meet people, social media apps such as Instagram and Tik Tok network people based on videos and pictures they like and comment on. By grouping similar people based on their interest, you get more connections along with interaction. The on-going question if likes and comments on Instagram and Tik Tok count as real connections that can then be considered to be networking with other people. Personally, I believe it is networking because it gives the opportunity to reach out to them and makes people aware of who viewed the image or video shown. Networking is very beneficial when young for making friends and meeting peers; however, it becomes extremely important when getting internships and jobs for meeting people that you have connections with. 

A network is typically categorized as two different types of making a connection. In one hand, network can be defined as a “mediated forum for sharing personal information.” Through posts online on a social networks, people can keep up connections and meet new friends online. On the other hand, network can be defined as way to make connections in the real world, getting to know people who have connections of their own. Both of these perspectives offer a common concept of connectivity. Making connections is an important life skill, especially if you are in a competitive industry like show business. With the help of “networking,” people can climb the social latter of success and create a name for themselves as they become more known. However, networking is not always an active effort. Even by meeting new people or making friends, the action of introducing and establishing oneself is networking in essence.

The network aspect of social media is something that I battled with friends all the time. The benefits and the downside of it are both equally impactful. Network in social media allows for a person to keep up with the lives of multiple people that they are close to even without physically talking to them. It helps bridge the connection between people even if they are across the world. The downside to this is that people can develop relationships and an understanding of their relationships through this virtual network and when they finally get the chance to see each other in person it can be a very different experience. Another drawback is that this virtual network can keep people from taking steps towards physical interaction because they find comfort in meeting people in this virtual setting. This can be seen in the many different dating apps that have been created where people do not try as hard to meet people during their everyday life but work towards creating this virtual connection first and then building off of it.

In my opinion, the term “networking” means people connecting with other people in order to complete a goal or motive. In today’s age, networking tends to be carried out through social media or on some sort of technological platform. Often times networking can be used to look for a job or even to meet other people who you may be going to school with. The app Linkedin embodies all that networking is.  The app creates a space for people to create profiles and match with other people in order to get a job or make connections for some sort of professional agenda. Linkedin makes finding a job as well as hiring much easier since one’s profile lists all their previous jobs and accomplishments. Networking can even be seen on Instagram and other social media apps that influencers use. Often times several influencers will network with each other via social media and then meet up in person to create a “collab” which may take form in a video or a post. These “collabs” often bring in lots of revenue since the fans of all the influencers will combine to tune in to watch or view whatever it is that they have posted, therefore multiplying these influencers regular viewing audience.