THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES (SMS) ON THE INTERPERSONAL Research Proposal

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES (SMS) ON THE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF STUDENTS - Research Proposal Example He attributes this phenomenon to the ability to communicate with people having a set of common interests using SNS technology. For instance, SNS allow users to form groups based on a specific subject, allow private communication among select people and provide features to show or hide specific user information and messages based on a set of predefined rules. Such components allow users to establish and nurture virtual relationships regardless of geographical location. This virtual relationship among two or more individuals can be based on various factors including past associative history (classmates, neighbours etc.), love, business or any other form of social interaction. Traditionally, interpersonal relationships were limited to physical interaction through scenarios such as family, marriage, employment, social clubs etc., most of which come under the purview of legal frameworks, constraints and scrutiny. Social networking however is not restricted entirely within any of these boundaries and even facilitates the establishment of relationships among individuals who may have never met or seen before physically. Ozok (2009) stresses that this excitement behind the possibility to meet new people, particularly of the opposite sex, that encourages students using socials networking. He further adds that virtual interactions through SNS are also capable of influencing the relationships of users with people close to them and can be either good or bad i n the nature. The paper is a research proposal for studying the use of social networking among students in the age groups of 13-17 years. The proposed research topic was selected as it is evident that social networking is extremely popular among students and develops a major proportion of their activities performed through the Internet. Chatting with friends, posting messages or sharing photographs are some of the tasks that