In our daily lives we socialize and interact with many different types of people, including family, friends, colleagues, or even complete strangers. Before technology, people stayed in touch through snail mail, writing letters, making phone calls, and communicating face-to-face. Today the way we relate to others is completely different. We use social media to find romance, look for jobs or get advice. This is where social networks and social media come into play. Many people may think that using social media makes them more social and more interactive with society. But others wonder if this is really the case. Does social media make us more or less social? Is it changing the way we interact with people on a daily basis? Does it have a more positive or negative impact on society? Social media is used by many people, young and old around the world, as a means of communicating. Our lives have become so busy that it is difficult to maintain family and social relationships. “They use social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. On these sites, users create profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, search, and share thoughts, photos, music, connections, and more” (Social Networking). With the use of social media you can be friends with all kinds of people without seeing or knowing them. “In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the grocery store or church parties to exchange news and catch up on friends and families” (Cosmato). The use of social networks has both advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that "a social network on the Internet can help you connect with other people who share your interests and find resources to ga...... middle of paper ...... Henslin, James M. "Social Structure and Social Network Interaction." Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. 10th edition. 10th ed. Pearson, 2013. 112. Print.Hoover, Lisa. "How Social Networks Have Changed Society." PCWorld. 7 April 2009. Web. 16 February 2014. “The benefits of social media.” The electronic guillotine. 17 February 2014. “Social networking”. 5 February 2014. Web. 16 February 2014. "What are the pros and cons of social networking sites?" How things work. February 20, 2014. Investigating the Digital Future: How the PC and the Internet are Changing the World (1999, June). Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Communications Policy Center.