What does it mean to network using social media?

Over the past decade, social media has changed the way how people network. Sites like Instagram, Twitter and Matter Most are being used by many people as a convenient tool to keep in touch with friends and family. They also play an important role in connecting people, for example, it can be used as a great tool to connect students with their classmates and teachers, it also can be an extraordinary tool for businesses owners to promote their products and expand their markets. Networking through social media also means you can connect with people you’re less likely to meet in real life.

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

There are usually several factors that motivates people to participate in networked publics. 1. Community. Many people would feel a sense of belonging when they join a group with similar values and interests, and network can be the place for everyone to feel belonged. 2: Fun, most people enjoying social interaction, and exploration through networking, and networking can bring a lot of fun and exciting things to them. 3: Learning, online networking is a place where you can meet people with different knowledge and backgrounds, so it is also a good place to learn. (Ross Dawson, 2007)

What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

The main reward of public communication is that it could help connect people and share information. In terms of risks, privacy can be a disadvantage for public communications. As Boyd (2012) mentioned in his journal, with the increasing data sharing through public networks, especially online public networks, our privacy is also increasingly networked. Users are likely to face the risk of data and information leakage if we don’t pay attention to it.

References: 

Boyd, D. (2012). Networked privacy. Surveillance & Society, 10(3/4), 348–350. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v10i3/4.4529 

Ross Dawson. (2007, August 3). The 9 motivations to participate in networks. Ross Dawson. https://rossdawson.com/the_9_motivatio/