I read the article Social networking and adjustments among international students, which was written by a a couple of college students who studied the relationship between social media and international students’ life. The article said that recently people have started to use technology to manage their old and new social networks to “gain social capital and to adjust both socially and psychologically”. It is also indicated that using social media had a great impact in one’s ability to adjust to new daily difficulties regarding life, family relationship, and academic performance.
Social capital and social network sites can provide people with emotional support, useful information, or financial aid assistance. All these supports are very important to an international student especially during his or her first few months in a foreign country. It discusses two types of social capital; one is “bridging” and other one is “bonding.” Bridging social capital consists of loose relationships. Social network sites serve as a bridge that connects one person to another. Thus, it allows a person to access and diffuse information. “Bonding” is just the opposite of “bridging.” Bonding social capital provides a stronger relationship between one and one’s friends and families. It provides emotional support through stronger relationships. Therefore, international students would be able to keep up with the existent relationship they have with their friends and families.
As people debate regarding whether social capital is “a cause, a process, or an effect”, social network sites researchers see social capital as a result. People go online because they have the need to get what they want. I totally agree. As international students first begin their life in a foreign country, they tend to get themselves into the new culture. Because of the cultural barrier, it is easier to learn in the virtual community than to learn in everyday life (which may contain more confrontations and frustrations). As one starts to reach out, it is common that he or she finds obstacles in emerging into a new culture. At this time, they need emotion support from their friends and families. However, as one gets more comfortable with the new environment, people might prefer “bridging” than “bonding.”
Social capital and social network sites can provide people with emotional support, useful information, or financial aid assistance. All these supports are very important to an international student especially during his or her first few months in a foreign country. It discusses two types of social capital; one is “bridging” and other one is “bonding.” Bridging social capital consists of loose relationships. Social network sites serve as a bridge that connects one person to another. Thus, it allows a person to access and diffuse information. “Bonding” is just the opposite of “bridging.” Bonding social capital provides a stronger relationship between one and one’s friends and families. It provides emotional support through stronger relationships. Therefore, international students would be able to keep up with the existent relationship they have with their friends and families.
As people debate regarding whether social capital is “a cause, a process, or an effect”, social network sites researchers see social capital as a result. People go online because they have the need to get what they want. I totally agree. As international students first begin their life in a foreign country, they tend to get themselves into the new culture. Because of the cultural barrier, it is easier to learn in the virtual community than to learn in everyday life (which may contain more confrontations and frustrations). As one starts to reach out, it is common that he or she finds obstacles in emerging into a new culture. At this time, they need emotion support from their friends and families. However, as one gets more comfortable with the new environment, people might prefer “bridging” than “bonding.”