The benefits of social networking services

The use of Social Networking Services (SNS) – such as Facebook.com and Twitter.com – has become a popular and integral part of everyday communication in Australia. Young people in Australia are particularly enthusiastic users: the vast majority are engaging on a daily basis with SNS via a computer or mobile phone. Research in this area is an emerging field and studies identifying the negative impacts have tended to dominate the popular media and much policy development. However, there is substantial evidence of the benefits associated with SNS use, which has been largely neglected in public debate. The following report summarises current evidence concerning the enabling effects of SNS in the context of young people's everyday lives. Drawing on a range of sources this summary encompasses a variety of disciplines including education, sociology, political science, cultural studies and health. Whilst the report draws upon an international literature, the focus is on the Australian context