Always connected. Always in control. This is what social networks in all their forms allow us to do. Over the past few years, the idea of ​​“social media” has grown exponentially in popularity. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google+ allow people to connect over common interests and share ideas. Although social media creates a community of millions of people, it gives us new opportunities to manipulate others by allowing people to see us the way we want to be seen, by quickly sharing information (whether true or not) and staying in constant communication. with those around us. Social media creates communities. On sites like Tumblr, people can talk about and share things that interest them. Whether it's art, movies, anime, or fashion, there's something everyone can connect to on Tumblr. On Facebook, users can interact with other people they know or don't know in real life. It helps people connect with family members or friends they don't see regularly and share details of their lives. Basically, social networks allow us to communicate. It allows us to be part of something outside of our small social group in real life. According to Robin Dunbar of Oxford University, "The maximum number of friends a person [can have]...is 150" (Henig and Henig 43). Instead of limiting ourselves to this small number, we can now expand our social network to include hundreds of people we never thought we could communicate with. One of the reasons social media has become so popular is because it allows people to hide behind screens. You can say anything about yourself or create a completely different life. This is what happened to Yaniv “Nev” Schulman in the documentary Catfish. Through his photography, N...... middle of paper ...... forms of social networks: “A tree can be recognized by its fruits; a man by his actions. A good deed is never wasted; He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who sows kindness reaps love. » Works CitedBurke, Timothy and Jack Dickey. "Manti Te'o's Dead Girlfriend, the Most Heartbreaking and Inspiring Story of the College Football Season, Is a Hoax." Deadspin. January 16. 2013. Internet. March 31, 2014.Catfish. Real. Ariel Schulman and Harry Joost. Perf. Yaniv Schulman. Universal Pictures, 2010. DVD. Gertner, Jon. “The vain quest for happiness”. The New York Times Magazine September 7, 2003: 45. Print.Henig, Robin Marantz and Samantha Henig. Newsweek October 22, 201241: 41-43. Print. Parker, Ian. “The story of a suicide.” The New Yorker. Condé Nast, February 2, 2012. Web. March 31, 2014. Steiner, Peter. “On the Internet, no one knows you are a dog.” The New Yorker July 5, 1993: 61. Print.