The impacts of online social networks on users

The purpose of this work is to analyze the current state of online social networks and their impact on users. Currently these networks are becoming very popular and the number of their users is growing dramatically. The time they spend on those networks is also increasing. First, theres analyzed, what led to the emergence of social networking, what were their original goals and visions, what are the requirements of genesis of a large social network and how the small network is being transformed into a large one. I describe how the current policy of the large networks diverts from its original aims and visions. Then outline how large the commercialization of the Internet social networks is and how these networks allow earning. I pay attention especially to new types of ads that can be applied to them. Then there is described how the use social networks influences their users, what are the positive, but mostly negative effectc. There are also described changes in lifestyle, pace of life, changes in values and substitution of personal forms of communication caused by their use. As well the influence of these networks to the way how the information are spread and analysis of the psychological effects on the users of the network with its consequences. Finally i deal with the risks users of social networks are exposed to and the pathogenic phenomena that arise in consequence.