Clayton Pangelinan wrote this essay in his first-year college composition course. He was curious about why social networking had become so popular and has sustained its popularity over some time, and...

Clayton Pangelinan wrote this essay in his first-year college composition course. He was curious about why social networking had become so popular and has sustained its popularity over some time, and he wanted to examine the causes for this sustained interest. Before you read, think about why you engage in social networking, and why you think it has maintained its popularity aer it was initially invented. As you read, pay attention to how Pangelinan tries to present his subject fairly, to establish his causes, and to understand the larger significance of the trend he examines.