Although another health criticism has recently surfaced about potential damages done to children by the use of social networking Web sites, kids are still fighting to prove the sites’ worth.

Five years ago, when Facebook was first introduced, kids were given the opportunity to keep in touch with old friends and build relationships with new ones. Soon after, social networking sites like MySpace, Bebo and Twitter became equally popular but were criticized for the damages they did to the development of social skills.

In a recent CNN special, Professor Susan Greenfield, a British neuroscientist, revealed her speculations.

“I think the issue is very short attention spans might actually keep you in a world where you just see the outside world as a snapshot rather than something that has consequences,” Greenfield told CNN.

Greenfield went on to explain how children today aren’t learning how to properly interact face to face, causing them to develop shorter attention spans and maybe even autism.

Kids often feel that Facebook and other social networking sites provide a safer world where they aren’t pressured to respond immediately, said Greenfield. This may be true for some, and although discouraging, there are mixed opinions.

“I got caught up in [Facebook] when it first came out, but it phased out eventually,” said Stacy Houseweart, an NIU sophomore. “I’d rather see my friends face to face.”

Not all Facebook users are equal. Millions of people subscribe to social networking sites yearly, and for many, these sites are just another phase or are rarely used. For others, the ease and informality of social networking sites are beneficial; they can even save lives.

Jessica Cowan, a 2008 DePaul graduate, was in desperate need of money for a kidney transplant in February. The procedure cost over $100,000, and her insurance company covered less than a third of that. Cowan used Facebook to create a fund-raising group for her surgery and word quickly spread. Family and friends donated money, networked and created notices on Facebook to raise awareness for Cowan.

In less than a month, Cowan raised the $70,000 needed for the surgery, and it saved her life, according to the group.

“For some things, it’s really good,” said Halley Martin, a classmate of Cowan’s. “For something like that, it’s awesome, because without Facebook, she wouldn’t have raised that much money.”