In the recent years, we’ve all become increasingly familiar with online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. We’ve learned how to share videos, write on each other’s walls, and even tweet the latest gossip about Justin Bieber. But beyond the chirps, tweets,  and “likes”, do all our social connections have lasting impressions and implications for our lives?

Last week my brother sent me a video called “The hidden influence of social networks”. The video explained that different things like your health and emotions can be influenced by your place within the social web. Your connections in different networks have even been traced to your probability of being obese. Unique structures within a social network are formed and can be traced and tracked over time to help determine the kind of person you are. Still wondering what significance this holds? Nicholas Christakis goes on to explain his theory that people’s behavior can be predicted based on their social connections and networking. We can begin to link social networking to the likelihood of innovation, crime, warfare, and economics; in addition to the emotions and health of an individual. Did you ever think your status updates could say this much about you?

You understand that online social networks are a convenient way to stay involved and updated with what’s going on with your friends, but realizing the hidden influence of social networks, may make you think twice about the next friend request you accept on Facebook.