Social Implications of the Internet - Essay Example

? Analyzing the Social Implications of the Internet: Examining the Positive and Negative Effects on People and Culture and Section Professor’s Name Date Submitted Introduction The Internet continues to be an important facet of modern-day living. Its numerous technological advancements have helped it transcend its functional expectations. From being a basic communication tool, the Internet is now being utilized as a venue for digital interaction and culture-building. In this regard, the Internet continues to shape people’s behavior and lifestyle. For one, various enhancements in the Internet such as flash playing and audio embedding has provided new and effective ways for people to communicate. In addition to this, the wideness of its reach has convinced companies to use the Internet as a major communication medium in tapping their primary target markets. Also, the immensity of information that could be accessed in the Internet has influenced the creation of passion groups or digital tribes. These are primarily comprised of people who interact with those who share the same interests with them. Lastly, the Internet has also been used by non-profit organizations in advocating their programs that aim at furthering social causes. For example, anti-human trafficking initiatives are commonly broadcasted in the groups’ Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter accounts. Through these examples, it can be claimed that the role of the Internet in connecting people has helped it foster the so-called ‘global digital community’. For one, micro-blogging sites like Twitter keeps people updated with the current societal events—whether local or international. Youtube encourages people to be more ‘content creators’ rather than mere ‘passive users’ by allowing them to upload original videos. On the other hand, critics of the Internet deem that too much use of the Internet actually keeps people apart by replacing authentic personal relationships with superficial and contextually-deprived ‘cyber affiliations’. For one, the Internet blurs one’s sense of reality as overexposure to harmful and violent digital contents can distort one’s social and cultural point-of-view. In connection to this, anti-social behavior and other unethical acts may also proliferate in the Internet due to weak legislative foundations on proper site monitoring. As such, miscommunications and disputes may transpire in the Internet, especially when taken into consideration the capacity of the Internet in disseminating information in a highly fast manner. It is through these aforementioned reasons that an in-depth analysis of the social implications of the Internet is vital. In this light, this paper shall expose the positive and negative effects of the Internet in peoples and cultures, and why key institutions of human society must work hand-in-hand in optimizing the benefits obtained from the Internet. Positive Implications of the Internet At this point, a critical examination of the social benefits of the Internet must be done in relation to technology and culture. Firstly, the Internet allows for an easier and more dynamic access and transfer to information (Brey 3). With the increase in the Internet’s storage capacity, massive information could now be stored and accessed in almost all websites, as supported by search engine giants like Yahoo! and Google. Interestingly, hard copies of numerous pieces of literature are now present in the Internet, too. In addition to this, the convergence of various media in the Internet paves the way for an easier exchange of information (Brey 3). For example, Tweeting is now linked to the user’s Facebook account, while websites now have share buttons that aid in the faster distribution of information. Traditional television, furthermore, has incorporated QR codes in its programs to lead its audiences to specific websites. Apart from these examples that reinforce how the Internet allows for an easier and more dynamic access and transfer of data, it can be claimed that the Internet also helps in the formation of a more critical set of media users—rather than passive ones—through the help of blogs that empower people to freely express their thoughts and share them with others. Another essential benefit of the Internet points at how it creates tighter social bonds. As claimed in the same article entitled Evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet, “The internet facilitates the development and maintenance of social relations with people outside one's immediate vicinity, and provides added means to maintain relations with people in one's vicinity” (Brey 4). In summary, the article entitled Internet, Social Networks, and Loneliness captured the benefits of the Internet by claiming that it is the ultimate connecting tool as it “enables people living in isolated areas to communicate with the rest of the planet, and allows everybody to stay connected with their families and friends through email, chat, web cam technology, and other yet-to-be-developed technologies that will increase the realness of virtual communication” (Coget, Yamauchi & Suman 181). Negative Implications of the Internet There are two major disadvantages in using the Internet (in relation to its social and cultural impacts), and these are: (1) proliferation of malicious, untrue, and dangerous data through cyber-bullying, pornography, and dissemination of untrue information; and (2) bastardization of the role of the family, school, and government in the formation of people’s social identity. Each sample shall be assessed in a more detailed manner through proper description and citing of pertinent examples. To start, it can be said that although the Internet has mediated small and intimate social environments that are geared towards faster or “instant” communication, the Internet “has also caused various societal concerns about privacy, security, pornography, Internet crime, and virtual community” (Louge 2). As posited in the article entitled Adolescents and the Internet, the easy accessibility of the Internet poses greater risks and dangers for its users as compared to other forms of media like television, radio, and newspapers (Louge 2). The obvious examples of these risks and dangers include pornographic contents, cyber-bulling acts, and untrue or malicious information. As regards pornography, it is claimed that the Internet has become an efficient and profitable means of disseminating sexually explicit materials, as well as an intricate medium for compulsive sexual behavior, sex trafficking, and sex crimes. As further stated in the same article, “According to a survey performed by the London School of Economics in 2002, 90% of children between ages 8 and 16 have viewed pornography on the Internet” (Louge 2). Exposure of children and teens to pornographic data can have negative effects on their psychological and emotional development, which can potentially manifest in their interactions with friends. In terms of cyber-bulling and other forms of negative communication, conversations in the Internet may unfortunately contain information that are disrespectful, hurtful or vulgar. In this regard, instead of promoting stronger interpersonal connects, the Internet can facilitate unwanted communication and harassment. Lastly, the distribution of untrue information in the Internet, is related to the absence of good information filter or selection mechanisms. At the core of these alarming issues is the Internet’s biggest setback: how it bastardizes the role of the family, school, and government in the formation of people’s social identity. This is hinged on the capacity of the Internet to replace authentic, face-to-face interaction with superficial communication. As highlighted in the article entitled Internet, Social Networks, and Loneliness, the Internet is starting to replace tangible social spaces by online relationships that are broader but less deep (Coget, Yamauchi & Suman 184). As further clarified “Breadth refers to the number of friends people have, the variety of types of relationships they are involved in (friendship, love, professional, etc.) and the diversity of the people they are in relationships with in terms of age, ethnic origin, social status, etc. while depth refers to the emotional and the intellectual strength of the relationship” (Coget, Yamauchi & Suman 184). In this regard, the Internet may take away the significant role of the family in teaching the importance of values formation and self-acceptance to teen users. It may also hamper on the cognitive development of students once they get to much reliant on the Internet and overlook other forms of sources such as books and personal interviews when doing research. Lastly, the Internet may also foment social disorder through the presence of anarchistic ideologies. Conclusion Given the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet, it is through the proper utilization of this communication tool that could aid in the betterment of societies. As such, people must remember that social interactions and relationships that arise from the use of the Internet should not replace real, authentic, face-to-face interactions. This is why there is a need for the family (primarily the parents), schools, and governments to collaborate in drafting certain systems and regulations that could promote the benefits of using the Internet, and in effect, eradicate the negative ones. List of Sources Brey, Philip. Evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet. University of Twente, Department of Philosophy, 2007. Web. 21 Mar 2013. Coget, Jean-Francois; Yamauchi, Yutaka; & Suman, Michael. The Internet, Social Networks, and Loneliness. IT and Society, 2002. Web. 21 Mar 2013. Louge, Nathalie. Adolescents and the Internet. Act for Youth Center of Excellence, 2006. Web. 21 Mar 2013. Read More