The Growth in Internet Use and Westernized, Homogeneous World Culture - Essay Example

The growth in internet use has affected cultures around the world leading to a westernized, homogenous world culture Introduction Internet growth has a vital input to the spread of western culture globally. Arowolo (2010) highlighted that the significant change in individual’s habit has been led by the internet progress that has changed the lives of human to an online communication form from a face-to-face contact. The spread of western culture has globally influenced many cultures in social, economic, and political areas. The reason the western culture is leaned on by other cultures is that the western country is of complete liberty. This is because, in the country, personal life is not confronted with external trouble and problems. Triandis (1989) pointed out that other cultures learn from western culture in view of the individualism western conception: collective objectives are surpassed by individual ones implying that individuals are important. This essay will therefore, argue how the Internet use growth has affected many cultures globally, leading to a westernized, homogenous world culture. Furthermore, it will evaluate this claim critically in relation to youth culture, business, and politics. Youth culture The use of the Internet growth has affected the youth culture globally, leading to a westernized, homogenous world culture. In particular, in the web content development many teenagers tend to be active participants. The capability of the youths as contributors was increased immensely by the web 2.0 dawn. Their capability as contributors was increased to web content and not passive consumers. According to Shim (2007), the association between the youth and media is another development of the internet culture. The varying framework of social media facilitates the establishment of large-scale and ad-hoc as well as formal online communities, where generated content of the user flourishes. With regards to this, the user generated content also created by photographers who share their photos, musicians who publicize their music and bloggers who post news. The reduced cost of distributing materials and of synchronizing innovative efforts facilitate the youth to create their content and together work with others in political, economic, and social activities (Goggin and McLelland, 2009). A lot of youths are getting in expanding and are building relationships with their existing friends. Shim (2007) noted that not all youths are permanently engaged to the internet are committed to productions of contents. Unlike offline interaction, interactions online are not limited to a geographical area. Through the social media, youths are interacting, sharing photos, experiences, ideas and the common problems they face. With the help of social media, the Western culture spread has dominated the entire globe. Shim (2007) further adds that online interaction provides a forum for every interaction aspect and learning. Adolescence is a vital development stage, which entails relationships establishment outside the normal family ties. During this period, the experienced interactions provide a forum for learning and refining socio-emotional skills. In Ferdinand’s (2000) point of view, the internet growth has affected the culture of the youth, leading to westernization. Considering this, the social media promote most of the western language, clothing, and music. In everyday life, the youths are becoming more individual sees and use virtual communities or those sites with the intention of replacing the interaction needed. Hence, the youths’ culture has been affected by the internet growth, leading to westernization. Shim (2007) noted that not all youths are permanently engaged to the internet are committed to productions of contents. To the youths, such information is appealing hugely, and it changes the way they perceive the world. Consequently, the western culture is embraced by the youths in all aspects including language, dressing, and music. Goggin and McLelland (2009) found that the youth minds are corrupted by the internet and change their ethical and moral values. The internet growth has affected the culture of the youth, leading to westernization. The cultural values of many nations are being undermined by the pornographic and the association of the internet which is a total disgrace (Ferdinand, 2000). Considering this, the filthy side of the innovation mostly affects the youths. For now, the first data seem encouraging the world culture cannot be homogenized by the internet as cultural invasion proliferators. Goggin and McLelland (2009) pointed out that the reduced cost of distributing materials and of synchronizing innovative efforts facilitate the youth to create their content and together work with others in political, economic, and social activities. Business The use of the Internet growth has also affected the business culture, leading to a westernized, homogenous world business culture. Companies and enterprises business culture have been impacted worldwide by the development and increasing usage of the internet. Companies are being allowed to move across borders in electronic commerce, without physically being in one place. Agar (1994) justified that this has led to the efficiency of business and opened new trade avenues. Businesses operate more efficiently by the help of the delivery of information on the internet in a low-cost digital format. And the cost savings can be passed to the customer (Bennett, 2004) the international trading business establish that the internet assists them to manage better the chain of supply for their services and products. Additionally, Ben-Rafael (1994) agrees that this reduces the associated overhead with the marketing function, transportation, and distribution. The logistics business and distribution efficiency is being improved by the internet, which allows information movement without the need for insurance, transportation, and other expenses. This type of business has disadvantages such as anyone may have the chance to fool and also the received product may not work as fast as expected or work as expected without having the expected result (Jenkins 2006a; Wierzbecka, 1997) Bennett (2004) agrees that these supply chain efficiencies make it simpler, through e-commerce to sell products such as health and apparel. This type of business has disadvantages such as anyone may have the chance to fool and also the received product may not work as fast as expected or work as expected without having the expected result (Jenkins 2006; Wierzbecka, 1997). For this type of business, the drawback is that then usually the sales are slower since very few individuals have the security of purchasing online products and realize that they have up to it. Considering on the internet there are many scammers and no one wants to be fooled as everyone knows (Agar, 1994). Politics The growth in the use of the Internet has also affected the political culture, leading to a westernized, homogenous world culture. Notably, the internet innovation brought with itself new forms of participation in politics that were not perceivable initially. Global politics has been affected by the internet through increased participation in politics (Badie and Royal, 2000) some of the new political participation forms have no link that is apparent to the non-virtual world. In order to seek public opinions on crucial issues, several governments are launching political websites. This suggests further that the westernization of some countries is facilitated by the internet. Ferdinand (2000) pointed out that by the comments posted on websites, the internet influences decisions of the government and enables individuals to send e-mails of political content. Apparently, this political participation forms that are new improve the political participation total level. Nevertheless, internet effects on political participation will depend on the channel of deployment level (Badie and Royal, 2000). Currently, by communicating to the media through e-mail, it is easy extremely to protect against a government department and a politician. In Howland’s (2002) point of view, politics has been affected by the internet by providing activities that are alternative to political activities. The internet seems to have saved resources and have shortened the entirely bureaucratic process. This is vital in the sense that necessary reforms implementation immediately takes place. An activity offline equivalent to the above would be visiting offices of the government to present political issues that are crucial. Across the world, a lot of people are going global by improving performance and keeping the government in check by using the internet as a tool, therefore, portraying westernization culture (Howland, 2002). The internet has also changed political advertising mobilization, and fundraising (Zhang and Liao, 2010). According to Yamada (2009) in regards to the Centre for Response Politics, for the last election cycle the total campaign fundraising stands at $2.6 billion. The political outreach efforts are funded by the money raised online the efforts include direct mail services, telephone calls, and television advertising. Nonetheless, this infers that fundraising online is compensating for the means of communication that are old-fashioned, that dominated the politics of the US. The online advertising rising costs and campaign indicate internet use increase pertaining to politics. Similar methods are also being adopted by other countries in mobilization, campaign, and political advertising. The internet helps create group partnership by joining groups that have the same lifestyle and cultural preference, and ideology. Political balkanization is encouraged by the internet; people’s personal finances and opinion of the national security matters in regards to the few polls have strengthened into realms of partisan (Howland, 2002). Even more, Goggin and McLelland (2009) insisted on the fact that the internet ability to accept all types of information, whether or not is agreeable results in political balkanization. The internet proliferates overtly and covertly spread western values and democracies. Ferdinand (2002) pointed out that the Internet user growth has affected politics and youth negatively, undermining the westernization process. The key players in spreading the western culture through the internet are the western governmental organizations. They achieve this by being discerning on issues that are influential that might sway the views of politics of other countries in westernization name (Arowele, 2010). The spread of the issue are through audio or visual formats and are granted to people with strong reputation and appeals. Badie and Royal (2000) note that normally a lot of individuals who visit the website where the beauty of the western is displayed praise the democracies of the west. The alleged western democracies implementation has failed in assorted countries, following the western government criticism. The westernization process is undermined by the criticism that had embraced the culture earlier. The US form of government beneficial aspects are seen to be borrowed by many nations, but not all of it, Badie and Royal (2000) contest that it is an obstacle to westernization, and a strong opponent of western democracies. Admittedly, some Arab countries and governments such as China have refused entirely western democracies propagated through the internet. Shim (2007) noted that by advocating for western lifestyle, cultural invasion has been proliferated by the internet. The Information in regards to the western community and the devastating advantages coupled to it is being published by many websites. In regards to this, people are influenced to perceive the western countries as paradise and having total freedom where private life is devolved of external disruption and problems. Political balkanization is encouraged by the internet; people’s personal finances and opinion on the national security matters in regards to the few polls have strengthened into realms of partisan (Howland, 2002). Conclusion Finally, the world culture is being influenced differently by use of the Internet that is growing overwhelmingly. Westernization is demoted or promoted by the effects. Above all, it is considerable to note that the disadvantages of the internet use are outweighed by the increased internet use advantages. Admittedly, this indicates that the internet is accountable for the much of the perceivable westernization. Increased political participation, promotion of political balkanization, advertising, mobilization, and political fundraising are some essentials that confirm the internet role in westernization. The internet has significant effects, an innovation hence economic level and wealth creation (Denzin, 1999). To social practice, it is a powerful technology. It is viewed as a cultural creation that allows economic productivity, innovation development, and new economy production. The internet creates a platform for technology that can extend cultural exchange and extend extraordinary artistic. Moreover, the internet allows a culture platform creation in the expression of civil society and an institutional definition breakdown of officers of art and culture. Indeed, the growth in internet use has affected cultures around the world, leading to a westernized, homogenous world culture. References Agar, Michael (1994). Language Shock. Understanding the Culture of Conversation. 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