Impacts of the Internet on Culture - Essay Example

Impacts of internet on Culture Given the complex and highly interactive nature of communication in the 21st century because of globalization and theinternet, cultural identities all over the world have been altered and transformed altogether (Shields 2009, p.1). The internet has revolutionized communication bridging the gap in global network and transforming the whole world into a tiny global village where information and ideas can be shared or transmitted simply by a click (Stroud 1998, p.1). This paper will focus on the potential impacts of internet on cultures and more specifically, on how internet has affected cultural identities since its inception up to date. Both the merits and demerits of the internet as a revolutionary phenomenon in the 21st century will be addressed in an evaluative fashion in order to give a clear explanation as to why the internet has affected cultures. The internet dates back in history many years ago at about 1969 when the World Wide Web was discovered (originally, the internet was developed from ARPNET); however, the World Wide Web finally took shape in the 1990s and Internet Explorer was first released in the year 1995 (Shields 2009, pp.5-6). The internet has become the norm of interactions and communications in today’s world; virtually everything can be done via the internet today. For instance, many people use the internet to check their emails, for social networking, doing online shopping among other things. The pervasive popularity of the internet in the global village has had profound impacts on cultures all over the world, both positive and negative. The most obvious manner in which the internet has affected cultures is by revolutionizing communication; the internet provides a robust platform for information sharing and transfer that has totally enhanced connectivity and interaction between cultures of the world. Today, different cultures around the world can share and exchange ideas and information over the internet without the need of having to travel; as a result of this connectivity and interactions, different cultures are integrated as individuals borrow ideas from other cultures (Voiskounsky 1998, p.100). The internet is also a wealthy source of information about different cultures of the world and this information is easily accessible to internet users all over the world. For instance, the pervasive Hollywood lifestyles of the west have a global presence on the internet and remote cultures are always willing and ready to copy aspects of these cultures such as fashion and other trends. The internet has also affected cultures by revolutionizing the manner in which business is conducted in the 21st century; nowadays, it is hardly possible to keep up with the mushrooming online activities. Online trading has suddenly become the norm in the business world and many cultures have already embraced the idea of online shopping; the traditional retail store shopping is slowly being discarded in favor of the alluring convenience and efficacy of online shopping. The online shopping experience is customized to suit consumer specifications and cultural contexts around the world, besides that, it allows consumers to shop at their own convenience and to enjoy the best products and prices ever. As a result, many cultures are quickly adopting online trading platforms over the internet; the internet offers a platform for global shopping and product marketing (Yılmaz 2012, 226). Additionally, the internet has also transformed the entertainment culture all over the world; unlike in the past when TV and radio were predominantly the sources of entertainment in households, the internet has emerged to be a great source of entertainment today (Emigh, 2010). Cultures across the world have been transformed with the introduction of online games, radio, TV, social sites among other fun filled platforms on the internet. So many people are using the internet to browse social sites such as Facebook and Twitter and connecting with friends and family; in this respect, Social Networking has suddenly become a past time activity that is proving to be highly addictive. Music, videos and movies can also be downloaded from the internet directly and there are myriad online games that can be played on the internet as forms of entertainment; therefore, the internet has largely affected the entertainment culture in many societies across the globe. Despite the many positive influences the internet has had on cultures around the world, some critics still hold that the internet has in fact led to greater challenges regarding access, privacy and regulation (Shields 2009, p.1). One such view posits that with the ease of information transfer and communication between cultures, the integrity and privacy of information has been greatly compromised. This is especially attributed to the rising instances of cybercrimes and hacker activities that target high profile information systems with malicious intent to destroy or steal data. However, in as much as the danger of falling victim to hackers while sharing information online is real and probable, the benefits of online communication and information transfer between cultures are immeasurable. The internet exposes relevant information about cultures of the world and this promotes a harmonious co-existence between the different cultures; eventually, this leads to integration of world cultures as people gain an understanding of themselves and others. Another critical concern that has been raised concerning the impact of the internet on cultures revolves around the potential dangers of online shopping because of uncertainties; it has been noted that online shoppers can easily fall prey to unscrupulous business deals due to the spatial separation of buyers and sellers (Jifeng et.al 2012, pp.1131-1132). For instance, a customer may pay for a product but the online store may deliver a poor quality product or the product may not be delivered altogether. However, the concern regarding the potential threat robberies that can result from online shopping can be alleviated by factoring the numerous benefits accruing to online shoppers. Online shopping allows consumers to access cheap, superior products and services around the clock at their own convenience and from the comfort of their homes; this saves a lot of time and resources that would be otherwise lost if they have to physically visit retail stalls to purchase their products. In this respect, the benefits of online shopping outweigh the danger of potential robberies that could result to losses over the internet. Finally, perhaps the most serious concern over the impact of internet on cultures is the fear that damaging information and undesirable aspects of cultures can be transmitted over the internet. Access to such kinds of information over the internet may have very negative and profound impacts on the cultures and perspectives of individuals around the world. For instance, pornographic videos and terrorist secretes or ideas can be shared over the internet and this undermines the moral and ethical foundations of cultures around the world (). Like all the others, this threat is potentially harmful to cultures but the potential of the internet as a source of information and a platform for information transfer and sharing is undoubtedly indisputable. The internet allows cultures to interact and exchange valuable information and ideas on a development front and this is a valuable merit of the internet. Valuable information about different cultures around the world that is available on the internet provides rich and robust lessons to individuals around the globe; the invention of the internet is a revolution of revolutions in our time and its impact on cultures cannot be ignored (Panero, 2013). References Stroud, D. 1998. Internet Strategies: A Corporate Guide to Exploiting the Internet. London: Macmillan Press. Shields, R., 2009. Cultures of the Internet: Virtual Spaces, Real Histories, Living Bodies. Uk.sagepub.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book205040#tabview=google [Accessed: 21 March 2013] Panero, J. 2013, The culture of the copy, New Criterion, 31, 5, pp. 4-9. Jifeng, L, Sulin, B, & Han, Z. 2012. The Effectiveness of Online Shopping Characteristics and well-designed websites on satisfaction. mis Quarterly, 36, 4, pp. 1131-A9. Voiskounsky, A.E. 1998. Internet: Culture Diversity and Unification. Vol. 6 - 1999, No. 4, pp: 53-66. Emigh, J. 2010. Analysts: Consumers drop TV, turn to Internet for entertainment. Betanews.com. [Online] Available at: http://betanews.com/2008/11/25/analysts-consumers-drop-tv-turn-to-internet-for-entertainment/ [Accessed: 21 March, 2013] Yılmaz, B.M. Profiles of University Students According to Internet Usage with the Aim of Entertainment and Communication and their Affinity to Internet. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 2012, 4(1), 225-242. Read More