The Impact of Social Media on the Concept of Information Freedom - Essay Example

?Introduction The use of digital and new media is one which is beginning to transform the way in which information is displayed and what the understanding of different realities is. When looking at social media and wikis, there is a noticed impact that is developed in terms of information which is offered to the public sphere. The main ideology is one which is contributing to the concept of information freedom. The use of social media is transforming information so it is no longer hidden from the public eye and is instead readily available to those that are interested in a variety of topics. The concept of information freedom is then directly attributed to the new media and the ability to have information that is easily accessible and which is providing a stronger approach to those who are interested in the ideas which are now available to individuals. This is furthered with the opposition to information freedom, specifically which is coming from the policies and questions about access to information. The result is an understanding that information freedom is a part of the revolution from social media and wikis and is transforming ideas and available information on an international level. Developing Into New Media The development into new media began to emerge with the growth into the Internet and the way in which many looked at the information available. Before the use of technology, there was a set of significant information which was presented with Television, newspapers and the print which was available to individuals within society. The approach was one which is now defined as a closed system, specifically because a smaller amount of information was available to those which were interested in the media. The information was based on both timelines and the agenda which was focused on the economic and political stance of many which were interested in the information available. The shifts which began to occur started with the technological infrastructure that was formatted with those that were looking at new media for the next era. The concept is one which is now looked at as a shift in power for information, specifically because of the technology that is readily available and the trends which are noted as moving into the controls of spectators, as opposed to those which are giving the information to the audience (Jenkins, 2006: 18). The emergence of new media has segmented into a variety of areas which provide information. Each of these has established a different understanding of the available information and the importance which it holds for individuals. The beginning of this came with the general information available, specifically which was noted through the ability to post and give information freely and through the use of different websites. This was combined with the ability to have more individuals which were posting information online, such as through the use of articles and other media networks. The information combined with other areas that grew from Web 2.0. The Web 2.0 invited user interaction and social media, such as through Facebook, reviews and other areas which offered free and dynamic information to be available. When this emerged, the information available also began to change with the philosophies and ideas which were given to the public. Fast paced changes in information and contributions from a variety of individuals were the main approach which was taken with the new media and which established a different approach to the concept of sending and receiving information (Dijk, 2006: 2). Social Media and Information Freedom The emergence of social media and wikis and the way in which information is retrieved and transferred is one which is now attributed to the concept of information freedom. The communication which is available is allowing individuals to receive in – depth information that continues to expand and offer different insight to individuals. Media, social and economic networks are all emerging with different dynamics that allow individuals to receive the necessary information while networking and communicating the ideas to others. The power of social media is not only in the information that is available to others. It is also coming from the perceptions and ideas that begin to forward to others that are on the same social network. The connections and social networks are then able to create and communicate a different amount of ideas. The information is received at a faster pace than before and transfers and is added onto according to the importance of the topic. The amount of information is leading to well – informed citizens and the emergence of new communications which were not revealed in the past and which were unable to provide individuals with different approaches to the communication and information which was not available before (Brooke, 2011: 15). The exchange of information that is being developed is associated with the concept of information freedom because of the impact that this is creating to others which are working with digital media. The impact of social media is leading to more individuals which are active in the work which is being done and the responses to the information available. The result is that many in society are beginning to re-examine and look at the responses and conditions that are associated with the information that is used. The social media is able to offer a different approach, philosophies and ideas which are shared among individuals in society. As certain ideas dominate over others, there is the ability to create and change the way in which many are looking at social media and the impact which it has. The information which is now dominating in society is causing many to respond and change the understanding of different concepts and actions which are taken. The result is that the information is leading to an alteration in the social movements, cultural beliefs and standards which are in various segments of society (Jones, 2010: 54). The use of social media and wikis is further creating changes by stopping the niche areas with the media and offering in – depth information that is a part of the needs of those in society. The ability to access the in – depth information is allowing individuals to change the perspective that was currently associated with the niche areas and stories offered through the old media. The main concept which is changing this is based on the ability to move into different social networks and look at information from a variety of viewpoints. For instance, the wikis that are available allow those with in – depth experience to contribute to the various parts of the policies and ideologies which are a part of this. The concept is one which combines with the ability to have policies and standards that are able to provide new perspectives that are forcing political, economic and social objectives to change. As individuals are informed and correspond with the in – depth information, there is the ability to create and define what is needed with the community and governmental forces. This is building a new emergence of cultural and social expectations while developing new demands that are coming from activist responses led by the information that has been made available through social media and wikis (Hintz, 2011: 57). Resistance to Social Media The ability for changes to occur in society and for information to be revealed has also created different questions and resistance to the amount of freedom with information given. There are many which are driven by different economic, political or business features that are looking at social media as one which does not provide for the correct type of insight or privacy with the different needs in society. There are also several which believe that the information which is now made readily available does not necessarily hold opinions or viewpoints that are true or legitimate in terms of the information retrieved. The lack of control from social media has led to information technology laws based on having privacy and lacking the amount of information which is saved among those that are working with social media. The data which is available and the ability to change the information for a trend are the two threats which the laws are trying to alter with different policies. Changing digital output and containing the amount of information which is sent and retrieved through the Internet are some of the ways that are being looked into in terms of altering the amount of information that is available. However, many consider this as a violation of having access to information which should be made public, leading to controversies with the new media and what should be displayed (Murray, 2010: 17). The complexity with the digital media and the information which is a part of this is leading to specific controls, monitoring and responses which are being created to stop the amount of information available. In a variety of areas, there are implemented policies, laws and actions with individuals which may decide to make a specific statement through social media and the information available. Other areas are trying to move with the same transformation with charges and limited amounts of time which one can use with the Internet. However, this is leading to more controversy with the information which is available while causing questions of why the information should be monitored. The revolution of the new media is then beginning to uncover the agenda, objectives and the hidden controversies over political and economic powers. This is coming specifically from the responses which are in the media and political system such as by creating censorship systems, blocking of websites and information and controlling the access to information through blocks and creating a violation of rights with the use of media. These actions show that there is difficulty in maintaining and controlling the information available, all which is creating opposition to the new media and the amount of information which is changing the power of those that are using the new media for different access to ideas (Ognyanova, 2010: 1). The conflicts which are occurring are not only coming from the resistance of political and economic powers. There are also questions concerning social media and the ability to access the information and data that is associated with an individual. The social networks are combined with the question of whether an individual should have complete freedom of expression or should have the right to privacy. The ability to access and post information on the Internet also allows traces through data centers to contribute to the changes that are a part of the political and economic powers. Social networking is then said to create a sense of privacy intrusions that are associated with the websites and which create exchanges of information which may hinder individuals which are posting the information in a given region. This particular concept with social networking leads to the question of how much the laws should be extended for privacy that is a part of social media and wikis. More important, there is a question from individuals with the freedom of expression that is associated with this. Many believe that the inability to have freedom of expression because of this problem is also taking away the rights of individuals which are posting on the Internet and contributing to the amount of information which is available (Marsoof, 2011: 110). Changing Contributions to New Media The implication with social media and the information freedom which is creating controversies among various powers is leading to alternative contributions to new media. The problem which is now occurring is based on different regions and how the access to information is altering what is available with the new media. For instance, a recent study (Relly, Cullier, 2010: 360), examined the changes which were beginning to occur in Arabic worlds with the new media and information freedom which was available. The Arabic countries began to adopt the access to information (ATI) to help with self – governance and economic development which was a part of the new media. The legislation which followed this was based on controlling and monitoring the amount of economic, political and social information which was provided through the Internet by changing the amount of access available to the public. The study examined 12 Arabic and non – Arabic countries to compare the changes which this had made. It was found that the lack of government information and access also led to a lack of knowledge and action in terms of economy, society and culture. This indicates that the transparency of the political and economic factors are also leading to information revolutions that are shaping the knowledge and responses which one is involved in with adaptation of the information (Relly, Cullier, 2010: 360). The alterations and changes which are being made with social media through the ATI is one which is being looked into in a variety of areas. The concept of accessing information is building into the idea of a culture of transparency. Social media is one which is developing into an area of openness and the ability to know all information which is available. A variety of individuals are using this access to information as a way to build anti – corruption tools in society and to begin transforming the social and cultural implications which are associated with this. The contributions are continuing to build a different culture which is built on the understanding of information and the importance which it holds in society. The social changes and attitudes are based first on transparency of institutes and individuals. However, there is also a sense of bringing in accountability to the different information that is occurring and the revolutions which are shaping individuals in different segments of society (Bertot, Jaeger, Grimes, 2010: 264). Alterations for the Future of Social Media The transformations which are occurring from social media and wikis in terms of information access, revolutionary actions and resistance from various institutions is beginning to transform the way in which information is looked into. The ability to monitor or control the information which is now readily available is one which many are determining won’t change. The access to information and other policies which are trying to maintain information are quickly deteriorating as many are finding new solutions to getting information that is outside of the mainstream media. The interactivity which is available is creating a lack of being able to control or monitor the information or responses and activities which are revolutionizing on the Internet. The social media that is being monitored is then leading to changes in communication and power and is altering the way in which social media is being used. The ability to use the information for assistance to other communities and to open new ideas and portals is becoming the main set of ideologies that social media and wikis are leading to. As the information expands and interactions are created, there is more information that is allowing the globe to respond with the development of in – depth ideals and concepts that are available (Smith, 2010: 329). While there are opportunities to transform segments of the world and to have an activist viewpoint with the public sphere, the information freedom may also lead to resistance from others. The public policies, limitation of access to information and the access to privacy that is not being monitored continues to raise other issues and questions. The need to change the applications, interactions and information with privacy to data raises questions on the validity of social media and whether it will continue in this stream. The ability to access information is also continuing to cause complexities with the virtual social world and how individuals are interacting with various needs. The future of information technology with these challenges also shows that continuous resistance, policies and changes in the data access available are a part of the social media and the way in which it is supposed to be transformed. This is altering the social media and what is occurring in terms of the characteristics of social media. While the collaboration and interactions continue with social media, there is also a different approach to the social media that is altering the way in which many are utilizing the data and information available. The future then creates a question of the privacy which should be available and the challenges in terms of monitoring and creating policies in response to social media (Kaplan, Haenlein, 2010: 59). Conclusion The impact of social media and wikis on information freedom is beginning to revolutionize the public sphere. The impact is one which is leading to social actions and agreements with new information that is available. The unlimited interactions that are occurring and the in – depth information are all creating different responses and more knowledge about different issues which are facing society. This is building a revolution in how many are acting and interacting with decisions that are a part of society. While this particular concept is offering freedom through the media, there is also opposition that shows the significance of these changes. Institutions are questioning the policies and different applications that are associated with the information and interactions available. This is noted through the decision to create policies while limiting the access to information available. Privacy issues and concerns in terms of the type of information are some of the questions which are being raised. This shows the continuous impact of social media and the way in which it is beginning to transform different regions of the globe. The result is a transformation which is occurring internationally, specifically because of the information which is available with social media and the interactions that are allowing individuals to find new truth to the available ideas. 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