Global Impacts of Hyperconnectivity in the Realm of Netizens - Literature review Example

GLOBAL IMPACTS OF HYPERCONNECTIVITYT IN THE REALM OF NETIZENS Generations today are already enjoying the use of social network sites like Facebook (launched in 2004) and Twitter (launched in 2008). Most people must have probably grown up with these, or possibly were already there when they were born. However, not everyone knows exactly the driving factors behind how Facebook and Twitter came about? This is exactly the reason why this topic on the global impact of social networks was chosen for this brief academic groundwork. Specifically, this paper seeks to discuss the following: first, is to elucidate on the interrelated factors that led to the development of hyperconnectivity; second, how these social networks came into the picture and influenced the world globally and finally, what can be expected of hyperconnectivity in the near future? Delineating Social Media from Social Networking Since this paper will be dealing with social networking, it is best to distinguish ‘social media’ from ‘social networks’. Scrutinizing the technical definition of each may be confusing but to keep it on a layman’s level and to understand more of these two concepts, it is best to describe social media as a platform where social networking is only part of the former while the latter is described to require more of self-revelation of one’s personal information (e.g. Facebook and Twitter). “Social media encompasses applications in different categories by characteristic: collaborative projects, blogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual game worlds, and other virtual social worlds” ( Kaplan and Haenlein 59). The above is further supported by Möller as he defines “Social Media as the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. They can be defined as a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of the so-called Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. It takes many different forms, including online magazines, Internet forums, weblogs, microblogs, wikis, podcasts, images, video, rating, social bookmarking or social networking” ( 13). Emergence of Hyperconnectivity Now, looking back around 1950’s, man realized how much he was limited to get access to information and communication. Connectivity then was only through the use of walkie-talkie radios, a wired telephone and wireless telegraphy which were only capable to serve a one-on-one exchange of communications. During the old days when there was a need to harness the public for an assembly to institute a major change, the common traditional practice was to ring huge tower church bells, or any symbolic gong, or use a loud siren heard throughout the community. Gone are the days of these practices. With this age of computers , the trend was to promote a wireless and paperless society as well as timeliness in the exchange of information, Above all, the launching of Digitization have greatly modernized world’s business, propelled the integration of information and communications technologies to the point of changing society’s lifestyles. Dramatically, there was a 360 degree turn-about change in society, government business, commerce, social behaviors and individual psyches from the time that machines began interfacing and intervening with man’s activities. The overnight success of digitization has revolutionized everything. “Digitization is the conversion of information format (whether, text, image, audio or video file) to digital format. This feature made it easier for any information in this form be preserved, accessed and shared. Instead of people going to a specific location to retrieve an original, historical document, the document when digitized can now be made available to people around the world” (Janssen 2013). This new feature brought about multiplier effects that “led to the advent of a new era called hyperconnectivity” (Janssen 2013). Hyperconnectivity can only be served when the following prerequisites are present: an interactive application or software interfacing in a domain with a platform (e.g. Web 2.0) along with upgraded powerful mobile devices, e.g. IPods, IPads, smartphones powered by broadbands that are purchased by the users to address their personal needs. One of the giant contributors to information and communication technology (ICT) is the late Steve Jobs. “Some of his greatest contributions are: The IBook, The ITunes, The IPhone, and The IPad, among others which will definitely be felt in the decades to come” (Wall, 2011). Hyperconnectivity and its Impact in the Global Context Do the names Larry Page and Sergey Brin, or Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey ring a bell? Just as a refresher, “Larry Page and Sergey Brin were the original Google creators ” (Smale 2004) ; “Mark Zuckerberg was the creator of Facebook” (Johnson 2011) and “Jack Dorsey was the Twitter creator” (“J. Dorsey..” 2013). These are the individuals who made giant contributions like Jobs to the realm of ICT. How their contributions became catalysts to the emergence and use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter is a revelation that must be looked into. Today, the Internet and the world- wide- web (www) dominate the online environment that renders different associated services which enable most people and businesses to access information, communicate and get connected with each other instantaneously with the support from trending mobile devices like laptops, tablets, smart phones and the like. “Consequently, there are evidenced fundamental transformations in society. For one, hyperconnectivity is redefining relationships between individuals, consumers and enterprises and citizens and the state” (Dutta and Osorio 2012, v). In effect, the introduction of hyperconnectivity has driven people responsible for initiating the drawing boards such as CEOs, policy and makers and other organizations’ decision makers, to make plans and adjustments to the new opportunities and challenges in the world of hyperconnectivity. The Global market and industries, as a consequence, are also required to reinvent from old to innovative and responsive strategies, labor skills, re- setting of goals and directions, new adaptive systems and mechanisms, infrastructure replacements and other new challenges from every known sector. New unconventional industries have also risen within the realm of ICT. The practical thing to do then in order to survive competition in the global arena is to leverage on the situation to maximize positive gains. At a fast pace, every emerging ICT innovation must be adopted. Otherwise, resentment to these changes will serve as a future stumbling block to progress and ultimately, one’s success. “Hyperconnectivity also opened new industries and new doors to more opportunities. In effect, these concerned sectors were required to increase productivity, redefine how they should run their business anew, generate new products and services and improve their delivery of public services particularly in government, education and healthcare, among others. In the same way, new measures have to be taken to address new emerging risks in terms of cybercrime (e.g. hacking) , invasion of privacy and of personal data, individual rights and access to information. In short, it required and established a holistic means of understanding of the systemic nature of changes in the hyperconnected world” (Dutta and Osorio 2012, v). In business, for instance, one of the revolutionized innovations of hyperconnectivity is associated with the new virtual working environments. If before an employee has to be physically present in a site of a real working environment and render the regular eight working hours a day, today there emerged unique types of virtual working environment whereby an employee can work at the comfort of his own home or any preferred working station, be conversing and meeting in real time with his teammates and his Boss in a virtual work setting, where each one appears to be just arms’ reach but are actually located in different distant corners of the world, connected, working and chatting in real time. This can be better explained under oDesk, vWorker, Elance platform web sites. Consequently, there is definitely a complete change in social behaviors now happening online, a phenomenon called by Li and Bernoff as ‘Groundswell’. Li and Bernoff defined “groundswell as a spontaneous movement of people using online tools to connect as well as the ability to take charge of their own experience in getting what they need_ information, support, ideas, products and bargaining power_ from each other. This is broad, ever shifting and growing. It is global. It is unstoppable” ( xi, xii & 9). Facebook vs. Twitter “The identified driving forces why social networks came about include: people’s insatiable appetite to connect, new interactive technologies and online economies. And people connect with each other all the time using applications like Facebook or Twitter” (Li and Bernoff 10-11). To prove how these two social networks have invaded American society, for example, “statistics indicate that of the total U.S. population, 77% are Internet users and 43% are Facebook users” (USA Internet World Stats 2010). “On the other hand, in terms of geographic distribution of Twitter user base, U.S. took the lead with the highest Twitter users registering 51%,” (An Exhaustive Study… 2012). In support to this claim and on a wider perspective, Moller pointed out that “in November 2011, the popular social network Facebook had more than 800 million active users, 75 percent of which were outside the United States. In October 2012, Facebook reached 1 billion users globally…” (Möller 15). Facebook and Twitter are tools in social media that are distinct from each other. The differences between these two social networks are substantial to note. “Facebook is a social networking Portal. Facebook appeals to people who are seeking to reconnect with old friends and family members or find new friends online” (Thornton 2013) . Facebook is more of an ongoing social relationship builder. (What is the difference… 2013). In contrast, “Twitter is focused more on real-time conversation; is less about friendship and a more detached connection. Twitter allows people to follow important topics, people and conversations that are relevant or interesting to them” (What is the difference...2013). “Twitter uses one’s updates as jumping off points to other places or just let others know what one is up to at any given moment ” (Thornton 2013). CONCLUSION In retrospect, anyone should realize that the digital age was purposely designed to simplify man’s way of doing things. Expect that with the exponential growth of powerful mobile devices, social network sites will continue to flourish and stay innovative. What is important is to harness these ICT tools to accomplish remarkable impacts that will be inspiring and more enabling to all sectors like “building and enhancing: e-government models; e-commerce, e-learning , online medical services and other web-based intelligent services” (Dutta and Osorio 2012), in short, serving the global community better. Works Cited “An Exhaustive Study of Twitter Users Across the World”. beevolve.com. 2012. Beevolve. Web. 20 May 2013. Broache, Anne. “Google creators named Men of the Year”. news.cnet.com. 2005. CNET. Web. 21 May 2013. Dutta, Soumitra and Osorio, Beñat B. (Eds.) 2012.” The Global Information Technology Report 2012-Living in a Hyperconnected World” World Economic Forum. 19 May 2013. < http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Global_IT_Report_2012.pdf > “Jack Dorsey, Biography”. biography.com. bioTrueStory. 2013.Web. 21 May 2013. Janssen, Cory. “Digitization, a Definition.” Technopedia.com. Janalta Interactive Sites, Inc. 2013. Web. 18 May 2013. 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