* INTRODUCTION
This topic explores the technological aspect of globalisation and its influence on
culture. It explains the importance of new communication technologies and how
they have created a new global phenomenon. With the introduction of the Internet,
mass communication takes on a new platform and has become more interactive.
Topic 7 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Culture
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Describe the fundamental aspects of the Internet;
2. Explain the roles of social media;
3. Discuss the impact of social media; and
4. Relate the importance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to culture.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
What was your first experience with the Internet?
Share with your coursemates.
ACTIVITY 7.1
The Internet is a system of interconnected computers using basic communication
technology which provides end-user applications as a global information system
(Internet, n.d.). It consists of data structures that can be disclosed and processed.
The Internet as a culture relates to online communication and social interaction
between societies based on ethical ways of communicating. Online communication
can cause societies to drift away from each other as they are separated from reality,
giving rise to virtual communities.
Virtual communities involve a group of people sharing information, common
interests, ideas and feelings by interacting online (Virtual community, n.d.). This
kind of community depends a great deal on the Internet to share knowledge and
engage in discourses. Virtual communities can take the form of forum members,
blog commentators and also those who follow certain twitter accounts. Castells
(2004) described that through technology, there will exist a new form of collective
identity that is known as virtual communities. The virtual communities will have
a different sense of power and experience. For example, in today's era, it is easy
for individuals to obtain online fame through the use of social media despite being
a nobody offline. New groups of individuals may discover power in social
networks that are non-existence in the real world.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can create relationships
among cultures and civilisations. ICT indicates the extent of technological impact
on human relations and communication. This can be utilised via social media
where people can interact with others online. Meyrowitz (1997) stated that the new
form of electronic media has reconstructed the platform for social networking and
interaction. It now creates a new space that is non-physical and cannot be seen in
the real world. It is a new world of discovery where individuals are able to
reconstruct and recreate new identities.
7.1
Have you ever been a part of any virtual community? Share your
experience in the online forum.
ACTIVITY 7.2
7.1.1 Types of Social Media
There are different types of social media that contribute to the usage of Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) as shown in Figure 7.1.
Figure 7.1: Types of social media available
Let us now look at these types of social media in further detail as shown in Table 7.1.
Table 7.1: Types of Social Media
Type Description Example
Blogging ? It is similar to an online journal that
can be updated via postings.
? It is a user-generated website.
? It is the act of writing and updating
blog postings.
? It has been popularly used for
discussing political issues,
entertainment and world news.
Wordpress, Blogspot,
etc.
Micro blogging ? It is a form of contemporary
communication that allows society to
update information, photos, videos
or use „memes‰.
? It is usually limited in the amount of
content that can be posted.
Pinterest, Twitter, etc.
Social bookmarking
? It is one of the most powerful Web
2.0 tools as it allows sharing and
evaluating of links among users in
society.
? It consists of voting on any link or
comment on the certainty of
information being shared.
Reddit, Delicious,
Stumbleupon
Podcast ? Its usage allows society to directly
upload audio recordings over the
Internet.
? Individuals can now develop their
own radio show or opinion segment
and post it via podcast.
Radio Station
Podcast, Itunes, etc.
Geo-location ? Geo-location system is a technology
that verifies location of physical
places via the Internet.
? It is similar to the function of a map,
however it is more interactive and
customised to the specification of the
user.
Waze, Google Maps
Social multimedia ? It has a reasonable retrieval
capability.
? YouTube is one of the social
multimedia that allows users to
upload, share, watch videos and
people are able to publish their own
content and interact with each other.
? It develops prosumers as users who
not only consume online materials,
but are also involved in producing
them as well.
YouTube, Flickr
Social networking ? It brings together people of different
backgrounds and encourages
interaction.
? People are now able to communicate
through Facebook as it is easier and
worldwide.
? Users can develop self profiles and
interact with others through the
Internet.
Facebook, LinkedIn
Messenger ? It is one of the smartphones
applications allowing users to send
messages to other users.
? WhatsApp has the same function as
SMS (short message service)
messages.
SMS, MMS,
7.1.2 Roles of Social Media
Social media has various functions in society and has been used extensively for
various reasons. The roles of social media in society are as follows:
(a) Politics
Many political candidates use the social media platforms to get closer to the
voters. They share ideas and strategies online.
(b) Economics
Social media has been an important marketing strategy tool. Businesses share
information on their latest products via social media as more consumers
spend more time communicating using this platform.
(c) News Sharing
Lots of breaking news is now done through social media as it is the fastest
way of sharing. A newspaper would take too long to be published while
airtime on television is very costly. For example, news of the Tsunami
incident in 2004 was first revealed via Twitter.
(d) Creative Outlet
Many people share their ideas and thoughts online via various forms of
social media and other communication technology. For example, Malaysian
popular singer, Yuna, was discovered through her YouTube postings.
(e) A New Form of Communication
It provides a new form of communication with no physical contact. People
can write messages or share information via status updates or hold
conversations through each other's wall messages.
7.1.3 Impact of Social Media on Culture
Table 7.2 outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of social media on
current society's culture as people rely more on social media to get the latest
information or updates regarding current news.
Table 7.2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media
Advantages Disadvantages
? Deeper understanding of other
cultures.
? Social media as a tool of
communication between cultures.
? Build networking with members of
other cultures.
? Social media is used to gain wider
sources of information and knowledge.
? Less time-consuming to interact.
? Might change the identity of oneÊs
culture.
? Less usage of traditional media.
? Intrusion of a personÊs privacy.
? Breakdown in family ties as people
focus more on social media.
? Virtually connected instead of face-toface.
E-MAIL, CHAT ROOM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE
This subtopic discusses four popular features within the Internet that are heavily
used among various generations. E-mails and chat rooms gained popularity from
the mid-nineties while Facebook and YouTube are the latest new age technology
that redefines the virtual experience.
7.2.1 E-mail
The website Computerhope.com described e-mail as „short for electronic mail,
e-mail or email is information stored on a computer that is exchanged between two
users over telecommunications‰. E-mails began as an online mailing system that
was focused on sending text-based mails. However, over the years, its features
have been improved where individuals are able to attach documents, videos,
create hyperlinks and send not only text but also pictures, visuals and large-size
documents.
E-mails can be programmed-based such as Microsoft Outlook where information
and data is stored in the server. A more popular choice today is the online or web
based e-mail such as Gmail or Yahoo Mail. E-mail has now become one of the more
popular medium of communication replacing letter writing and fax. E-mail is also
highly used in business transactions, dealings and professional forms of
communication.
1. What are virtual communities?
2. List down types of social media and give examples.
3. Explain the roles of social media and its impact on society.
SELF-CHECK 7.1
Observe your surroundings. How do you feel social media has affected
your life? Share your experiences in the online forum.
.
ACTIVITY 7.3
'
Among the benefits of e-mail include ease of communication. You can now easily
type an e-mail not only from your laptop or computer, but also from mobile
devices. The receiver will receive the message almost immediately upon sending.
The instant feature for recipient has positioned it as a medium of choice when
compared to letters. E-mails also do not involve any cost and can be sent to anyone
across the globe for free. The written mail on the other hand incurs the cost of
buying envelopes, papers and stamps for postage.
Though using the e-mail is free, it does require an Internet connection and this
infrastructure may not be available in some remote places. Web-based e-mails
depend on the availability of a network connection; without the connection,
individuals are unable to access their inbox or write messages. Some people may
also have large volumes of e-mail coming in through the inbox and this can be
overwhelming. E-mails might be lost in order, and individuals may not access
e-mail if a lot starts coming in. E-mails also lack intonation. Reading an e-mail is
different from talking to a person face-to-face or hearing a person speak and
express their thoughts. Due to this, some information may be misinterpreted,
leading to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
7.2.2 Chat Room
A chat room is a platform where individuals can go online and communicate with
one another, usually through typing out the conversation. There is a public chat
room, in which a group of individuals can communicate with one another in public
on the virtual platform. On the other hand, there is a private chat room where
individuals can have a more private one-on-one conversation with another.
Famous Chat Room includes Yahoo Messenger and various forms of instant
messaging services. However, the history of open chat room discussion begins
with the IRC, The Internet Relay Chat. Malaysians have established many public
rooms such as #kampung, #mamak and #alamak. Usually, the groups are formed
based on interest, for example, a group of runners, gamers or stay-at-home moms.
They are able to communicate, share files and the conversation can also be in the
form of audio-visuals. This can be done using a webcam and also a portable
microphone.
The chat room has various benefits. Firstly, you can be part of a group that is
unified via interest. For example, a group of joggers are able to discuss in the
Jogger chat room talking about the proper running technique or the best shoes to
use. It is easier to meet and communicate online rather than finding physical
joggers and forming a group to discuss. The chat room also allows those with low
self-confidence levels to express themselves without people judging them for their
looks. There are people who have met their spouses via these various types of chat
rooms, where virtual friendship further blossomed to a real world relationship.
The instant messaging feature also makes it fast to communicate. This is different
from using SMS or text messages where there is a cost involved.
However, there are also disadvantages. The chat room still requires an Internet
connection which some parts of the world may not be fully equipped with, thus
denying them the opportunity of using this platform. There will also be a loss of
non-verbal communication which makes it difficult for high context culture to
express itself effectively.
7.2.3 Facebook
Facebook is a social networking site that was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg.
It allows individuals to open up an account and share status updates, photos, write
messages on walls, tag photos, play application games, forward information and
many more.
Among the advantages of Facebook is that, it is the most popular social media
around. People use Facebook to connect with one another. It is also easy to find
people who share the same interest and join Facebook groups to communicate
with one another. Facebook is also great for keeping in touch with family and
friends and have been meeting points for long lost friends and also the site where
people end up marrying their partner. Its interactive features range from status
updates to the ability to poke someone, to having cover photos and profile videos,
to the current craze of going Facebook Live. Facebook has been very relevant and
contemporary with its features that appeal to so many groups of individuals.
Facebook is also used as an online business centre where many online businesses
and transactions take place, replacing the need to pay for physical space rental.
However, one of the main disadvantages of Facebook has to do with privacy. Too
much information is shared and it also depends on the amount of information
people share with the public. For example, personal photos are tagged and being
circulated, personal information can be accessed by complete strangers if not
protected and there have been cases of identity theft through the virtual world.
Facebook can also be addictive and individuals may get hooked to it, having the
need to check updates every now and then. This can lead to time wastage.
7.2.4 YouTube
YouTube is a video hosting site that allows members to upload their videos online
and for other people to search and view online. Viewers can also further share
videos on various other platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and so
forth. YouTube has opened access to many individuals to create their own content
and some of them have even become instant celebrities. Locally renowned
international artiste, Yuna, had her talent first discovered on YouTube before being
listed as an acclaimed Billboard celebrity.
Aside from being a great platform to launch oneÊs career, there are other benefits
of using YouTube. Among others is easy accessibility via the Google Search Engine
thus making it easy for the public to search and view, there is no cost to upload or
view the videos online as YouTube generates incomes through its advertisement
spaces.
Among the disadvantages of YouTube is that it does require individuals to have
the latest technology to produce greater quality content. Though the cost of having
a YouTube account is zero, there is a cost involved in producing content such as
hi-tech cameras, editing software and props for production set. There are also strict
rules and policies set by YouTube that limits the expansion of creativity. This truly
deals with matters involving copyright.
SMS AND MMS
Both SMS and MMS are message services that you can use on your mobile phones.
SMS stands for Short Message Service. It was created in the 1980s to be compatible
with the global system for mobile communications. It is usually known as text
messages as it is only able to send text messages from one mobile phone to another.
On the other hand, MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. Aside from
normal text messages, it is also able to send multimedia content such as audio and
visual materials.
Based on your experience of using Facebook, what do you think is its best
feature and why? Discuss with your coursemates.
ACTIVITY 7.4
Both the services usually require users to pay a specified amount of fee for its usage
unless the mobile service operators have stated terms and conditions. Some mobile
service operators provide free SMS or MMS service from one user to another user
that shares the same network. Some operators may offer a network plan package
where users can send as many SMS or MMS at a lower fixed price.
Both SMS and MMS are highly popular especially since the late 1990s. Previously,
sending an SMS was rather limited in terms of words; however this has changed
today. Previously, SMS can only be submitted by people within the same network;
however this too has changed where people from different networks can now
easily SMS one another. Both SMS and MMS are highly popular among businesses
that use it as a marketing strategy. Table 7.3 describes some of the advantages and
disadvantages of using SMS.
Table 7.3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using SMS
Advantages Disadvantages
? Conversation can be more private as
no one can hear the conversations.
? Information can be typed out and the
message is sent. No need to have a
verbal form of communication.
? For those having hearing disability or
are unable to speak or are mute, they
will find the SMS a useful form of
communication as it does not require
the ability to speak or listen.
? Aside from just sending via one
sender to one receiver, the SMS has
the advantage of being sent to a group
of individuals. It can in fact be sent to
the whole contact list of the sender.
? Originally, SMS are the only messages
that can be sent using the mobile
phone. However, this has changed
since e-mails are now made available
via phones as well.
? It comes with a cost. One needs to
subscribe to a network and pay per
message sent. Though network
operators are offering cheaper
packages, most of its services are still
not free. In some countries, not only
the sender gets charged, but the
receiver may have to pay for receiving
the messages as well.
? It does not support audio-visual files. This service is only offered via MMS. One cannot send videos and animation files through SMS.
? There can be delays in receiving messages if during peak and busy periods such as festive seasons.
In some instances, the convenience of SMS has been used to its advantage as a form of gathering public opinion or even to include public interaction through voting. For example, shows like American Idol and local reality hit TV shows, Akademi Fantasia have used the SMS voting system where the public gets to vote who to remain in the reality singing competitions. MMS is also popular among users today. Table 7.4 shows some advantages and
disadvantages that users may experience when using MMS.
Table 7.4: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using MMS
Advantages Disadvantages
? MMS can support sending audiovisual files. This appeals to people
interested to send their latest photos or short video clips.
? In comparison to the SMS, the text messages length can be greater and
there is more variation to the format of the text, such as font formats, colours
and styles.
? It does not support all forms of media. Some media files are very heavy and
the system may hang causing the supposed recipient to not get the
message sent.
? Different phones have different features and system. There is no guarantee that the recipient will receive the MMS. Some traditional phones do not support this feature.
? It still involves cost just like the SMS.
The popularity of SMS and MMS has declined over the years especially with the introduction of WhatsApp, WeChat and Line which does not incur costs when sending messages.
? The Internet is essential for contemporary culture.
? The Internet has become part of society's daily life.
? Virtual communities create more opportunities for society to share important updates.
? Social media provides advantages and disadvantages for society; it depends on how the society reacts to the technology.
? The different types of social media include:
- Blogging;
- Micro blogging;
- Social book-marking;
- Podcast;
- Geo-location;
- Social multimedia;
- Social networking; and
- Messenger.
? Roles of social media in society include those involved in politics, economy, news sharing, creative outlets and as a new form of communication.
? Advantages of social media to society include the following:
- Deeper understanding of other cultures;
- As a tool of communication between different cultures;
- Networking with members of other cultures;
- Used to gain wider sources of information; and
- Interactions consume less time.
? Disadvantages of social media includes the following:
- Changing identity of one's culture;
- Less usage of traditional media;
- Intrusion of a person's privacy;
- Put stress on family relationships as people focus more on social media;
and
- Less face-to-face interactions as more people are virtually connected.
? E-mail is highly used as a communication tool and its instant send and receive feature is its strongest point.
? Chat rooms are popular among groups who share a similar interest.
? Facebook is a popular tool to share information, files and visuals to other network.
? YouTube is a platform for people to create and upload content online.
? Though SMS and MMS are highly popular, the rise of Whatsapp, Line and WeChat has affected the usage of these tools.
Culture
Information and Communications
Technology (ICT)
Internet
Social media
Virtual communities
Castells, M. (2004).The power of identity: The information age (Vol. 11). Cornwall,
England: Blackwell.
Internet. (n.d.). Oxford English Online Dictionary. Retrieved from https://en.
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/internet
Meyrowitz, J. (1997). The separation of social space from physical place. In
T. O'Sullivan, & Y. Jewkes (Eds.), The media studies reader. London,
England: Edward Arnold.
Virtual community. (n.d.). Oxford English Online Dictionary. Retrieved from
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/virtual_community
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