Everybody is using the social networking channels to communicate with each other on all matters such as business, career, education, relationship, entertainment, government affairs etc. Communication nowadays takes place in various types of media i.e. print, online, TV, radio etc. where everyone engages directly with the media as it provides the community at large with the latest messages and information that allows them to be abreast of the current information.
However, media has been treated differently in different countries with regard to what is acceptable to the culture and the society and the level or degree of interference from the government as it is rather complex and varies between countries. Differences occur because media has to report news aligned with the local culture by considering the sensitivity of its people. In this context, can everyone communicate freely as how they want to communicate or do they have to communicate by complying with whatever has been dictates or regulates by the culture or the government authorities? The communication forms are getting complex and varied as there are still barriers between all social media audience regardless of the ‘borderless context’. Therefore, can I still communicate with you in a secure platform?
I think of it as a clash between Communication breaking down barriers and Communication being defined by point of origin. Communication, especially using new online social mediums, has the potential to unite people from different countries because people have access and the freedom to communiate with each other.
ReplyDeleteInterference from the government is one issue that can constrain communication, this is happening in Western countries increasingly because of new-found concerns about national security.
However there is another informal constraint on communication, and that is the culture and norms that the users of social networking sites voluntarily follow. Not imposed rules of communication, but the culture, accepted methods of communication, accepted topics of conversation, slang words and languages that differ from country to country.
Is the tearing down of barriers occuring partly due to Americanization or Westernization? Are young people from other countries who use social networking sites being influenced by Western ideals, because these social communication softwares have been produced in Western countries. If an Asian country or other Non-western country produced their own version of a social networking site how would it differ from Facebook or Twitter?
Grish
Shebley say...
ReplyDeleteI would not say that the young people from other countries are being influenced by the western culture and ideas. Yes they are young but they are also able to determine what is good and what is bad for them. It has been nurtured by the parents, teachers, religious leaders, society etc.
The world wide web has brings changes on how these young people perceive their world from different perspectives and angles. It has open up their mind to look at things in broden scopes. In some occasion, it may be in conflict with the existing culture, however, with the guidance from the surrounding people and with their ability in generating critical thinking from the messages, I’m sure they are able to enrich their knowledge with the information gained from the social media networks.
I was saying that maybe the way that Social networking tools like Facebook and Myspace are organized and structured is in accord with Western ideals. If a non-Western country created their own social networking site from scratch, would the functions be different?
ReplyDeleteGrish
Shebley say…
ReplyDeleteRegardless whether social networking tools are organized and structured in accord with the westerns ideals, concept or cultures I wouldn’t say that it brings any harm to the audience as long as they know how to different what is good and what is bad for them. Have you watch “Captain Planet (a TV cartoon show) somewhere in 1990’s? At the end of each episode Captain Planet would say “The Power Is In Yours!” With referring to this tagline by Captain Planet, I would say that the information are in the grasp of the audience as reflected by the user-gratification theory where the audience will chose the best media that suit their needs and wants as they have the power to control and utilize the information. If they use it wrongly, then they are considered as the ignorance people but if they use it in the right manner, they will then be the person who will be benefited from the new media.
However, it would be nice if the non-western countries are able to come out with their own social networking site as it will provide the audience with a diversified range of social networking channels. The functions would be different as it may only suit the culture of that particular country. But it would certainly be a sharing of intercultural communication, culture, ideologies and belief among the audience (western and non-western) within the same channels. Wouldn’t it be great? The more the merrier!
"THE POWER IS YOURS!"
Captain Planet was indeed one of my favourite cartoons growing up, and it is pertinent as the Planeteers were formed of people from different countries who CREATED something GREATER than the sum of their parts when they combined their rings. One could use that as a clumsy example of how different countries are enriched via social networking, but I'll spare the corniness.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was specifically talking about was along the lines of: the way invitations to join your page as a friend are handled could be different if the social networking site was created in a more conservative country.
Grish
Shebley say...
ReplyDeleteIf there is any social networking site created in a more conservative country comprises of its own culture and ideology or also might be known as "the home brand" of a particular country, however, the audience are still going to be among all internet users across the globe.
It is a kind of cultural phenomenan in promoting our own culture to the rest of the world. We are only able to control the "context" but in some circumtances, the "content" will not be in our grasp regardless how hard we try...
But I personally think that it is a good initiative especially in having a diversified choises for the internet users. Nevertheless, we must always respect others culture especially with regards to their internal and international affairs.
By the way Grish, if I am among the Planeteers, I would love to be the one who represent the Earth! The Power is Yours!