The article, The Digital Vicious Cycle: Links Between Social Disadvantage and Digital Exclusion in Rural Areas, aims directly at the gap between the digital divide and how some rural areas are at risk of being disadvantaged in the media world. It speaks about the impact of the current situation from an abuse of the internet point of view. It talks about how most of us who are lucky enough to be able to access the internet abuse it by purchasing goods and services instead of putting pressure on the government or doing “greater” things.
The article also takes you through factors that are affecting the digital exclusions, social exclusion, and the rural dimension to it all. Overall the article is stating that the internet may be making us less social through the vicious cycle. The vicious cycle is the way the technology is creating social exclusion, which is creating digital exclusion, which leads to more inequalities, which in turn creates another social exclusion. It’s an interesting theory.
Is the internet and social network sites affecting the youth when it comes to direct and personal face to face communication? Is it really creating social exclusion?
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I do think that the internet has taken away some face to face communication. It is easier just to email someone instead of going over to their house to ask them a question. However, the internet is also making it possible to talk to people across the world, and with web-cam it is possible to see the person you are talking to.
ReplyDeleteThe internet has undoubtedly made face to face interaction less frequent and maybe even less of a priority. This could put students at a disadvantage in terms of verbal interactions and could even alienate them from their peers to a certain extent. On the other hand, with internet technology, two students who meet during a study abroad trip and live thousands of miles apart can still remain friends quite easily. This is something that would not be possible without the internet. Who remembers snail-mailing pen pals in elementary school? No wonder many of us lost interest... : )
ReplyDeleteI believe that the internet and social network sites may be damaging actual social interaction but it also encourages it at the same time. I use the internet as a tool to find out about issues that I later want to do something about and this causes me to be more involved in real life and it helps me find opportunities to get involved. I think for the people who do stay home and only interact on the internet wouldn't be any better off if they didn't have the internet-they'd probably just stay at home and read or something instead. At least they get some social connection that they need with social networking.
ReplyDeleteI think that it definitely had limited face to face communication. At the same time I think it allows for children to communicate more with their peers. Some students may be shy and do not like to speak face to face, yet if online may feel more comfortable and able to think before they type.
ReplyDeleteRachel
I think the internet has not only reduced the number of face to face interaction, but even something as simple as a phone call has been reduced. I know myself, email is at times much more effective to get a hold of certain people than a phone call or a meeting with that person. These days nobody has time to do these things so we seek out something quick and effective, that is where technology comes in. I think it is a shame, but us as educators can be advocates to bring that back into the classroom, why not bring snail mail back? Why not require face to face interviews instead of an email discussion with parents?
ReplyDeleteI think that the internet and social networking sites are affecting people when it comes to direct contact and communication. People can talk and email back and fourth a lot easier than if they had to go and personally talk with each other. I think the internet makes it less time consuming to communicate with others.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I believe that people are obsessed with social networks that people do not communicate f-t-f. Same is true with cell phones though. Kids and adults need f-t-f social interaction. People need real friends, not "net-friends" for a play on words. All things need to be in moderation.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the internet and social network sites are not the cause for less direct face to face communication. I feel that these services are used for long distance communication mostly. I feel that texting, and cell phones is a contributor to less direct face to face communication.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Internet is creating social exclusion. People no longer have to communicate through talking they can now just type. I don't think that it is healthy for people to use social networking sites for all means of communication even though some people do. Some people could be anyone they want to be through social networking sites. How do you really know the person on the other side of the computer is really who they say they are?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is creating social exclusion as well as creating global inclusion. When it comes to interactions between family and friends it is getting in the way of face-to-face contact. However, in the case of long distance connections it may be making those stronger than ever because of the convenience of things like facebook which can be like having instant pen pals all over the world. And yet, those who have little or no technology are left out. What is good is that we who have it can access sites that show what it is like to be deprived and can be more aware of these deficits. Hopefully such awareness will spur action to help those who are currently "out in the cold".
ReplyDeleteI think in alot of ways is is teaching kids to be more daring and always say whats on thier mind. Normally this would be a good thing but kids no longer have a filter or a conection with whom they are talking to. This is an issue because they become disrespectful to not only there peers but to adults.With no personal connection they rarely take anyones thoughts or feelings into account and become very selfish. In most cases when people speak face to face or on the phone they are more respectful and have more meaningful conversations.
ReplyDeleteThe internet does make it easier to talk without face-to-face interactions. It is a good thing when people use that to stay in touch with distant friends. When people instant message each other from different rooms in the same house, that might not be a healthy thing.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the Internet has had a bit of an impact on face to face social situations as well as voice to voice communication. However, the Internet also can create face to face social situations. For example, people that meet online and then begin dating. Both the Internet, cell-phones, and text messaging have created social exclusion. I think that it is important for people to realize this social exclusion and work on trying to get social contact.
ReplyDeleteI think that overall technology has greatly decreased the amount that people spend in face to face social situations. The use of cell-phones, text-messaging, facebook, online discussion boards, etc. has replaced many potential face to face social interactions; thus, I think that it is important for people to try to get as much face to face interaction as possible.
ReplyDelete