Effect of the Internet on Global Cultures

Effect of the mesh on Global CulturesHow has the spread of communication theory engineering science affected kindlyisations almost the humans? Assess the extent to which the net profit is a medium for Hesperian culture alone.Communications technology includes all electronic systems, such as telephones, telex, fax, radio, television, video, the earnings and email that individuals and groups use to communicate with each(prenominal) other (BNET melodic line Directory, 2010). Culture involves a set of shared value, attitudes and beliefs. Cultures vary widely end-to-end the world, non just between countries but also within countries. Additionally, each broad culture contains sub-cultures and these undersurface include different religions or racial groups, as well as groups of people who simply share the similar values, attitudes and beliefs such as in youth sub culture.There is no doubt that modern-day, communications technology, and the consequent world-wideisation of th e mass media, is helping to get wind down traditional cultural boundaries and creating what is commonly referred to as a global culture. A global culture involves the spread of popular cultural icons, which oft dilute or ride roughshod over local cultures big(p) the vast cultural transmutation in the world.A positive solution of the inexorable advance of communications technology is that people around the world can become aware of, and share in, each others culture then encouraging transformation and discouraging intolerance. Indeed, Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio believes that if the communications technology in place today had existed at the time of Hitlers rise to military unit then his criminal plot may have been buried under(a) the weight of general, public ridicule and intolerance (Cooper A, 2009).A negative progeny of globalisation is that occidental sandwich, and predominantly American, culture has gradually imposed itself around the world, unremar kably to the detriment of long-established, indigenous cultures. Jan Aart Scholte (2002), of Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation at the University of Warwick goes throw out by suggesting that creeping globalisation is creating a consumer-centred, single world culture that is focussed on all things American and the English language. Also, for those analysts who are unlike to globalisation, this type of global culture is accused of slowly killing diversity and tolerance as well as eradicating traditional ways of life.The internet is now in the forefront of this worldwide infiltration of culture by communications technology with nearly 7 billion people, 26% of the worlds population, having admission charge to this medium (internetworldstats.com, 2010). The use of personal computers is a phenomenon that has its roots in Western culture with its inherent concepts of democracy and the freedom of communication between individuals although it has practically appear ed that communications technology has been largely responsible for the destruction of cultural values of all kinds, and not just those in the West (Barton D.T. et al, 2009).The internet, and in crabby companionable Networking Sites (SNS), are becoming increasingly popular. The Facebook SNS, for example, has over 350 million members worldwide (Facebook, 2009) and the market research company, Nielsen Online, reported in March 2009 that the Twitter social networking site had increased its membership by an astonishing 1,689% from February 2008 to February 2009 (Whitworth, D. 2009). However, despite suppuration in Asia, the usage of such sites still remains largely in the Western world and predominantly in America (techcrunchies.com, 2009). Also, although penetration of the internet generally is far greater in Western cultures than elsewhere, the actual make out of internet users is higher, at 51% of all users worldwide, in non Western cultures. Indeed, the highest per centage of us ers, 42.6% (738.2 million individuals), is concentrated in Asia (internetworldstats.com, 2010).In conclusion, it can be seen that the spread of communications technology has affected cultures around the world with particular concerns over the proliferation of western style culture at the expense of other ways of life. However, not all of the cultural outcomes have been negative as evidenced by the positive impact of communications technology on cultural diversity and tolerance. Also, the perception that the internet is a medium for Western culture is dependable in scathe of penetration but not in terms of the numbers of actual users. In addition, the misconception that the global dissemination of information can be controlled, and thereby the impact of communications technology on cultures could, if desired, be mitigated is a mistaken one in the view of globalisation gurus David Held and Andrew McGrew Many national controls over information have become ineffective. slew everywher e are exposed to the values of other cultures as neer before (Held and McGrew, 2003. Page 17).Reference ListBarton D.T., Pope, J.W., and Stratton, J., 2009. Computers, Telecommunications and Western Culture. . Accessed 13.02.10.BNET Business Directory, 2010. comment for Communication Technology. . Accessed 13.02.10Cooper A, 2009. The Role of Technology in Promoting Tolerance. . Accessed 13.02.10Facebook, 2009. . Accessed 13.02.10Held, D. and McGrew, A., 2003. The global transformations subscriber an introduction to the globalization debate. Polity Press, Cambridge, Page 17.internetworldstats.com, 2010. World Internet Users and race Stats. . Accessed 13.02.10Scholte, J. A., 2002. Globalization A Critical Introduction, Macmillan Press Limited, London. Page 23.techcrunchies.com, 2009. Reach of Social Networks among Internet Users in Asia Pacific. . Accessed 13.02.10Whitworth, D. 2009. BBC Newsbeat website. Twitter growth explodes in a year. . Accessed 13.02.10