Abstract
According to Marxist man are produced as social beings within a given social system of social linguistic and psychological relationship and that these relationships possess underlying codes which are not necessarily immediately visible to people who live by them. Internet service, therefore, provides a force upon which culture is reformed. This results in a new system of doing things. The internet culture is beneficial and also destructive to the human system of morals and values. The negative culture formed is attributed to a lack of adequate regulation to enforce responsible information.
The computer is a scientific device that accepts the log-in information and thereafter manipulates it to produce the desired result based on the program of instructions on how data is to be processed. The operations and functions of a computer are based on a designed program. Internet is therefore one of the computer programs that promote its efficiency and wide use. The introduction of computer services has molded an array of cultures in the world. Marxist states, “We are produced as social beings within a given social system of social, linguistic culture and psychological relationships and that these relationships possess underlying codes which aren’t necessarily immediately visible to people who live by them,” Introduction of computer services, therefore, agitates the power of communication technology to mold new cultures in the world.
Communication is understood not simply as the sending and receiving of messages but rather as a symbolic process whereby reality is produced, maintained repaired, or transformed. Therefore, it is very important to remember that technology does not just miraculously appear, that the development of technology cannot be separated from their contexts, which are the power relations and social structures and knowledge that surround it. This means then that technology is not simply material forms that impact culture but are themselves culture forms. It also means that technology is never neutral.
From the 19th century, the world has been witnessing unprecedented speeds of acceleration on technological advancement and transfer. This has tremendously transformed the culture of contact message delivery to becoming electronic. “The speed of a rider on horseback was superseded.” (Krug, 2005, p, 1). The rate of change and acceleration of information transfer is continuously destabilizing the local and the vernaculars worlds.
Books were important channels upon which information was passed from one person to another or from one place to another. The introduction of the internet and television has improved the speed with which information is accessible and also promoted convenience. “The book still excels in its ability to present complex, synthesized ideas and to provide them in a form for contemplation such use changes the subject matter and the focus of the book but it is a deliberately slow medium of communication and is uniquely suited to this end. Further the act of reading the book as opposed to being online links us back in time to another way of perceiving the psychical processes of earlier times. “(Krug, 2005, p, 2)
The introduction of communication technologies has also changed the writing culture of ancient man. Contrary to ink-syndrome dependency, man is experiencing a paradigm shift to a new way of writing by using a keyboard or sensor or even a recorder to note down information of significance. However, pen and ink are still widely used in the world particularly in schools and colleges. The improvement of writing media has greatly enhanced handwriting problems and thereby promoting the understanding of information. Initially, communication breakdown was imminent particularly for those who had bad handwriting.
Internet is a world library of diverse information both indigenous and modern. This has therefore increased individual exposure to knowledge. The outcome of the adoption is increased knowledge capacity in the mind. Today individual perspective of issues of interest is not limited to locality or geographical description as opposed to the traditional days when information concerning the world was limited. At times the geographical distance was a barrier to accessing such information. Fang, therefore, expresses his argument that,
The industrial revolution put the print into unaccustomed hands. It created books and magazines, which are shelved in city libraries, and it trained minds to read them. It printed newspapers for everyone and filled them with the kind of news and advertising to which everyone could respond. As it did all these things to open people’s minds it led them into mental seclusion for reading is not so often a collective activity in a family setting or salon as it is solitary and silent. (Fung, 1997, p, 35-45)
The above quotation explained how communication technology has the power to inform and change lives.
Availability and accessibility of information contribute positively to enhance economic development. The introduction of communication services such as the Internet has provided information to entrepreneurs that have helped to enhance business development. Contrary to price catalog delivered by massagers, today such information can be accessed online “the business office in 1870 looked considerably different than it does today… Before carbon paper became widely available they copied letters by dampening them with a wet cloth and pressing them against a blank sheet of paper. Office boys delivered the letters to other offices or the post office.” (Fang, 1997. p.57)
The existence of internet services such as e-mail among others consequently has helped the inconsistencies and relevancies experienced in the olden days. Thus cultural evolution is subsequently witnessed.
Persons all over the world are currently increasingly concerned about the capacity of organizations and institutions to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Organizations, therefore, need not only minor adjustments but an over-haul restructuring of the organization’s responsibilities. “Organizations create cultures that are expressed in structures and processes that permit large numbers of people to coordinate their efforts and that allow new generations of members to perform effectively without having to reinvent the organization each time.” (Schein, 1985, Quoted by Allen &Scott 1994 p 125)
Focusing on human culture as a product of social interaction priorities, the role of relatives and friends interacts with each other through the internet as members of different and unique identities. This, therefore, results in the manipulation of a particular culture to aid the introduction of a new form of culture. For instance, human beings have changed their way of life based on friends and relative influence. Initially in the world communication was commonly done through letter writing and delivered by messengers. With increased globalization, individuals have adopted other forms of mailing services to send their messages such as e-mail which is an electronic form.
British sociologist Anthony Giddens describes globalization as the intensifications of worldwide social relations which link distant events of carrying many miles away and versa (Erren, 2002, p, 69). The invention of Internet services has therefore increased the level of interaction worldwide thus creating a new culture. Culture is a bundle of aspects of a community. The introduction of internet services has therefore created a village upon which the world communities seek refuge. This affects the way an individual act thus a new culture evolving gradually.
The introduction of communication technology has proved an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes everywhere. “The Bosnian Serbs can’t hide their atrocities from the BBC, CNN, and Sky News cameras… The extraordinary living standards produced by Free enterprise capitalism cannot be kept a secret. (Alkins 1995, p58 quoted in Green 2002, p, 142) improved information communication technology has provided a check upon leaders are held accountable for the decision made. Political is known for inciting its supporters to cause violence. In most cases, they deny the statement and claim that they were misquoted with advanced communication technology. Watertight evidence does exist. This, therefore, discourages the culture of totalitarianism and thus ashes in the democratic culture whose governing principle is all-inclusive.
Internet services are rich in information. This wild-wide information network promotes the level of literacy in most parts of the world. However, computers are inaccessible and expensive to poor families. Information technology has also greatly transformed the language which teaches us to think in particular ways and also the imprints of images and words provide us not with a memory of the words but also with a point of view a subjecting toward the world which arises out of the given assumption about the world as well as form the language we use to describe the world. (Krug, 2005, p 87).
After the initial period of the introduction of the computer, the Internet and wild wide web were considered and celebrated as liberating communication technologies, and are interested, new communities evolved with surprising cultures. Human beings are always glued to the Internet with a different justification. The new culture in the World adopted from the Internet is an addiction to pornographic movies. Many people young and old find pornographic movies and pictures on the Internet part of their lifestyle. “The very characteristics of these systems transformed how communication was used and so also changed constructed. It was not, I emphasize the technology of digital communication which alone changed the social.” (Krug 2005, P, 158)
Another social disorder arising from the invention of communication technology such as networks is the perpetuation of unacceptable social actions such as lesbianism and homosexuality. The lesbian lifestyle is popularized by the internet. Ladies today seek sexual support and emotional fulfillment by continually watching such content. This is the same for men who now pride themselves in the culture of guy lifestyle. These cultures are highly publicized through the Internet thereby getting much support.
The Internet has also molded a culture of sexual satisfaction. Man is a social being and desires to be loved and cherished. The social love triangle is so competitive that it locks others out. The establishment of a new culture through the internet seems to cover up for their desires. Instead of fighting to be loved and to love people are turning internet to satisfy their feelings.
Other than the above social disorders, the Internet also creates a new culture of social loneliness and discrimination. These people are always attached to the computer at the expense of meeting with a friend or creating a friend. Social loneliness is not healthy for a human being. This is because human beings will always crave someone to love in their heart. The absence of such, result in emotional downplay and continual withdrawal from the public.
In response to the above phenomena, the internet has given provision for online dating. Dating webs are numerous on the internet such provisions are not healthy especially for young children. In most countries, particularly African there is no appropriate regulation that controls information accessible from the internet. Dating through the internet should be done with utmost care for it may result in perpetuating sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV Aids.
Despite the fundamental role the internet is playing in the transformation of culture, its full potential has not yet been fully explored. There are some challenges that bottle-neck its importance. Computer illiteracy is one of the factors that limit access to information from the Internet. Even though a computer has a program that enables one to learn some people still find it hard to follow computer instructional programs. This is more common in countries where the poverty levels are high. Therefore they are not able to pay for the basic training of introduction to computer.
Due to increased poverty, information access disparity continues to widen between those who have money and those who don’t. This, therefore, creates another pool of illiterate categories on the rise. Therefore there is a need to integrate computer technology in basic curriculum development particularly in African countries.
The introduction of the computer has therefore created a host of numerous cultures. However, some of the culture developed due to the introduction of internet services contradicts the basic principles of morals. The Internet has enhanced the world’s culture both positively and negatively. There is need to develop regulation to control access of information that enhance negativity of culture.
References
Allen T.J &Scott M. (1994) Information Technology and the Corporation of the 1990s US: Oxford University Press.
Green L. (2002) Communication Technology and Society London : sage.
Irving B Rung (1997) A History of Mass Communication Six Information Relations Boston: Focal Press.
Jones S. (1997) Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication London: Sage.
Krug G. (2005) Communication, Technology and culture change London; Sage.
Mc Laughlin J, Rosen P & Skinner D and Webster A (1999) Valueing Technology Organizations Culture and Change Routledge.