Chapter 15:

The global village allows users from around the world to communicate with each other with the ability to connect.  Global communication collapse time and space allowing people from all parts of the world to work together.  Two observers of this concept suggested that bridging time and space joins people into a large collective.  The Internet retribalization is the idea that Internet users will assign themselves to their own “digital neighborhoods” that share their own interests, beliefs and attitudes.  While the Internet brings people together on a global scale it may cause social isolation.  This is due to the decrease in face-to-face communication in the workplace.  The medium theory examines the characteristics of each medium, instead of the content that flows through medium.  In the case study: China and the Internet, China wants to increase their advancement in technology and increase global commerce.  While doing this, China wants to control the incoming and outgoing Internet traffic.  This firewall restricts users access to specific websites such as pornographic sites, international news sources and many more.  If any suspicion of illegal activity Chinese authorities will monitor users email accounts to determine the accuracy of the claim that will potentially lead to a prison sentence.  Technology determinism argues that the characteristics in a new technology paves the direction of the development and creates social change.  Social determinism technological developments are caused by some type of social change or social need.  

Online Reading:

The digital divide is a term that covers a wide range of social differences with the use of digital equipment such as computers.  To be more precise the digital divide is a gap between individuals and geographical areas where their opportunity to access information is limited.  It is argued that the digital divide is a social problem that needs to be eradicated or reduced.  The British Government is setting in place policy initiatives to improve digital participation.  A reason behind the problem with the  digital divide is having access to the Internet.  If people do have access, the next problem they have is the operational and formal Internet skills that are needed to navigate and retrieve information.  A fully networked society in the future seems unlikely if the root causes of the digital divide are not resolved.  The digital divide is reducing with more and more people adopting technology and gaining the needed skills to properly use the social phenomenon.  

Chapter Questions:

1. Do you think Internet retribalization is true that people will tend to be in groups that share their own interests or do you believe on the Internet, people will have the tendency to go outside the social norm and try to be part of something different?

2. In the case study, do you agree with what China is doing by controlling the data flow along with restricting what can and cannot be posted/viewed online?  With the controlling factor China has does this reduce the amount of deception that occurs online?

Online Reading Questions:

1. Do you think all the countries in the world need to adopt digital divide policies to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to experience the digital life?  If countries were required what type of policies might they use?

2. Do you know anyone who refuses to use technology such as smartphones or computers?  If yes, what is their reason?  If no, why might somebody not want to participate in the use of technology?