A social network, as described in each of my previous posts, is an absolutely invaluable development in both corporate and personal life. Not only can a social network connect people across the world, it can also create significant opportunities for growth, both personal and overall advancement.
What about those who are not connected to the “networked” (Marshall) world? Is it possible that the rapid growth of the social network is actually resulting in a world with greater voids between people?
I would suggest that this is most certainly possible… While the social network brings people together, removes spatial boundaries and creates communication possibilities; it also stretches the gap between those who are and those who are not connected.
Certain areas and people are virtually separated from the world around them. They may live only five kilometres away from a major town, with all the communication possibilities imaginable, but still they are more distant than ever before and becoming more so.
The digital divide really is an “apartheid” (New Media Lectures, Dr. Mitchell) with segregation based on the lines of those who have and those who do not have network possibilities. A person only five kilometres from the aforementioned town is essentially segregated due to his/her lack of opportunity to be connected to the vast opportunities of the networked world.
As Marshall suggests, (New Media Cultures, p36) government do not always provide infrastructure for connection on the “utopian ideals of public good” (p.36). Rather, governments are able to manipulate infrastructural development to isolate people from the networked world around them, while making it possible for others to receive all its benefits.
With the advent of this digital divide, the rift between people’s identities can also be said to be widening. I would contend that the modern man is ever more identified and moulded by the technologies available to him. The networked man is essential developing into a new being, while the un-networked individual limps behind in his dust. Soon, varied language will not be the sight of misunderstanding – level of connection may be…
Picture from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/photogalleries/earthquake/images/primary/051011_earthquake1b.jpg
Mike Smith
7 comments:
Social networks have made ways of communication much easier, however, not all people have access.Like you mentioned,people from rural areas are in a way excluded and still stuck with the old forms of communication such as posting mails. Therefore, i certaily agrees with you if you say the digital divide is an aparthied. From Khululiwe Luthuli
one thing taht i have discovered about these so-called networks is taht they make one so anti-social. for example when i am on my mxit, i ignore everything and everyone that is physically around me, which is rude and very anti-social. the same goes for those who spend hours and hours infront of the computer chatting to peop,e around the world yet they can't even hold a 5 minute conversation with a siblimg at home because theyyare so busy in cyberspace. that is teh ultimate definition of anti-social caused by "social networks" its so ironic.
Digital divide, there are so many people out there who won't even know where to start when you put a computer in front of them.Not to mention registering on facebook and things like that. I agree with the digital apartheid title. The misnamed 'social networks' are separating society. They should be called antisocial networks because only people who have access to the technology can socialise with virtual beings.
its amazing to see how another mans bread could be another mans caviar. i mean for some of us cellphones and new media technologies have become second nature while, they are still dreams and luxuries to others.
That’s a true statement! It is that whole thing of some has it while others do not. It is a sad reality, but that is how society has become some of us are benefiting with these advanced social networks while others have no idea of the advancements.
But then again these new social networks bring about isolation as you go into our own zone, i realised this when i got told off by friend "I was not listening" but yes i was, well trying to but I was trying to chat on face book and hold a decent conversation at the same time clearly it was not working, but i was more excited and into speaking to my cousin in the UK, best friend in States, other cousin in Malawi than listening to her go on about???? something
This digital divide is really a form of apartheid and bringing a nature of anti-socialism
Mandy Chibambo
I agree with your concept of the digital divide. It is evident that there is a clear distinction between those that have and those that do not have. The networked man may be seen to be at an unfair advantage to the unnetworked man.
social networking can be extremely positive, it allows individuals that have been distanced to keep in touch as well as to communicate and befriend people all over the world. it connects individuasl positively and increases the notion of a united frontier were we are not all just living within our own worlds and being unexposed to whats occuring around us.
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