Concepts / Impact of Digital Communication on Identities

Question 1

Digital revolution

Answer 1

Over the last few decades there has been a shift from analogue, mechanical and electrical technology to digital technology, for example the use of online newspapers and a range of radio and TV channels through satellite and cable in conjunction with the growth of computers, smartphones and tablets with a range of programmes and apps.

Question 2

Castells

Answer 2

‘Information Age’- we are moving from an industrial to an information age due to determining informational technology that organise logic and principles. World has shifted from industrialism to informationalism; economic activity is conducted through networking; world has become a smaller place

Question 3

Ellison

Answer 3

‘Identity’: Individuals can adopt multiple personalities online, which can also impact on people’s offline lives both negatively and positively.

Question 4

Boelstroff

Answer 4

‘Virtual Communities’: Identity can be changed online such as ‘Second Life’; a virtual community where you can appear however you want to appear through changing things such as hair style

Question 5

Carter

Answer 5

‘Virtual Communities’: Digital forms of communications create and maintain relationships. Cybercity is a virtual community as they have similar characteristics to a city

Question 6

Boyle

Answer 6

‘Media Convergence’: seperate forms of media can be accessed through one device, social media profiles are also interlinked eg. you can access facebook friends on Instagram; these patterns of convergence have been adopted to promote Western, capitalist ideas such as the pursuit of profit, and material objects presented as important through advertisements

Question 7

Giddens

Answer 7

‘Globalisation’: ‘reverse colonialism’- practises from non-western societies are colonising the way things are done in western societies.

Question 8

Friedman

Answer 8

‘Globalisation has an American face’: popular items that we use everyday are often American; the spread of American values

Question 9

Changes in social media

Answer 9

In 2014, pinterest and instagram were the fastest growing forms of social media and they are more used by women than men (www.ofcom.org.uk)

Question 10

Global village - Mcluhan

Answer 10

New information can be passed on electronically due to it “moving at the speed of light” creating new patterns of communication and social interactions. The creation of a global village means that “everybody lives in the utmost proximity created by our electric involvement in one another’s lives”.