Developments in digital forms of communication Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two virtual community studies?
A
- Carter - Cybercity
- Boellstorff - Second Life
2
Q
What did Carter explore?
A
- How digital forms of communication are used in creating and maintaining relationships in an increasingly globalised context.
- Studied and visited ‘Cybercity’ (1mil users in 2004) every day and carried participant observations, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
3
Q
What did Carter find from her study of Cybercity?
A
- People put as much effort in maintaining relationships online as they do offline.
- Also found the people who meet online continue these relationships offline by meeting up.
- Cyber space is becoming increasingly embedded in people’s everyday lives.
4
Q
Who studied ‘Cybercity’?
A
Carter
5
Q
Who studied ‘Second Life’?
A
Boellstorff
6
Q
What is Second Life?
A
An online virtual world where residents create communities, buy property, attend weddings and religious services through a computer.
7
Q
What did Boellstorff explore and how?
A
- He conducted 2yrs of fieldwork, and used participant observations and interviews inside the world.
- He explores issues like identity, sex, money, and conflict and said these virtual worlds change ideas about identity and society.
8
Q
What issues did Boellstorff highlight about Second Life?
A
- Actions taken place online were seen as crimes offline.
- Since 2007, police have been patrolling Second Life after a user reported being raped, and recent reports have revealed pornography and prostitution had been occurring.
- This raised questions about the moral regulation of online forms of communication and how the police/laws are a long way from being able to regulate/punish deviant behaviour.
9
Q
What does the digital revolution refer to?
A
The rapid advances in tech transforming lives.
10
Q
What is new media?
A
- The development of existing forms of media (newspapers now online, TV now cable/satellite, TV on demand)
- Brand new forms of media (laptops, phones, and tablets being used in various new ways like managing shopping, diets, relationships…)
11
Q
What does McLuhan mean by the world being a ‘global village’?
A
- Time and distance has shrunk, so the world is smaller. People can create/maintain social relationships with people.
- Relationships online may be just as important as relationships offline.
12
Q
How does social networking link to employment?
A
- Allows them to apply and find jobs
- Unless people have access to digital forms of communication, they are at a disadvantage.
- We are a ‘Networked global society’ meaning in the post-industrial society, the focus is on information as a result of new forms of communication.
- Those with access to digital info have greater access to employability and hierarchal status.
- Having connections leads to material rewards known as social capital.
