impact of digital forms of communication

Question 1

Goffman - Digital communication and identity

Answer 1

Discusses the ‘presentation of self’ – He was writing in an era before digital communication but described HOW people ‘perform’ in a way that ensures they present a ‘desirable image’ of themselves.

When in front stage we wear a ‘mask’ not becoming a different person but a version of that individual. He wrote that even telephone conversations are insufficiently rich and lack the visual cues present in physical interaction.

Virtual identities might be just as real to users as non virtual identities. An avatar can be seen as a ‘mask’ used by online users. He claimed that we create multiple roles and multiple identities in everyday life. Links to the internet - people re take, edit and filter photos to post on social media.

Question 2

Ellison - Digital communication and identity

Answer 2

Suggests that individuals can adopt multiple online personalities (different versions of self on different socials), and online activities often leave visible traces which can be captured, tracked, packaged and shared. These choices can tell us a lot about individuals and attitudes in wider society. These online identities can also sometimes impact on people’s offline lives in both negative and positive ways.

Question 3

Boyle - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on age

Answer 3

Argues that each successive generation sees a greater use of and reliance on digital communication. He argues that this has led to a digital generation divide between the old, who are less likely to use new technologies, and the young, who are proficient and reliant on it in their day to day lives.

Question 4

Garside - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on age

Answer 4

The introduction of broadband has created a generation of ‘digital natives’ - Leaving out the older generation and creating a young generation with poor social skills.

Question 5

Berry - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on age

Answer 5

Researched older users of the internet and found that when explaining their reasons for not accessing the internet most of the participants explained that this was due to their lack of skills and/or lack of interest in doing so.

Question 6

Postman - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on age

Answer 6

The internet leads to children and youths being exposed to adult content.

Question 7

Palmer - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on age

Answer 7

Toxic parenting argues that parents rely on technology to occupy their children. Children then feel isolated and can’t relate to others face to face.

Question 8

Garside - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 8

The introduction of broadband has created a generation of ‘digital natives’ - Beneficial to younger generation. Learn new skills/enhance learning.

Question 9

Boyle - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 9

Young people can communicate and enhance relationships with peers through digital communication.

Question 10

Shaw and Grant - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 10

Internet use was found to decrease loneliness and depression significantly, while perceived social support and self esteem increased significantly.

Question 11

The Ofcom Report - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 11

Age has a considerable effect on the way digital communication is used: 98% or UK 16-35 year olds online. 62% of UK adults have a smartphone, 83% of UK adults are online. More 65+ online, 42% in 2014, vs 33% in 2012.

Question 12

Berry - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 12

Although they state negative impacts - They do acknowledge that there are SOME websites for older people E.g. Finderday.com and SeniorMatch.com, even Facebook.

Question 13

Clarke and Warren - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on age

Answer 13

Active Ageing - Digital divide can help with this.

Question 14

Digital generational divide (Age)

Answer 14

Between the young and old, old are less likely to use new technologies, and the young, who are proficient and reliant on it in their daily lives.

Question 15

Mertens and D’Haenens - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on social class

Answer 15

Studied the digital divide in Brussels and found a clear link between class and internet usage. Found that the working and middle class used technology differently ‘Digital Underclass’. Lower classes use technology as a form of entertainment, whereas the middle classes used devices more to boost their knowledge and research.

Question 16

Helsper - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on social class

Answer 16

Children from poorer homes are becoming victims of a “digital divide” because their parents lack the skills to help them use the internet as effectively as their middle-class counterparts, says research.

Question 17

Boyle - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on social class

Answer 17

Media Convergence - (interlinking of social media profiles) have been adopted to promote Western, capitalist ideas such as the pursuit of profit, private ownership and material objects being presented as important - They are another way we are targeted and exploited! Disadvantages the working class and benefits the upper class.

Question 18

Digital underclass (Social class)

Answer 18

A group of people who tend to be from the lower social classes who are increasingly disadvantaged compared to those who have full access and use of the internet and other digital media.

Question 19

Li and Kirkup - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on gender

Answer 19

Significant differences in internet experiences, attitudes, usage and self-confidence between Chinese and British students. The most significant however was in relation to gender – Men in both countries were more likely than women to use e-mail and chat rooms. Men play more computer games than women. Men in both countries were also more self-confident about their computer skills than women and were more likely to express the opinion that using computers was a male activity and skill.

Question 20

Arlaccki - Digital communication and NEGATIVE effects on gender

Answer 20

Explains that Digital Communication can help to reproduce patriarchy through sex exploitation such as bride trafficking and sex tourism (where people visit parts of the world where sex can be bought with little risk of punishment).

Question 21

Haraway - Digital communication and POSITIVE effects on gender

Answer 21

Felt that women should be a part of the technological advances that were occurring rather than be reduced to the social construction of what a woman “should” be. Haraway discusses the image of a cyborgs (part-machine, part-human) and is interested in the way that technology can provide empowerment for women.

Question 22

Patriarchal ideologies (Gender)

Answer 22

A social structure and legitimating ideology in which men have more power and privilege than women. E.g Laura Bates - Sexual harassment.

Question 23

Gender socialisation / stereotyping (Gender)

Answer 23

Socialisation - Process of children learning about social expectations, attitudes and behaviours typically associated with boys and girls.

Stereotypes - Generalised view about attributes, or characteristics that are to be possessed by women and men and their roles.

Question 24

Internet World Statistics - Digital communication and locality

Answer 24

Percentage of Internet users 2020 - 
Africa - 47.1% lowest
Asia - 59.5%
North America - 90.3% highest
These groups (Africa and Asia) face a global digital divide and aren’t part of the networked global society. They can’t develop social networks by taking part in virtual communities such as second life (Boellstorff) and Cybercity (Carter).

Question 25

Lesaca - Digital communication and locality

Answer 25

By resisting cultural homogenisation, some social groups are continuing the global digital divide that exists.

Question 26

Global digital divide (locality)

Answer 26

Unequal access to information and communication technology based on social, economic, cultural and political factors.