MANAGING ACROSS CULTURES
How can the internet affect a country’s culture?
The Internet today is a continuously evolving media that allows individuals to express themselves on a global public forum. However despite all of its positive characteristics, the Internet can accommodate and foster a host of negative ideas and behaviours. No longer is it necessary for teachers to have face to face contact with their students, this can now be replaced by a live feed from miles away facilitated by the internet. Libraries have had to adjust their focus, shifting from paperback versions to internet-aided resources.
One of the most detracting characteristics of the internet is the extent to which it promotes the whole issue of freedom of speech. While our country may enact legislation to govern expression, a critical question arises – how can they control and enforce media that is coming in from all over the globe? Anyone can create a web site, and thereby express their views. As such there are web sites that focus on hatred, violence, and stimuli to crime. Global access to such material only adds to the challenges associated with creating a positive environment in today’s society.
Couples dating, leading up to courtship and eventual marriage has been a cultural feature of society for ages. However it has become commonplace to form such unions online and Relationships are brought about by the use of chat rooms and emails. While such relationships can turn out to be positive, many negative associations can also develop as well. It has always been argued that distance does not matter with relationships; however in the traditional sense this period of distance was usually preceded by quality time shared by these individuals. Given that a person cannot see with who he/she is talking to on the Internet, race in some cases is not even an issue. One of the concerns is that there is no guarantee that friends secured in this manner will be sound and positive influences on one’s life. Negative ideas and beliefs can be as easily conferred through a relationship over the Internet as through personal contact. Perverts, racists, and other person with negative influence could befriend others on the Internet. Imagine vulnerable children who are eager to learn and explore the world. Such harmful pressures bring about thoughts and even gestures that give impressions of disgust, deviances, or other harmful thoughts or gestures which can influence minds easily.
Pornography it would seem has found a sanctuary on the Internet and has played a major role in the ongoing decay of moral standards in society and death of cultural practices. Pornographic material, such as film and photographs can easily be accessed by all individuals so desirous, including children. Traditionally, parents would have put measures in place to ensure that their young ones were not exposed to such material to the extent of hiding videos and other such media or blocking channels on television. However with the advent of the internet, this element of our culture can easily slip out the door given the ease with which pornographic material can be accessed online.
The Internet has been known to serve as a catalyst for violent and negative behaviour. Additionally, sexual advance has increased since the introduction of the internet. This increase has notably contributed to the number of younger users.
In conclusion it can be stated that the Internet does indeed provide information; however, much of this information can be used to propel negative behaviour. In the same manner that criminals can access negative information on the Web, so too can all other adults and children in this ever-changing, complex society.