The New Communication Technology

The New Communication Technology

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The New Communication Technology

Introduction

Social communication network has served a great role of transforming how people interact and carry their daily activities. That is not only in the communities but also across the entire globe. Research claims that social networks enabled by new and emerging technologies have brought forth supportive channels, shrinking of time, increase in network diversity, freedom, greater political engagement, among other things. However, these claims have been criticized widely. It has been argued that new communication networks have resulted into loneliness, depression, since people who engage in internet social networking have little time for physical interaction. Furthermore, they rarely participate in community gathering. The current paper seeks to illustrate that social communication networks as a part of new communication technology is a contemporary issue across the world and ought to be scrutinized

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Transformation of Community over Time According to Wellman

The introduction of social network has significantly changed the globe. Rainie & Wellman (2005) pointed out that social network began during the time of Adam and Cain and has influenced how people relate to each other. Thus, the emergence of Facebook in 2004 came to supplement the existing social network. Recently, the community has become increasingly networked. The answer to this is attributed to the innovation in technology and other social changes that aim at fulfilling the desires of personal autonomy.

The communities have been globalized. It has been marked by the recent advancements. For instance, the group boundaries have been weakened, information is directly available, and the increase in maneuverable connectivity and this is moving towards networked individualism. The community has evolved in terms of social and economic networks due to the realization of network operating system. Rainie & Wellman (2005) indicated that automobile and airplane trips have been made possible. This is because social network covers an extensive range and is broadly affordable. In return, this has helped in the spreading of worldwide social networks.

Community transformation is evident in the way people send message and receive information. There is a more powerful system of sending information. Additionally, sophisticated and high technology devices such as computers have led to the growth and affordable telecommunication platform. The 1930 marked a significant breakthrough in communication in the United States. The telephone system was automated, and people could dial directly. In 2000, people adopted the broadband, and the landline system was less significant. The number of people using mobile phones in the 21st has increased. The developed of ICT has contributed towards mobilization of information. The community can access information through their phones. This has brought forth fast and efficient way of receiving and sending information.

The community has achieved an improved level of peace amongst the people (Rainie & Wellman, 2005). The countries that incorporated technology enjoy the peace while those that are reluctant are languishing in conflicts. The community has achieved development and improvement in trade. These have been availed through commercial and social interconnections (Burke, 2010).

There have emerged communities that have bounded and structured community by supplanting it with formal networks. Such informal networks include the religious practice and civic involvement. People are living independent lives the number of people who gather in church halls has reduced because such programs are hosted online and on TVs. This implies that most of the American populations are becoming unreligious though they claim to be Christians.

Cultural exchange through mass media firms is a remarkable transformation. Some fragmented cultures have been dispersed through various channels. Internet media and the TV have brought in new culture because some contents aired bring influence to the viewers and majority end up adopting the culture that makes them feel comfortable (L.S. Goulet, lecture, February 25, 2015). The work industry in the community has been revolutionized. It has become more flexible due to creativity. Thus, employees are more willing to comply with the flexible work sites and schedules.

Prejudices in the community have been wiped out. The current population has low levels of prejudices based on age, gender, religion, sex and ethnicity. For instance, in the 1967 in America, racial intermarriages were illegal (Rainie & Wellman, 2005). Currently, such rules do not apply. The community has marked a drastic drop of the benefits pension; on the contrary it has adopted the independent retirement accounts. People have been given full control over their wealth as opposed to the traditional way where the institution had the mandate over peoples wealth.

There is a little physical interaction between workmates, neighbors, and friends. People are lacking companion support and sense of belonging (Gordon & de Souza e Silva, 2005). There is also the weakening of the interpersonal community, disengaged neighborhood and declining of the public community. This is because of the reduced social contact, less frequent involvement within a local area and fewer public place gatherings.

Role of New Technologies in Supporting Todays Community Model

The idea of technology in todays model of the community has raised issues of concern. It is a contemporary and questionable issue. The authors point out that the Internet is weakening the community by dragging people away from a meaningful inter-person contact (Gordon & de Souza e Silva, 2005). The technology can be argued to be transforming the community by creating a new connection and taking into account the existing ones. High-speed internet access in conjunction with local online discussion groups helps to build a rigid neighboring. Technology has also facilitated and mobilized discussion on local issues. This implies that technology plays a significant role in supporting todays model of community.

The Internet technology cuts across the globe, and this has contributed towards fragmenting community into the new virtual realities where people interests are aired. The new technology has helped to come up with urbanization, industrialization, and avoid bureaucratization. This supports the wellbeing of the community since it acts such as bureaucratization can destroy the community. Additionally, technology has brought in social affordances for instance; it enhances social structure and social relations. Technology has enabled families to be the center of entertainment, receiving information, communication and not forgetting obtaining services and goods (Humphreys, 2005). It also works as a link between employment and workplaces. It brings out an idea of supporting a shift towards home centeredness.

The technology has repeatedly emphasized on the utility and democracy that are based on the values and interest shared by the community (Gordon & de Souza e Silva, 2005). It, therefore, affirms that technology has created a social environment. It is worth noting that technology has not transformed neither weakened the community, but it has strengthened the existing relationships. Most online contacts are friends, workmates, kins, and neighbors, who people have been in contact with prior to the introduction of the wired world (Humphreys, 2005).

Distance and Relationships in the Age of Social Media

According to the argument from these scholars, physical distance may seem to be reduced but the peoples using the Internet and Facebook rarely meet. It is clear from the article presented that technology has not reduced the distance is not dead, but consequently it affects people. With the age of social media more, time is spent on the internet. Subsequently, they leave little time for face-to-face contacts with friends and coworkers.

According to Humphreys (2005), internet damages social relations. Furthermore, face-to-face interaction is a vital element in a community. Most internet users have a little time of attending events, and they rarely spend time with families and friends. Therefore, these people use a lot of time on internet than they spent in contact with real human beings (Humphreys, 2005). Most social media users have little time for families, declined size of social circles, consequently, this increase loneliness and depression. It is, therefore, clear that social media is not here to kill the distance. However, it creates a distance of isolation and loneliness that continuously affects the involved individual.

Conclusion

From the discussion above, it is evident that social network have brought immense changes in the communities. It has changed how business activities were conducted; the system of sending and receiving information has been greatly revolutionized. Social interactions have led into the creation of an online social community where people interact through telecommunication devices. However, distance remains since the social contact of people have not been fully achieved. People interacting in social network platform rarely have a face-to- interaction. Such people suffer alienation. Therefore, social networks have not killed the distance.

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