The Internet induced modernisation of society has fostered the establishment and highlighted the importance of virtual and online communities. These virtual communities represent the shift in media audience and user trends, exemplifying Jenkins’ theory of migratory and active new consumers. It represents the virtualisation of society, whereby people utilise technological communication methods such as email to communicate in favour of traditional methods of face-to-face interaction. In many instances virtual communication has become the primary method of interaction between people. Virtual communities are essentially characterised by Web 2.0, hereby depending upon the interactions and exchanges on of online users through software such as Flickr, MySpace, Facebook and Del.icio.us.
Virtual communities give us the opportunity to rethink theories of communication. From which many theories of reasoning for online participation have been put forward including the following:
- The opportunity to form friendships and relationships that may be perceived to be more difficult to develop in the ‘off-line’ community
- The ability to play with new personas
- The capacity to circulate new ideas amongst a group of like minded people
- The chance to find people who share the same interests, however obscure or odd they appear to others
- The search for romantic or sexual relations
- The ability for those who feel marginalised or persecuted by society to express views and disseminate opinions, in ways that are not possible by mainstream outlets.
Quite significantly and as aforementioned, virtual communities host online environments for users who find themselves ostracized from mainstream society. Online communities provide an antidote for alienation and disenfranchisement. It has been argued that similarly like society, than when the industry fails users, they turn to each other for solutions. Where in the theory of a networked world, these online communities are knowledge communities where; online communities identify, debate and provide solutions for faulty, complex or restrictive technologies.
This is interactivity can be described as interlocution and interchange, where communities present publishing platforms for alienated ethnic, socio-political and subcultural groups. Therefore it can be seen that virtual communities facilitate social interaction between users regardless of geographical constraints, and allow for the culmination of ideas and opinions of multiple communities in an online environment. Hereby altering methods of human communication and interaction through the embodiment and celebration of technology.
References:
Baym, Nancy. (2002) cited in; Flew, Terry. (2004). Virtual Cultures in Flew, Terry, New Media: an introduction,
Flew, Terry. (2004). Virtual Cultures in Flew, Terry, New Media: an introduction,
Jenkins, Henry. (2004). The cultural logic of media convergence International Journal of Cultural Studies, 7 (1), 33-43.
Martin, Fiona. (2006) “New Media, New Audiences”, in S. Cunningham and G. Turner (eds) The Media and Communications in
Mitra (2001), Gross. (2003) & Williams cited in; Martin, Fiona. (2006) “New Media, New Audiences”, in S. Cunningham and G. Turner (eds) The Media and Communications in
Shenton & McNeely. (1997) cited in; Flew, Terry. (2004). Virtual Cultures in Flew, Terry, New Media: an introduction,
1 comment:
hi sophie
It is evident from this blog that you are committed to exploring the impact of 'virtual communities/cultures' on society. You have clearly related the blog to the unit's core themes such as communication, online communities and identity as well as the impact on society.
As a non media communication student I found this blog insightful and worth reading. I found the blog quick and easy to read from the lists provided. This blog is useful for the KCB201 network as it both explores the strengths, and advantages from the new lines of communications provided by web 2.0, as well the limitations and negative impacts it has on society.
You have clearly stated that virtual cultures are characterised by web 2.0 features, however it would of helpful if you listed these characteristics or provided a link to explain what web 2.0 is/or how it works. I recommend this site Trends in the living network . I feel that combined with these diagrams of the web 2.0 frame work, web 2.0 definitions and the web 2.0 landscape that your blog could act as not only as a platform of discussion but a source of information.
Although as a KCB201 student, you mention familiar terms and people, to users outside the unit, they may not be. I suggest for the blog to be more readable to the wider public, that you provide more links or definitions.
It is from providing familiar example of online social networking sites such as Myspace, that I personally connected with this blog.
Thank you for an interesting blog and I look forward to reading more.
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