The most popular way of online interaction now is through social networks. It's all is very popular at the moment as it allows you to communicate with new people and individuals that live in different countries. Instant messaging services are becoming less popular due to the ability to talk on Facebook and Twitter, making communication over those sites a very quick experience. On there huge communities build up by people getting to know others because of things such as similar interests and mutual friends. For example, every Facebook user is asked what interests them. If they share this information and someone else sees it they may friend them. Friending someone on Facebook or following someone on Twitter is so easy and become such a common thing to do.
The real problem is that many get talking to people they don't know. It's to easy to create a fake account and pretend to be someone else. When you become friends with someone online it may not even be the person you expect. This can lead to exchanging bank details and finding out others address's. In worse cases, things like kidnapping can occur.
Another way virtual communities talk online is by commenting on blogs. One person will post about a subject and leave any other web user with the ability to feedback. Interesting discussions arise and provides information for either those participating or anyone who finds the blog. The problem with commenting on anything online is that it commonly leads to disputes, people choose to be more offensive being as no physical harm will come to them.
Groups of online gamers may talk over specific gamer I.M services such as Xbox Live. This is popular because of the common interest all participants have.
For me the biggest issue with virtual communities is that people may pretend to be someone they're not. It's a big problem for all internet users but particularly for children. Also people like the IRA, the Mafia and Al-Qaeda can talk with each other which may lead to events of mass death and destruction. But there are benefits of virtual communities as it leads to interesting discussions and a more exiting way of exchanging information. Are these communities negative overall? What do you think?
I agree that virtual communities are a great use of the internet, and that having these communities is a great form of communication. I do think however there is some negative factors surrounding these communities such as cyber bullying.
ReplyDeleteI believe that virtual communities are an important part to socialising in modern day society as most people have began to use the internet to communicate and to meet new people that they wouldn't have met in normal circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have said here, I think its very convenient as you can talk to a group of friends and let them know what you want to tell them all at the same time via group chat.
ReplyDeleteThere are many benefits of these online communities Ryan and Jacob. It's a very effective way of communication and means that people can stay in touch. It could lead to making people unsociable and like you say Joanna, it can cause cyber bullying.
ReplyDeleteThere are many benefits of these online communities Ryan and Jacob. It's a very effective way of communication and means that people can stay in touch. It could lead to making people unsociable and like you say Joanna, it can cause cyber bullying.
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