Virtual Communities and Social Networks

A subject which fascinates one is the extent of the prolific expansion in media and technology and its accumulating consumption. As a member of the electronic generation there has been an insight on the growing numbers of individuals becoming associated with technology. It is becoming increasingly more convenient to utilise the internet, which has developed with the convergence of social networks amongst various technologies. This is evident with the increasing numbers of technological devices which are facilitated with 3G and Wifi, allowing access to the internet wherever and whenever desired. Furthermore, 'iCloud' which is associated with 'Apple' devices, is another example of the increasing convenience of the internet. 'iCloud' enables one to connect all of their electronic devices: their laptop, computer, ipad, phone and ipod by sending downloaded applications and files across to their other devices. This makes devices more efficient as applications can be sent across all devices. With this convenience, people are becoming increasingly connected with the internet and social network sites, me being of them. Social networks can be argued to shape individuals’ daily routines, shocking, regarding that they are a moderately contemporary invention. Individuals are using sites to manufacture their own virtual lives in order to connect and establish acquaintances. For many, like me, these sites are persistently browsed upon on and altered numerous occasions throughout the day. Emphasising this, Ellison et al, 2007, highlight that ‘the typical user spends about 20 minutes a day on the site’ which is an absurd statistic as it highlights that it has been integrated into individual’s daily lives. This interinks with the works of Graham (1999, p 130) who suggests that there has been a 'decline in communal activities'. This suggests that people are choosing to stay at home and use their electronics, in comparison to socialising outside of the home. This statement relates to one, as the television or browsing the web sometimes dominates my decisions, however, the majority of the time socialising will be the case.

The video below, which can be established on ‘Youtube’, posted by the user xplanevisualthinking (2009), expresses this growth by highlighting interesting and intriguing facts of technology and the world.

A virtual life, although they provide the ability to communicate with other individuals, they can arguably be regarded as anti-social. This can be suggested as people become absorbed into their virtual lives, ignoring their present surrounding companions. As an alternative view, Ellison et al, (2007, p.29) highlight that social networks enable friends at a distance to connect, which in fact suggests that social networks are a way to become more sociable. This is a valid statement, which relates to me individually, as many friends have recently moved away to various parts of England to university, restricting communication. Social networks have enabled one to remain in contact with these companions. Additionally, social networks allow individuals to accumulate more friends with the provision of 'friend suggestions' and 'mutual friends'. Access onto another's profile is available at any time, enabling one to acquire information and remain contemporary with companions. This suggests that social networks facilitate one with information in order to remain social, as it maintains the connection between individuals and enhances discussion.

Although social networks are suitable for remaining sociable with distant relationships, there are restrictions which one may face, suggesting that social network sites are a substantial form of communication. Graham (1999) suggests that communication skills are limited whilst communicating virtually as he claims, 'Electronical communication is more limited than face-to-face contact'. He indicates that gestures, reactions and facial expressions cannot be perceived through virtual sources. This suggestion, however, can be flawed or outdated, because since 1999, there has been a development in social networks, such as ‘Windows Live Messenger’ and ‘Facebook’ which enable the use of web cameras and microphones, helping to overcome the reactions that may be perceived negatively without them. Paralleling with this, Graham (p141-150) highlights that the online world is 'colour' and 'gender blind' as the individual is intangible at the time of communication. Although the individuals remain intangible, social network sites require a picture which eliminates this barrier. Furthermore, some relationships strive on communication through the internet, and some relationships are even developed here, suggesting that virtual communication, in some cases, is fundamental. As you can overcome these highlighted restrictions, it can indicate that social network sites are just as sociable and reputable as reality.


Virtual communities, one believes, are more anti-social in comparison to comunication websites as individuals almost become transfixed in a fantasy world. The characters are manufactured with manufactured personas of who the controller desires to be. The websites, like 'Secondlife', are generated in a way that portrays reality, enforcing sanctions and consequences, such as imprisonment, etcetera.The reality based settings deters one away from actual reality, and although communication is possible, the dialogue is predominantly manufactured, in comparison to Facebook, where dialouge is based on real life events.

References

Ellison, N.B., Steinfild, C., & Lampe, C. (2007) 'The beefts of Facebook "friends:" Social capital and college students' use of online social network sites',
Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), article 1.
 http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue4/ellison.html

Graham, G. (1999) The Internet://A Philosophical Inquiry, London: Routeledge. [Chapter 7] p.130-150

xplanevisualthinking . (2009). Did You Know 4.0. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8. Last accessed 20th April 2012.