Impacts of internet on Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Impacts of internet on Culture - Essay Example This is affirmed by Stroud (1998, p.1) who claims that the internet has revolutionized communication bridging the gap in global network and transforming the whole world into a tiny global village where information and ideas can be shared or transmitted simply by a click. This paper will focus on the potential impacts of internet on cultures and more specifically, on how internet has affected cultural identities since its inception up to date. Both the merits and demerits of the internet as a revolutionary phenomenon in the 21st century will be addressed in an evaluative fashion in order to give a clear explanation as to why the internet has affected cultures. The internet dates back in history many years ago at about 1969 when the World Wide Web was discovered (originally, the internet was developed from ARPNET); however, according Shield (2009, pp.5-6) the World Wide Web finally took shape in the 1990s and Internet Explorer was first released in the year 1995. The internet has becom e the norm of interactions and communications in today’s world; virtually everything can be done via the internet today, playing a key role in making the virtual world a reality. For instance, many people use the internet to check their emails, for social networking, doing online shopping among other things. The pervasive popularity of the internet in the global village has had profound impacts on cultures all over the world, both positive and negative. Nevertheless, the most obvious manner in which the internet has affected cultures is by revolutionizing communication; the internet provides a robust platform for information sharing and transfer that has totally enhanced connectivity and interaction between cultures of the world. Today, different cultures around the world can share and exchange ideas and information over the internet without the need of having to travel; thus, as stated by Voiskounsky (1998, p.100) connectivity and interactions, different cultures are integra ted as individuals borrow ideas from other cultures. Moreover, the internet is also a wealthy source of information about different cultures of the world and this information is easily accessible to internet users all over the world. For instance, the pervasive Hollywood lifestyles of the west have a global presence on the internet and remote cultures are always willing and ready to copy aspects of these cultures such as fashion and other trends. Moreover, the internet has also affected cultures by revolutionizing the manner in which business is conducted in the 21st century; nowadays, it is hardly possible to keep up with the mushrooming online activities. Online trading has suddenly become the norm in the business world and many cultures have already embraced the idea of online shopping and in this case the traditional retail store shopping is slowly being discarded in favor of the alluring convenience and efficacy of online shopping. The online shopping experience is usually cust omized to suit consumer specifications and cultural contexts around the world, besides that, it allows consumers to shop at their own convenience and to enjoy the best products and prices ever. As a result, many cultures are quickly adopting online trading platforms over the internet; since as stated by Yilmaz (2012, 226) the internet offers a platform for global shopping and product marketing. In addition, the internet has also transformed the entertainment culture all over the world; unlike in the past when TV and radio were predominantly the sources of entertainment in households, Emigh (2010) states that the internet