Blog Post 3: The Impact of Technology on the Way Humans Communicate.

Pre-digital age, individuals communicated with peers, family and colleagues by speaking directly to them, either on the phone or face-to face. They did not have the advanced technology of today and thus had to interact more closely with others. Information was unable to be readily accessed nor instantly publicised globally.

‘Beginning in the late 1970’s’ (Gasser & Palfrey, 2008) however, ‘the world began to change – and fast’ (Gasser & Palfrey, 2008). With the proliferation and advancement of ‘communications, media and digital technologies' (Brown, 2011) individuals are now able to ‘perpetually communicate and to immediately exchange’ (Festl & Quandt, 2016) information with others.  Events, information and knowledge that previously remained within a group of people or towns can now be spread globally through the use of smartphones and instant communication. The internet ‘increases the speed, reach and frequency of viral events; it enables a “many to many” communication flow where virtually anyone can republish the information’ (Panzic, 2015). This can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, individuals are able to access academic knowledge and world news, as well as communicate with individuals from other countries. On the other , this spread of information and communication technologies opens the door for cyberbullying - particularly ‘via popular social medial platforms such as Twitter and Facebook’ (Panzic, 2015).

There is ‘no common definition of cyberbullying and it takes many forms’ (Chadwick, 2014), however it can be argued that cyberbullying is the ‘electronic version of bullying. Usually social media is used to carry out this activity’ (Ince, 2013). Unfortunately, ‘the Internet provides greater opportunity for apparent anonymity’ (Panzic, 2015), encouraging individuals to ‘say or do things they never would in person’ (Panzic, 2015). Furthermore, as nearly everybody has a smartphone, ‘nearly everybody can be reached at any time’ (Festl & Quandt, 2016), making it almost impossible for victims to escape cyberbullying, and the extermination of cyberbullying a complex and difficult task.

References

Brown, T. (2011). Are you a digital native or a digital immigrant? Being client centred in the digital era. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(7), 313. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/ps/i.do?

Chadwick, S. (2014). Impact of Cyberbullying, Building Social and Emotional Resilience in Schools. Retrieved from https://link-springer-com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-04031-8_1

Festl, R., & Quandt, T. (2016). The Role of Online Communication in Long-Term Cyberbullying Involvement Among Girls and Boys. Journal of  Youth & Adolescence, 45 (9), 1931-1945. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/docview/1876552341?accountid=8194&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

Gasser, U., & Palfrey, J. (2008). Born digital : understanding the first generation of digital natives. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au

Ince, D. (2013). A Dictionary of the Internet (3rd ed.). Retrieved from http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/view/10.1093/acref/9780191744150.001.0001/acref-9780191744150-e-4467.

 Panzic, S. F. (2015). Legislating for e-manners: Deficiencies and unintended consequences of the harmful digital communications act. Te Mata Koi Auckland University Law Review, 21, 225-247. Retrieved from http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/fullText;dn=749422233954874;res=IELHSS