Social Media and Cultural Globalization
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Social Media and Its Impact on The Globalization of Culture.
Introduction
Cultural globalization refers to the worldwide sharing of values and ideas in a bid to increase social relations (Lewellen, 2002). The main theme of this report is to highlight the impact of social media, as a new technology, on the globalization of culture. Social media is an integral part of everyday living since its start back in 2004.
Social Media
In a world of ubiquitous computing, from our hand-held devices to the GPS in our cars, computers are everywhere. The web-based technologies that are social media, allow us to turn the world into a global village, sharing information instantly through these very devices. This simply means that anything that trends on social media spreads across the world (Magu, 2015).
Effects of Social Media on global culture
Social media is changing the world through adaptation and assimilation of culture allowing it to be practiced on a global scale by everyone (Chen, 1998). Sharing information instantaneously allows social media an advantage of the more traditional forms of media like the television and print media, therefore replacing most of the reliable news sources we were accustomed to. People then share their lives with the world through pictures, videos and even stories that they share online and they immediately reach an audience of millions (Croucher, 2011).
Benefits of social media on the global culture
The interconnectivity of the world forces us to become more tolerant of other people’s culture as is the need to have them tolerant of our own ways of life. This has consequently brought the world closer, in terms of helping to solve problems like race and feminism, eradicating them by giving everyone an equal position on social media (Wankel & Wankel, 2011). This galvanises the world moving forward.
Conclusion
Ubiquitous computing has made social media an integral part of today’s lives (Magu, 2015). The instantaneous sharing of our experiences with the world has given everyone a voice that can be heard worldwide (Wankel & Wankel, 2011). This has brought the world together making social media a positive impact on the globalization of culture.
References
Chen, G. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Croucher, S. (2011). Social Networking and Cultural Adaptation: A Theoretical Model. Journal Of International And Intercultural Communication, 4(4), 259-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2011.598046
Lewellen, T. (2002). The anthropology of globalization (1st ed.). Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey.
Magu, S. (2015). Reconceptualizing Cultural Globalization: Connecting the “Cultural Global” and the “Cultural Local”. Social Sciences, 4(3), 630-645. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci4030630
Wankel, L. & Wankel, C. (2011). Higher Education Administration with Social Media (1st ed.). Bradford: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
