Online Communities; Advantages and Disadvantages
The advent of the Internet has allowed us the advantage of doing practically anything on-line. For example, we can shop, do research, browse for entertainment and communicate. We do all of this without leaving the comfort of our homes. One of the most popular on-line activities is chat. One can talk to others thru on-line message boards, e-mail and instant messenger services. On-line chat, especially thru specific groups, creates Internet communities. As Neil Postman states, “All technological change is a Faustian Bargain. For every advantage a new technology offers, there is always a corresponding disadvantage” (289). On-line communities offer many advantages which I feel outweigh any disadvantages. A community is composed of a group of people that share similar interests. This holds true for both on and off-line communities. Although I haven’t participated in any chat groups or instant messenger services, my other half, Dave, participates in them on a regular basis. An avid music fan, Dave uses them to keep up to date and talk about some of his favorite musicians and bands. He’s able to get information which is important to him that he may have missed and meet new people. The only thing that he considers to be a disad
community as a complement and not in replace of their off-line communications (Haase, Hampton, Wellman, Witte). Many scholars insist that on-line groups are “genuine communities . . . and thus valid substitutes for the local communities now in decline (Song 1). In 2001, UCLA did an Internet survey by anonymously interviewing households via phone (Klein 1,2). The study’s lead investigator insisted that people “are not becoming more anti-social” and in fact “Internet users spend more time with their families than non-users” (3). Also, based on results National On-line communication thru chat, e-mail or instant messenger services gives you the advantage of being able to meet with many people from all over the world. Getting to know others thru a common bond on-line enables one to get to know people that could possibly become closer on-line or even off-line friends. You may even meet your future husband or wife in an on-line community. You can talk to family members and friends who live far away without having to worry about expensive phone bills. If you are not comfortable in an off-line community because of a disability, a social stigma, etc. . . ,you can find an accepting community on-line. Lastly, by collaborating with off-line contacts on-line, you will increase your overall community with them. In conclusion, I feel that these advantages outweigh any disadvantages. “security of anonymity” on-line, they can “ac
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Approximate Word count = 977
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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