Rather Than Being A Medium For Western Culture Alone, The Internet

Rather Than Being A Medium For Western Culture Alone, The Internet Rather Than Being A Medium For Western Culture Alone, The Internet Actually Helps Promote And â€" Essay Example > IntroductionThe internet is defined as a global structure of interconnected computer networks that apply the standard internet protocol suite to connect its users globally. The internet entails millions of public, private, business, academic and government networks. These networks are of both local and global span and are linked by a wide array of wireless, electronic and optical networking technologies (Schneider, Evans, Pinard, 2008, p. 2; Schniederjans, 1998, p. 65). Most traditional modes of communication including music, telephone, films, television and so on are redefined or reshaped by the internet. The redefinition of these classical modes of communication has culminated to new services like voice over internet protocol (VOIP) and so on. Additionally, books, newspapers, and other print publishing are gradually taking up web site technology. The internet has facilitated and amplified new forms of human interactions through internet forums, social networking and instant mes saging (Schneider, Evans Pinard, 2008, p. 2). This paper seeks to ascertain how the internet has helped to promote and strengthen communities of non western societies with regards to culture and business. Cultural impactWith regards to culture, the internet is deemed as a global phenomenon which in effect has given birth to what is referred to as a global net village. A typical example can be drawn from Taiwan which has the highest per capita internet consumption rate globally. Net users in Taiwan share many common trends with regards to cultural habits and language (Mai, 2001, p. 181). There are basically two areas where culture with regards to internet habitually manifests itself in Taiwan. First, the impact of internet on culture is evident in the globalisation of business culture. For instance, Taiwanese businessmen have portrayed same trends in terms of language, dressing, and viewpoints to those of businessmen in other countries (Mai, 2001, p. 181). All these are attributed to internet influence. The second area is on lifestyle. The internet has had a significant influence on the lifestyle of Taiwanese people in the sense that it has not only changed their way and pace of life. It has also changed the outlook of many towns. Consequently, this has led the Taiwanese to become an inseparable element of global consumer trend (Mai, 2001, p 181). Another example can be drawn from Africa where the internet has had a significant impact with regards to culture. According to a study carried out in West Africa, it was revealed that the internet has major influences on culture, both positive and negative. The internet has facilitated the shift from classical modes of communication like using the telephone to emails. It should be noted that in countries like Ghana, calls rarely get through, making people wait for long to get connected. With the advent of emails, all this has changed. The use of emails is not only far more effective compared to the use of phones, it is also a cheap means of communication (Bertagni et al, 2010, p. 402). The internet has also facilitated people in non-western nations, more so Africa, to understand other people’s way of life. In this regard, cultural diffusion can become a way of learning and deriving new experiences as well. For instance, Africans who go to live or study in other parts of the globe may learn about the cultures of these new societies within which they live through the internet (Indabawa Mpofu, 2006, p. 137). This in turn causes them adapt to these new cultures and reduce incidences of cultural shock encountered by most people.