A Critical Look At Cyberspace

A Critical Look At Cyberspace

 

 

 

Cyberspace consists of digital multimedia and information sources that are today called "The Infamous Cloud."  When computer owners around the globe let the computer's Internet softwares seek for information, it is like an invisible cloud that starts raining information.  Cyberspace is such an advanced phenomenon that they used to call it "The Information Highway." 

 

Fast forward to the 2000's, our generation is more social and computer savvy.  Search Engines like Google, Bing and MSN allow computer users to seek out information including pictures and videos.  These search engines allow you to keep an email profile while searching the web for information.  During the beginning of the search engine era, Webcrawler was the most used.  Other search engines include: Yahoo, Northern Lights and Lycos.

 

Search Engines today are not just for research, but can be used for shopping online.  Sites like eBay are a platform for buying and selling items online.  A clone of eBay called Craigslist came shortly after and included interactive chat.  Websites like this are not always trustworthy because the item you're buying might not even compare to its photo or listing.  People edit a product's description to make someone want it more.  This concept has expanded from eBay to include websites just dedicated to one type of item.  Websites like Zappos, Shoe-Envy, CutesyGirl or ShoeShow, are all websites dedicated to buying shoes.

The Digital Divide

Countries like Europe and Africa suffer from the Digital Divide.  Many cultures around the world because of their norms do not allow Internet access.  This is broken down into three layers: the Global Divide, the social divide and the democratic divide.

Identity Crisis

Cyberspace is a land of identity opportunity.  Sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad.  Social websites like Twitter and Facebook are profile platforms that allow someone to explain who they are and chat with friends.  This allows people to portray or not portray their true self.  Many people have trouble separating their Internet self from their real self and this is an identity crisis.  Many who spend too much time online can take their Internet self and make it their real self.    Creating a fake profile of yourself can be damaging to others because they believe you and feel emotionally connected to the user's profile.

 When addicted to your cyberself one can loose touch with their realness, lending characteristics of the online with the human personality.  Acting a different race on a chat or having a fake profile showing that you are of that race or culture, can lead to you changing your social behavior in real social situations. Learning how to balance your cyberself, even if you are telling the truth, from your real self is a hard life skill that must be learned because cyberspace today is the main medium of communication.

The show on MTV called Catfish shows how fake profiles online can lead to real life indemnity crisis and emotional crisis for the friends.


Tell Me Your A.S.L Please!

These initials have become the common question that is asked first thing during a cyberspace interaction.  These initials stand for Age, Sex, and Location.  Someone asking this on a chatroom is intending your answer truthfully, but the digital culture and the Internet allow freedom of imagination.  The rest of the dialogue of a chat is based on how you answer these minor questions.  When asked about the weather where you live, you can be in any climate you want.  Being a good liar is a skill needed because follow up questions are based on what you say.  For example, if you say its snowing in Miami, you better know how to convince someone or answer truthfully.  A chat conversation is based on the connection between facts and knowledge of the subject.  If someone lies and the facts don't add up then everyone can tell you're a bad liar.  The fun thing about chatting is if you want to be an alien from Mars, you can be by saying something like  (Age 203, Female, Mars).

On some social groups online participants can create their life anyway they wish.  Examples of websites like this include Second Life and a computer game called SIMS.


Virtual Self

A video game is a digital story that incorporates a set of responsibilities to perform the chosen game.  The subject matter is endless and gives the gamer the opportunity to be whatever they want.  From platform games like Mario, to movie games like Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, gamers can be a character of choice.  Being a fighter, driver, super hero or even a dinosaur, lets gamers experience different roles.  Video games let someone have skills they don't have in real life.  These fantasy type worlds are like the cyberspace chats where you can be who you desire, but playing a video game too much can lead to social problems and real life emotional stress.