What are the possibilities of and obstacles to the development of global online communication?

Global Media, Global Culture

This paper shall analyse the importance of globalisation in this day and age, and the relevance that it has in accordance to the development of global online communication. Anthony Giddens argues that globalisation is, “The intensification of world wide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa” (1990). This quotation highlights the relevance and importance that globalisation has on its society today, and the ever-changing world of technology that is affecting every person in every corner of the globe. In order to understand and discuss the possibilities and obstacles of the development of global online communication, it is firstly imperative to understand what globalisation is, and why it affects the public sphere in the way that it does. This paper shall firstly discuss what globalisation is, and then relate this definition back to global online communication. It shall then go on to examine the possibilities and obstacles that may come about through the development of online communication, discussing issues such as the modernisation of technology, corporate businesses, the issue of online communication in the Third world and the issue of policing the Internet.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the derivative ‘globalisation’, taken from the word, ‘global’, refers to, “Relating to the whole world…Or embracing the whole of something, or of a group of things”. Although this definition does not necessarily relate immediately back to the issue of online communication, it is by examining further definitions of globalisation, that one is able to refer ‘global’ issues back to topics regarding the expansion of online communication.

Stuart Hall and Tony McGrew argue in their book, ‘Modernity and its Futures’, that “The extension of globalising processes, operating through a variety of institutional dimensions (technological, organisational etc)…creates new forms and limits within ‘modernity’ as a distinctive form of life” (page 4). They go on discuss, that this ‘modernity’ and globalisation, has resulted in “Very contradictory social experiences”. They claim that the expansion of electronic media has in a way left communications between cultures somewhat ‘rendered’.

The issue of communication in this day and age is huge. It is seen and heard on a daily basis, not only through the interaction of humans, but also globally, over large-scale distances. Individuals are able to communicate and interact with each other, regardless of where they are in the world. According to J.B Thompson (1995), “Distance has been eclipsed by proliferating networks of electronic communication” (page 149, ‘The Media and Modernity’). This quotation states that electronic communication is such a major part of today’s society, that distance is no longer an issue. This transformation of the modern world is referred to as ‘globalisation’. Although this definition is somewhat vague, other theorists such as Jan Aart Scholte have argued that there are five common usages for the term globalisation. Scholte (2000), claims that the five definitions are:

Globalisation as internationalisation
Globalisation as liberalisation
Globalisation as universalisation
Globalisation as westernisation/modernisation
Globalisation as deterritoralisation

Although all these definitions are related back to the issue of globalisation in some way, it is the ‘Globalisation of universalisation’ that is predominantly concerned with global online communication. It is perceived as being the spread of various objects and experiences worldwide, to people in all corners of the globe. Online communication is a key example of this, as it shows how the introduction of the Internet, has globally effected how and why people consume this method of mass communication.

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Globalisation as internationalisation
Globalisation as liberalisation
Globalisation as universalisation
Globalisation as westernisation/modernisation
Globalisation as deterritoralisation

Gordon Graham (1999), argues in his book, ‘The Internet’, that, “The scale and speed at which the interconnected forms of electronic communication…have entered ordinary life…is very striking”. He goes on to argue that despite its popularity and its global phenomena across all corners of the globe, it is still difficult to determine the impact it has had on people and their lives. In order to develop this already ‘new’, world of information technology, both the ‘possibilities’ and ‘obstacles’ of developing such an already worldwide occurrence must be analysed. This paper shall now go on to discuss the possibilities and obstacles of developing global online communication in today’s society.

Online communication is an ever-changing part of today’s culture, it is a form of technology that has developed so fast, that it is difficult to review the impact it has had on people; socially, economically and technically, yet, many argue that there is still room for development.

One of the main possibilities for an area of development is through corporate businesses, i.e. business networking, and expanding businesses online. This is developing the world of global online communication, due to businesses recognising the fact that they are able to improve productivity for example, and reduce costs via the net. In today’s world, not only can you ‘surf the net’ for information, but you can buy and sell anything from books, to babies! Stocks are also being bought and sold online, and services such as the distribution of music and film is also ever expanding. Graham argues, “Every conceivable type of interest and activity can now be found to have an Internet group. These serve anything from the most advanced scientific research to the most trivial of hobbies” (page 23, ‘The Internet’).

In a way, this level of service that is available to consumers via the Internet is both convenient and cheaper. People are able to shop online, and with companies such as Tesco also offering free home delivery; grocery shopping can be done in the comfort of your own home, at the click of a button.

A second key possibility to the development of global online communication is the development of new technologies.

James Curran and Jean Seaton argue in their book, ‘Power without Responsibility’, that “There are ways of coming to terms with, and mastering, a series of undoubtedly dazzling new technological opportunities that may alter our very ideas about wants, needs, choices and social arrangement” (page 241). This quotation sums up the argument very well, in that it is arguing that the these ‘new technologies’ have such a profound effect on the way that people live, therefore affecting the way that they behave, and the choices that are made socially.

In the last decade, not only has the introduction of the World Wide Web had a major impact on the way that people live and communicate, but other limitless ways of communicating have also had a major impact, such as interactive machines. The “capability to use information was influenced by other technologies” according to Curran and Seaton, and the “information was manipulated…for different purposes” (page 241).

The growth of the Internet is volatile, and will continue to be so, especially through these developments of new technology. Online communication enables us to access a world of ‘virtual reality’, through telecommunication, television, and computer. Yet, these developments are still expanding by the spread of computers, into the home, workplace, and even public life.

These developments of new technologies according to J.B Thompson include the operation of more extensive cable systems, the increasing use of satellite systems for long distance communication, and most importantly, the digitalisation of information, combined with the development of electronic technologies. It can be argued, that through these expansions of such developing new technologies, it is gradually creating a ‘convergence of information’, so that online communication can be developed further, therefore allowing communication between different medias to be even easier and more accessible than it already is.

Anthony Giddens’ quotation regarding the development of technologies in relation to online communication emphasises further the importance and relevance of new technologies, he argues, “That through the new technologies of computer and satellite, through the new media a new world will be made” (page 240, ‘Power without Responsibility’).

One of the main obstacles in regards to the development of global online communication is the expansion of the Internet to the developing Third world countries. Many theorists argue that by intensifying the use of global online communication in Third world countries, it would help bridge the gap between the ‘rich’ north, and the ‘poor’ south. Many international institutions such as World Bank, UNESCO and USAID, are trying to persuade the decision makers of the Third world, to invest in new media for developing countries, therefore inevitably helping the lives of people who live there.

Many also argue that the Internet is becoming a crucial form of communication infrastructure for tourism development. This therefore relates back heavily to the issue of Third world countries. Due to tourism representing an important means with which to promote socio-economic development, bringing about possibilities such as the introduction of online global communication would be a major opportunity for developing countries. The main problem that would occur in relation to this would be the issue of money. For developing countries that may have no direct access to the Internet, global online communication would be relatively expensive. The cost of a computer and modem would be exceptionally high, and monthly fees would be commonly unreachable for people living in developing countries.

This pie chart below shows the distribution of Internet users in the world in 1996; as can be seen, the majority is held by the US, which shows the immense amount of power, money and status they have compared to the rest of the world, especially developing countries (Taken from www.uni-muenster.de).

Other obstacles that affect the development of global online communication include the issues of policing the Internet.

Although the impact of global online communication has been huge, issues such as paedophilia, pornography, and ‘harmful’ websites have all been of major concern in recent years. Gordon Graham states, “The Internet is a medium for two sorts of material about which society has reason to be especially concerned-the harmful and the pornographic” (page 103, ‘The Internet’). Policing the Internet is something that must be taken seriously, especially when children are concerned. There have been many recent issues in the press, in which young children have been abducted, due to incidents of paedophilia, through the abuse of chat rooms and online ‘communities’. Although the globalisation of online communication is an immense development in this day and age, in order for it to develop further, it means tracking down on serious matters such as harmful material and pornography.

Policing the Internet usually means the regulation of some sort of law, according to Graham, “If an offence cannot be specified and defined precisely, the law regulating it is difficult apply and by the same token relatively easy to evade” (page 104). The issue of harmful material and pornography on the Internet has always been a major issue to affect all people of all age groups, men and women, and it will continue to do so in the future, regardless of any further developments to global online communication. Therefore it is essential that in order for global communication to expand to its full potential, the introduction of some sort of law must be incorporated.

Although pornography is one of the main obstacles of development of global online communication, other issues, such as harmful material that is mentioned above is also important to discuss. There are many websites that are wholly devoted to providing information on how to make simple explosives, construct timing devices, and even information on how to obtain nuclear devices. All this material is easily accessible to children, and therefore must be law regulated in some way. Although at the moment there is no initial law that can stop information such as this reaching the homes of innocent people, it can be argued whether it is possible to control what is put on the Internet. The answers to this are obstacles in themselves. The technology and devices that would be needed to stop information such as this getting on the Internet would be expensive and policing what is seen online may prove to be politically impossible, due to “not passing laws that would license its employment” (Graham, 1999).

In conclusion to this paper, it is fair to say that although there are many issues that may affect the development of global online communication, the possibilities of expansion are very high. As discussed, corporate businesses are using the world of online communication even more as time goes on, and this is expanding quickly and effectively. Though there may be certain obstacles such as harmful material and pornography that affects the way in which people consume the world of mass communication, this may be over-ridden through the introduction of law regulations. As mentioned above, technology may be expensive to regulate what people are constantly doing online, but through introducing some sort of license policy, the policing of the Internet may one day be possible.

Gordon Graham states, “With a transforming technology we can do more than previously…and with this increase in power, comes an increase in choice” (page 37, ‘The Internet’). This quotation sums up this essay very well. It states that through the introduction of new technologies the public sphere now has an even wider choice of what they control and what they don’t. Through ‘transforming technology’, the public are able to communicate globally, online, no matter where they are in the world. In this world of globalisation and ever-growing technological change, it is clearly evident that the importance of global online communication is more significant as time goes on, therefore through identifying the possibilities and overcoming the obstacles, the concept of developing this world of global online communication is not only fascinating, but a necessity in this day and age.

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