Mark Zukerburg the man behind the Web 2.0 platform Facebook. Now I don't need to tell you what Facebook is (unless you have been living under a rock for the last 18 years) but I would like to explore some ideas around this online platform.
Mark Zukerburg makes a point that 'connectivity is a basic human right'. We are able to connect with other's face to face quite easily and I believe that most people around the world are able to stay connected through human interaction - this could be with your family, the people you live with, work colleagues or even people you see at the supermarket. However most of us nowadays connect through online platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Even some people's dating lives start online. I am guilty of interacting with my friends online more then I do in person which sounds so weird to actually say out loud? Am I lacking basic human interaction with my friends? Which leads me to the question - What if you don't have access to the internet?
I was staggered to read that only '2.7 billion people in the world today - a little more then one third of the worlds population - have internet access' This can be for a variety of different reasons like being too young, too old, too poor. Looking into this more most people don't have enough disposable income to spend on data access. As well as the global infrastructure required to deliver the internet is extremely expensive it includes the cost of the land and electricity to power cell sites, backhaul transport to carry data, licensing spectrum and all the underlying equipment. I question whether people in third world countries even know what facebook is? Which for us sounds crazy because so much of our lives revolve around web 2.0 platforms and the world wide web. It proves that 'participation is a function of our ability to actually participate' and that Hamiltons (2000) idea of 'making participation cheap, easy and quick people are more able to get involved in the processes of collaboration, sharing and interaction' isn't actually 'cheap' enough for some countries/people yet.
In 2018 I took on a 6 month dance contract in India. I have seen with my own eyes that the way they connect with each other is not through the likes of facebook. Although there is internet available to them only just over 50% of the population have access to this. The poverty here made me realise that something so small like a social media app has no impact on their life what so ever yet Instagram and Facebook have become a huge part of our lives. Some may say that our lives revolve around them.
So in short no, not everyone is open to connectivity through the internet. Only people with the means to participate in this online platform can. Not everyone is open to the same education through the internet. I think my career as a dancer would be non existent without these platforms. We all wouldn't be here at the moment without the internet. You wouldn't be reading my blog right now.
This is a topic I could speak about all day but I am going to leave you with this thought if you had no access to the internet and an audition was being held online do you think it is right that you will not be able to attend due to no fault of your own?
References:
I found watching the 'Social Network' on Netflix an interesting watch into why Mark Zuckerberg started up Facebook
Module 1 Handbook
Hamilton 2000
All information on the internet was taken from this statement from Mark Zuckerberg: https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2365-6/12057105_1001874746531417_622371037_n.pdf?_nc_cat=103&ccb=3&_nc_sid=ad8a9d&_nc_ohc=DGOrJ1T7r1MAX9yBum3&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=fa2642e50bfd6ca314fb398254132c94&oe=604F8E59
Photo taken from google images
This was a great read Abi!
ReplyDeleteReally got me thinking about my views on Web 2.0 and Social Media etc, I think that what you have said is so true that the way we are able to use the platform for our industry are incredible tools, especially over the last year! Allowing people to still take class and audition and keep the industry alive in some ways however I have all the same feelings about the negative impacts that especially social media has I found all the same feeling you have said you have. Its so interesting to hear about your experience in India I certainly think it is scary how much social media has begin to consume our lives !
I look forward to reading more of your blogs
H x
Hi Hannah,
DeleteThe internet is definitely keeping the industry going especially at the moment. This topic has so many avenues that you could talk about and go down I think I might do a part two of this and continue my thoughts as I am finding it so interesting.
Hope you are doing okay
Ab x
Hi Abigail!
ReplyDeleteAfter researching Web 2.0 all day and being sat with my own thoughts its been SO NICE to read your thoughts on this. I really liked your reflection on your time in India and the way you engaged in the point that despite 50% having limited access to the internet, their life is still wholesome in comparison other places where, like you said, many peoples lives revolve around Web 2.0.
I can totally relate to your negative points on social media, the comparing! The questions you posed regarding the similarities between being aware of your social media following and who comments on your blogs- relatable! I think we are so used to seeing who's following us we are bringing this to our blogging and ultimately doubting our knowledge for not getting any recognition?
Enjoy your day. I'll be looking out for your next blog.
Ellie x
Hey,
DeleteI think Web 2.0 is such an amazing place and can be so fulfilling within our industry but like you say we are constantly looking for validation. Maybe this course will allow us to explore ourselves more and realise that we are enough!
Thanks Ellie, speak soon.
Abi x
Hi Abi, I loved reading your post. It brought flashbacks of how many times I Googled 'ghetto-fab' and 'urban-chic' in third year lol. But even since we have graduated the use of technology has grown tremendously within the arts. I often think of those who don't have access to internet or own a mobile/laptop, or how the arts industry would have coped without Web 2.0 during these times. I also think about the children who aspire to be dancer and can't access online application forms and dance classes. There are many benefits, but also many negatives. It is such an interesting topic! x
ReplyDeleteThat is a great comparison Alice! I too spent hours trying to find out what that word even meant and the stylisation behind it.
DeleteIt is crazy to think that we wouldn't be writing online to each other now with no internet access. My life would have been completely different. I wonder what I would have been doing?! Crazy. X
Hello, This is a really great blog and got me thinking instantly. It is really interesting to think as artists where we would be without the internet and the ability to share and connect. It does make me wonder about those without internet access. Maybe their ideas and creations are more unique as they have nothing to copy, relate their work to or go off. I've been guilty for watching choreography and years later doing a move thinking it was my own to only realise that I'd essentially copied it from someone else without realising.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many interesting things that you've brought up and I could discuss it for hours but I really agree with everything you're saying. The internet is amazing and fundamental to our craft but can lead to so much self doubt and criticism. Really looking forward to reading more of your blogs! x
Hi Niamh,
DeleteThis is a great thought regarding choreography. We are so used to watching videos online and sub consciously picking up the movements and using them! Like you say we potentially could have something really unique if we didn't have internet access. But I guess we will never know?! Its such an amazing topic that has so many different avenues.
Hope you are finding the course okay so far, look forward to connecting some more soon.
Abi x
Hi Abi,
ReplyDeleteLoved your blog, so many interesting topics, got my brain ticking over. I think it’s a really staggering to actually think about what a privilege it is to have access the internet and platforms such as Web 2.0. I agree that without it our industry wouldn’t be where it is today with out it. In almost all the Q and A’s I have been in recently with other professionals they can’t stress the importance of our use of social media and to represent ourselves as a professional business. Connection via these different platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allows such easy access to different networks and opportunities but like you say the platforms come with their negatives. I totally relate with comparing myself to others on socials and it’s a habit I am really trying to brake and try to use Instagram for example as a business platform and think about it more constructively, thinking more about inspiration than comparison.
How much dose our lives revolve around social connection via Web 2.0? how much of an advantage does that give us for our industry? These are my two main thoughts from you blog but it is an endless topic with many sides.
Thanks for sharing your ideas on human interaction it was a very interesting read!
Sophie x
Hi Sophie,
ReplyDeleteIt is SUCH a privilege isn't it! Yes there is so much you can achieve in our profession as performers through the internet. I love that you are changing your views and trying to see it is an inspiration! After reading another module 1's blog on this I think I am going to have a 'clear out' on my instagram and fill it with influential people to my craft.
Thank you for your comment,
Abi x