Blog 1
The internet has completely changed how we experience and share culture in everyday life. From social media to streaming and online communities, it’s easier than ever for people to express themselves and connect with others around the world. Things that used to stay local can now go viral in seconds, influencing trends, language, and even values. Because of this, the internet doesn’t just reflect culture anymore, it actively shapes it.
One clear way the internet has changed culture is by making it easier for global cultural exchange in ways that never existed before. On the internet, you have access to things like fashion, food recipes, and music from other cultures. This is very progressive for our society as we learn from each other and develop cultural competency skills through learning. Cultural practices that used to be strictly to a local community now mix with others and influence each other people across countries. Even values and morals start blending together, creating new cultural forms but also sometimes overshadowing traditional ones. (Alsaleh) This shows how the internet doesn’t just help us communicate. It actively reshapes how culture works by connecting people and ideas across the globe.
Social media platforms are controlled by big companies, and that control can shape what people see and think about the world. Because sites like Facebook and Instagram are run by private corporations, they decide what content gets shown, how information spreads, and how people learn about important social and cultural issues. This means online culture can be influenced by business decisions rather than by genuine public interest or truth. (Ashar) This is harmful to society as it can influence people's opinions as well as how individuals understand society at large instead of letting communities shape their own culture organically.
Works Cited
Alsaleh, Abdullah. “The Impact of Technological Advancement on Culture and Society.” Scientific Reports, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 Dec. 2024, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11685575/.
Ashar, Linda C. “Social Media Impact: How Social Media Sites Affect Society.” American Public University, 15 Jan. 2026, www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/business-and-management/resources/how-social-media-sites-affect-society/.
Hey Caitlyn,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and there were a lot of things that I agreed with , especially your point about the global exchanges we can access through this technology, an example of this even in my own life can be seen when I visit my cousins from different countries and they’re using the same slang that my little brother does, entirely picked up online. Another example of what I agreed with you on was your point on how the information we are consuming is being manipulated to fit the agendas we follow by people in power both in our governments, and the owners of these social media apps. I guarantee that our feeds are both far different, and likely are skewed to fit into our beliefs.