I found the readings in Girls Wide Web 2.0 to be the most interesting of all the readings from this assignment. "The implications of sharing information, images, and other representations of self on Facebook, IM, and other social/ communication mediums in varied contexts (U.S vs. Arab vs. Korea)" was very informational and fascinating. I realize that other cultures use technology in different ways but it really opens one’s mind when finding out how and why they use similar technology for specifically and how. Most girls from Arab lands that were interviewed stated that the most important thing to them when it comes to social network sites is their reputation and what other’s take from their information and profiles. It was interesting that the interviewer could group the responses reasonably within four subgroups, and the reasoning’s even more attention grabbing. Compared to American girls some Arab girls use a handful of techniques to express themselves on facebook without affecting their cultural beliefs. Some approaches included taking pictures of different angles of the body without exposing their face or using an advertisement picture that makes sense to her and her closest friends. It seems the Arab girls express themselves more through their creative ways then any face shots traditional facebook users do. People in America don’t generally seem fazed by reputation in most cases but young girls in Arab cultures must associate with only certain individuals’ offline and online or else this information can spread and ruin a girl and her family’s status. I find that it is also quite inventive to also use some kind of code message such as one Arab girl’s idea of using the word of lipstick as her status translating only to her close friends that it means party. They represent and articulate themselves in creative ways without even knowing as I saw when reading the book.
As for young Korean girls their top social network site is one meant only for them, Cyworld. It’s funny how they say facebook is boring, but I definitely believe it’s a matter of opinion. Cyworld reflects all things Korean young female, while facebook reveals the identity when first created young college Americans, who connected within the network, but eventually grew very big and expanded out of the coutry while losing its individuality. Either way it is quite clear that most social network sites are known for expressionism whether its imaginary or real, young girls are finding their selves in the digital world.
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Girl Wide Web 2.0 is interesting indeed. It is a wonderful thing to learn that Arab girls are able to find a way to communicate with their peers in ways that do not disrupt their culture and customs. It is comforting to know that there is no digital divide between the genders in the Arab world.
ReplyDeletePeople all over the world can derive great joy by engaging in information technology and exchange communication, and Arab girls should not be the exception. Korean girls in America are willing to assimilate but not at the expense of their culture. The idea behind Korean girls setting up Cy hompis on the internet so that they can reconnect to their roots, is a testament to the fact they do not want to lose their Korean identity.
The internet, information technology, face book etc, serve to give people an opportunity to express themselves in a way that they could have never done before.