Lesson 5

Light Side
of the Internet
Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relationship between the internet and interpersonal communication;

The Internet and Interpersonal Communication

What is Interpersonal Communication?

It is a type of communication that takes place between or among two or more people. It includes conveying
thoughts, ideas and emotions through by-passing messages either verbal or non-verbal. This type of
communication is not just about putting words and speaking it rather it requires the proper facial expressions
and other elements such as gestures and body language that adds up to the expression of messages.

Elements of Interpersonal Communication

The element that composes the interpersonal communication is represented by the diagram shown.

This includes two or more people communicating with each other. The sender is responsible in sending the
message which is considered the source while the receiver is the individual who decodes the message that
has been sent.
The Message

These are conveyed thoughts and even emotions expressed in different ways like gestures and expressions
of the face. Particularly, this is the, main content of the communication enabling the two or more parties to
get involved and share , something with each other.

Barriers (Noise)

These are the factors which can be internal or external that hinder the ' transmission of the message from
the sender and the receiver. These can result to ineffective communication causing problems in conveying
the right message.

Feedback (Response)

A feedback is an element of communication which entails the response of the receiver towards the message
conveyed by the sender. It shows the understanding of the receiver to the message he decoded or processed.

Context

It is the type of environment where the communicators are in while communicating with each other. The
setting or the mood of the place can affect the way of communication and every communicator should
consider this in any way possible.

Channel

This pertains to the physical object used in conveying the messages. Channels may differ from forms
considering that there are different types of communication. For example, in a call which involves two
persons, the communication takes place with the use of phone which limits the channel to the speech alone.

How do Internet influence our way of Communication?

Internet has been part of our daily lives. As it is the group of interrelated networks, people find it easier and
convenient to share contents with peers and other people inside or outside of their boundaries. Today, we
are very fond of using social media Such as Facebook, Twitter, and even Emails which we are being used in
different fields such as in work and in business.

In this, we can clearly see the influence of internet in our daily lives particularly in communication which is
very vital in a community. With the help of internet and innovations integrated with technology, people have
a greater ability of being connected with other people regardless of time and distance.
Six Differences of Internet over Interpersonal Communication

1. The information provided in the internet.is more of a written than to an interpersonal

2. Communication over tile internet is considered undirected since there are lapses in transferring
the data or the message. This can result to loads of information that can mislead the communicators
about the topic or the action to be taken unlike to a face-to-face communication that is more directive
and the speakers can always take a pause or review the information given whenever needed.

3. Messages in Internet are often anonymous as it covers a wide range of platform resulting to a
more diverse type of people involved in the conversation while in an interpersonal communication,
the communicators are personally talking to each other giving each other the chance to observe other
expressions aside from how the speaker speaks.
4. Since internet is composed of interconnected networks, it captures wide range of audience over
the interpersonal type of communication that may vary from its scope.
5. Communication over the internet reduced social presence since it takes place in a virtual world,
the personal communication itself takes advantage in creating a stronger relationship among the
communicators.

6. Convenience in terms of time is more useful when it conies in using the internet compared to a
personal conversation that needs consideration to other factors including the place and proper timing
to be able to reach the goal of sending the right information to the receiver and vice versa.

Networking and Community

What is a Network?

Network is described as the group of devices that has the capability to connect with each other and be able
to send information. Such devices include smart phones, laptops and even computers which are using
different systems of connections to share data and information.

Community: In the World of Technology '

Network of community are series of computer system which purpose is to give assistance to communities
and often provide services, particularly for those communities that are sharing the same goal and belief.
Community Technology Centers (CTC)

These are types of facility headed by different organizations such as the non-profit organizations with the
strong assistance from the local and national government. Private individuals, organizations and businesses
are also participating in the establishment of these facilities. This aims to help people without the capability
to have access and cannot afford to have a computer or a technology device.

Goals of Network Community

1. Provide easy access information through the help of functioning networks orresources

2. Give a trusted platform which can be used by the community in discouraging digital divide

3. Promote a developed community through different technology engagements

Social Capital

Social Capital in the field of Technology

Social Capital are the factors that are present in a community or society. It is also the network of values that
focuses on maintaining a social relation which can lead to reaching the organizations goal. Social Capital-
requires participation and coordination with every member of the team to be able to come up with an output.

A social group is a unit of people associated with each other dud to their shared belief, characteristics, and
principles.

One Side of Social Capital: Variety Based on Direct Approach

Bonds

This is the link between people sharing the same culture and ethnicity. Most common example is loved ones
and friends.

Bridges

This category is focusing on a more varied relationship compared to bonds which is beyond its scope.

Example: Associates
Linkages

Related to people that are considered in the higher level or the lower level of the hierarchical structure of a
society.

The Link between Internet and Social Capital

Representation of social capital's relation to the Facebook user's privacy

In the research entitled "Is There Social Capital in a Social Network Site?: Facebook Use and College
Students' Life Satisfaction, Trust, and Participation" authored by the Kerk F. Kee; Namsu Park, and Sebastian
Valenzuela, the measurements of life satisfaction, social trust, civic and political participation and the
intensity of Facebook use are the main factors used in determining the effectivity of social media sites like
Facebook in building social capital.

In the said study, the researchers aim to analyze whether the intensity of using Facebook has positive
associativity with a person's life satisfaction, social trust, civic and political participation.
The Internet and Civic Engagement

What is Civic Engagement?

Civic Engagement pertains to the works or activities of an individual or a group of people concerning about
the civic values of the community.

What is Internet Civic Engagement?

The Civic Engagement and Intemet.is a several single or cluster commotion talking about civic issues as well
as working with the help of each other whether the actions are related to politics; or not with regards in using
the internet.

Differences and Purpose of Civic Engagement and Internet

There is huge difference between the civic engagement and the internet. One of the differences of these two
is on the way the people engage themselves to the community in both non-political and political activities.
On civic engagement, you are involving yourself to the community face to face or directly unlike in the internet,
you are participating with the use of online connection and not a personal connection. The purpose of these
two is both have the ability to express the people's feeling and thought and the people can participate or
involve themselves to the community.

Even though the internet will take the place, traditional political doings will continue the field of some people
with great heights of profits arid learning. Opposing to the expectations of approximately promoters, the
socio-economic atmosphere of public engagement in America does change even though the internet has not
sprouted. Most of the participants in online political activities such as signing an online application or
creating a political involvement and transmitting a government official are those people who are prosperous
and knowledgeable. To some extent, the image below shows the product from variances in accessing to toe
internet are those who are lesser on the social and economic ranking, are fewer expected to be connected or
to consume in accessing internet using broadband at household, doing it incredible for the others to take part
in political online activity.

However, though the connected people have a resilient progressive connection among social and economic
standing utmost based on the internet processes of governmental commitment. Moreover/ since the
millennials are further. expected to use internet than the others like seniors, the involvement gap among
comparatively unengaged greater than engaged middle-aged grown persons that naturally symbolizes
disconnected administrative movements is fewer obvious in addressing the governmental participation
through the internet. Still, around is a tough relationship among social and economic rank as well as using
the internet in governmental and public assignation regardless to their ages and groups.
Types of Civic Engagement

Direct Service

Offering your individual efforts, vitality and time to speak and express your thoughts to help and provide the
needs of the community. ’

Community Research

This type of civic engagement focuses on discovering the probable assets, challenges, and social problems
in the community as well as in coming up with the best possible solutions to the current problems.

Advocacy and Education

It involves the implementation of different ways to persuade the government or the decision of the corporate
to decide that the entire civic will benefit.
Capacity Building

The help and participation of the different sectors in the community will make an improvement and develop
current resources or create new capitals that will be used to find the solutions and come up to an precise
answer to the specific problems and to make the community become better.

Political Involvement

It concerns the involvement of a person in political activities such as participating in campaign and voting the
right person to serve the people.

Socially Responsible, Personal and Professional Behavior

Being responsible in all the time on whatever you are doing. Your actions must be always in ethical regardless
if it is personal or professional life.

Philanthropic
Being part and volunteer to the projects of the government or non govemment organizations to raise fund and
use this to provide the needs or donate something to the people of the community.

Participation in Association

A type of participation that encourages a person to be involved in the existing organizations of the community
that may improve your socialization skills to have a better foundation and better association in your
community.
Impacts and Importance of Civic Engagement

Based on the study, it shows that once the populations participated well in deciding for the organization of
the community are much more appropriate and utilized than in any other civic engagement organization.
Having this kind of organizations is more effective and inclusive. A community that has a greater level of civic
engagement has a better sagacity of a society, lower the rates of crimes, and has good leadership, therefore
the people of the community would be happy and healthy. A lot of people benefits from the civic engagement
because there's a probability that it will help to develop their social interaction, that will bring the people
with the organization to work together and carry all encouraging norms, as well as it can provide to them the
feelings that all things that they are doing is essential every time, also it can able to develop and improve
their skills and soon they might realize their real passions.

Internet Based Engagement: A New Form of Civic Participation

Having a new platform in engaging yourself to the community has a big impact to every one of us. The online
platform is invading the community whether they like it or hot. This is another or modern way of involving
yourself in participating political or non-political discussion; In 2010, there is a phone data survey that was
conducted to study and discover the works and correlation between the civic engagement internet form and
the traditional' In the investigation of local participation, the researcher considers- form analysts such that
membership organizational, consumption of media, and the discussion of interpersonal. The researcher
examines the significance of the factors that being mentioned above as part of the involvement in the
community through online’ Also they study the. part of dialogue intergroup with the-engagement in local. The
researcher uses the structural calculation, representation. To enrich communication diagonally to ethnicities,
their examine the volume of online platforms.

Summary

This lesson discussed the light side of the internet which includes the connection between internet and
interpersonal communication, the elements of interpersonal communication that influence how the internet
is applied and used effectively in sending information. Also, the lesson tackled the difference of the two in
terms of consumable time, effectiveness, convenience, privacy and scope. Part of the discussion also focuses
on the formation of community with the help of networks and its applicability in everyday tasks. In which this
network of communities leads to foundation of Community Technology Centers (CTC). Aside from the network
of communities, social capital was defined as the factors associated with social groups which include
tangible and non-tangible resources. Variations of Social Capital are tackled by presenting links with different
types of people. Lastly, the purposes of internet to civic engagements are presented with the given
organizations in the Philippines. The whole lesson covers positive side of the internet used in different
aspects of human development.