 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 13, Social and Political Issues Outline 13.1Introduction 13.2Health, Social Interaction and the Internet Social Health Children and the Internet 13.3Socio-Economic Segregation 13.4New Economic Workforce 13.5Online Communities Online Communities: Defining the Difference Communication Tools Online Activism 13.6Online Charities and Non-Profit Organizations on the Web

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Introduction Internet as a valuable social tool –Learning, business and communications –Influence on our commercial, political and social lives –Provides forum for addressing important issues, supporting causes and meeting new individuals Digital divide –Socio-economic segregation based on those who can afford electronic equipment, access and education and those who cannot

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Health, Social Interaction and the Internet Opponents and Proponents –Life becoming too dependent on the Internet –Studies show users spending more time on the Internet less time devoted to interpersonal communication –Internet provides alternatives to traditional forms of communication ing, video-conferencing, chat rooms, electronic forums, message boards

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Social Health Stanford University Study –Internet users socially isolated –Study was later called into question Availability of material –Pornography, gambling, Internet scams and violence Tolerance varies in different regions of world Pornography is protected by U.S. Constitution Ability for individuals of all age groups to access material considered harmful

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Children and the Internet Development of children –Proponents: access gives them a head-start in their education –Opponents: not suitable Interrupts communication skills Distracts children from outdoor activity Explicit speech and adult conversations found in chat rooms – Filtering software and other methods for restricting access Home schooling and Internet use –Advocates: efficient learning environment Lessons tailored to the aptitude of the student Online text chatting and message boards Online tutors, classes and supplementary information –Opponents: limited social interaction

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Socio-Economic Segregation Digital divide –Cost of access, support, instructions –Not all users own credit cards –Food stamps are not accepted by most online merchants Consequences –Lack of access and skills Limited applicants for technical positions Possible affect on economy as growth is hindered by limited resources Efforts to bridge the gap PeoplePC Computers For Youth

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved New Economic Workplace Starting an e-business –New job requirements and more flexibility –Growth and use of digital transmission Streaming media –Remote office Personal computers and handheld devices Outside contractors

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities Structure –Not by geographic boundaries but shared interests –Developing communities and facilitating discussion

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities: Defining the Difference Text communication Gender, race, creed, age and sexual orientation play a limited role in the user’s experience Issues and action –Present an idea or opinion in the political sphere

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities: Defining the Difference Examples of ethnic Web sites:

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities: Defining the Difference Online communities based on shared interests:

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities: Defining the Difference Gender-specific communities:

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Communities: Defining the Difference Gender-specific communities:

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Communication Tools Chatting enables social interaction on the Web EGroups.com allows users to join interest-based groupsEGroups.com –Distributed to the whole group –Start their own groups and select members Crowdburst –Allows groups to tour the Web together Participate.com –Helps e-businesses build online communities AOL Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger ServiceAOL Instant Messenger MSN Messenger Service

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Communication Tools Person-to-person and conference calls through Firetalk. (Courtesy of Firetalk Communications, Inc.)

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Communication Tools Firetalk’s Instant Messaging interface. (Courtesy of Firetalk Communications, Inc.)

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Communication Tools Firetalk Web-based tour. (Courtesy of Firetalk Communications, Inc.)

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Activism Activism, social awareness and the ability to build online communities around these issues of concern Political and social action –Youthactivism.comYouthactivism.com Information on picking a cause, team organization and decision-making –Igc.orgIgc.org Human rights, racism, sexism WomenNet, EcoNet, PeaceNet, Anti-RacismNet National Organization for Women and the Hunger Project –Resourcelink.orgResourcelink.org Surplus food supplies

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Activism Voting online –Learn more about the candidates –People could regularly log on and vote directly on the issues that interest them – Obstacles Crashes, computer hackers –Collaborative-computing network Support a number of causes by donating unused computer time

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Activism Youth Activism home page. (Courtesy of Activism Project 2000.)

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Charities and Non Profit Organizations on the Web Relative ease of designing and maintaining a content-based Web site Web of Hope –Fundraising –Grant Applications Stopitnow.com –Helpline for sexual offenders –Information and contacts

 2001 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved Online Charities and Non Profit Organizations on the Web Online organizations and charities: