1. Why is Access to folk and Popular Culture Unequal?
Chapter 4 Key Issue 3
Why is Access to folk and Popular Culture Unequal?

2. Big Question
What affect have TV, the internet, and social media had on folk and popular culture? Describe how these three forms of electronic media have diffused around the world.
Why do some countries restrict citizens access to electronic media? What are some ways in which they do this?

3. Key Terms 

4. Diffusion of TV and Internet
Electronic media is one of the main reasons why popular culture diffuses so rapidly throughout the world
It increases access to pop culture for those who embrace folk culture and exposes those who embrace pop culture to those who don’t
Lack of access to electronic media, primarily because of income, is a major barrier to pop culture access

5. Diffusion of TV and Internet
The world’s most important electronic media has been TV
TV has exposed billions worldwide to pop and folk culture traditions
Watching TV is a major pop culture leisure activity and has helped to rapidly diffuse other activities such as sports

6. Diffusion of TV and Internet
TV became mainstream pop culture in the U.S. during the early 1950s, also appearing in Canada and the U.K.
By the 1970s, TV had diffused to Europe and by the early 2000s had diffused worldwide (81% of homes worldwide had a TV in 2014)

7. Diffusion of TV and Internet
The diffusion of the internet follows the same pattern as TV but at a much more rapid pace
In 1995, only a few countries had internet service and the U.S. had 63% of the world users
Between , the internet diffused quickly around the world, up to 81% in the U.S. and 47% worldwide

8. Diffusion of Social Media
Social media diffusion is similar to that of TV and the internet
Social media that originates in the U.S. (such as Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat) have and will continue to diffuse throughout the rest of the world
Facebook currently has 2.1 billion users worldwide, led by India, the United States, Brazil, and Indonesia. Notably absent is China, where their government has banned Facebook and uses QZone instead

9. Diffusion of Social Media
Twitter has far fewer users than Facebook (330 million, with the U.S. leading the world in users. India however is the second leading Twitter country
The diffusion of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to developing countries as well as developed show that the diffusion has changed from the traditional idea of going to rich developed countries first.

10. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
In the U.S. we enjoy a lot of freedom when it comes to the internet and cell phones
Many countries aren’t as lucky as their governments ban or restrict access to certain sites and apps
Countries do this to keep citizens from obtaining information that could endanger those who hold power

11. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
Out of 65 countries measured by the organization Freedom on the Net, only 30% of them were classified as having complete freedom on the internet
The other 70% were labeled as being “partly free” or “not free” where these countries had either technology banned, content blocked, or internet user’s rights violated

12. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
Banned Technology
One way to keep citizens from the internet is to prohibit them from purchasing the technology needed to access it
Some countries ban phones, tablets, or laptops or configure internet signals differently, so the devices don’t work properly

13. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
Blocked Content
Some websites are censored or blocked
This is a long-standing practice that began with blocking TV shows from certain countries
This is done so that certain ideas that might damage traditional folk culture don’t make their way to the people (ex. Political content that might damage the rulers, inappropriate social content, or content about conflicts or rebellions)

14. Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
Violated User Rights
Governments are finding it harder to stop the diffusion of technology
Some countries have resorted to punishing those who get around the rules and access prohibited content
Harassment, heavy fines, imprisonment, or even physical violence are used to stop the violators
The five worst countries for this behavior are Iran, Syria, China, Russia, and Turkey

15. Big Question & Key Terms
What affect have TV, the internet, and social media had on folk and popular culture? Describe how these three forms of electronic media have diffused around the world.
Why do some countries restrict citizens access to electronic media? What are some ways in which they do this? 