“In the last ten years the world has gone from connected to hyperconnected, this is actually the biggest thing happening on the planet today and it is, in fact, driving every social, political and economic trend” – Thomas Friedman
Living in the digital age has not only given individuals the opportunity to openly communicate, in spite of the cultural and language barriers that make us different, but it has also exposed us a technological limitation of privacy. Mariella Combi (2013) highlights that communication is a “reflection of society” and technology enables each individual to be connected in order to instantaneously be aware of and discuss happenings in their personal lives and issues occurring around the globe. This level of connectedness is described as “hyper-connectivity” - which is the employment of every multimedia device that an individual possesses to stay connected online; whereby keeping the communication channels permanently open (Great People Inside, 2017).
Hyper-connectivity keeps the lines between societal barriers and boundaries clear; completely erasing time-lapses and space. As a result of the “rise of networks, space becomes defined by connectivity” (Hyperconnectivity, n.d.); therefore, bridging the physical gaps in communication and fusing time and space; and employing “connectivity as its own space” - Web 2.0. The quote above by Thomas Friedman solidifies the fact that hyper-connectivity has impacted and will forever impact how digital technology has shifted societal expectations of mass media and culture. Furthermore, today’s technological era, begs us to answer the question of privacy and how we can improve it. Philip Patterson and Lee Wilkins (2014) shares that in spite of the 'connectivity', privacy determines who has access to the information, and privacy “does not require that information never reach public view, but rather who has control over that information which becomes public.” To improve this issue, individuals should not accept that communicating online means that they have no privacy and there will always be a need for one to become media literate about the platforms they have handles on.
Regardless of the challenges that come as a result of hyper-connectivity, it has revolutionized how people view the world, and further shaped their opinions of politics, religion, societal standards, and traditions. It has not only created avenues for constant communication and facilitated the creation of new media devices and platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr, Skype ... ) to fulfil the human need, but it has also enabled the world, the global village to always be connected.
Regardless of the challenges that come as a result of hyper-connectivity, it has revolutionized how people view the world, and further shaped their opinions of politics, religion, societal standards, and traditions. It has not only created avenues for constant communication and facilitated the creation of new media devices and platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr, Skype ... ) to fulfil the human need, but it has also enabled the world, the global village to always be connected.
References
Combi, M. Cultures, and technology: An
Analysis of Some of the Changes in Progress - Digital, Global and Local
Culture. Culture
and Heritage in a Changing World, 3-15. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29544-2_1
Elenabsl. (n.d.). Connecting People Around the World Stock Vector - Illustration of european, diversity: 94024847. [Image]. Retrieved June 17, 2018, from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-connecting-people-around-world-all-over-together-communication-technology-social-media-concept-image94024847
FujitsuUK. (2015, March 24). Ready for the hyperconnected world? [YouTube]. Retrieved June 17, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYqB1E2KHm4&list=PLV493J-pTITfTEL0kp3WXPoj6Jl3ZU-L4
Great People Inside. (2017, March 22). Hyperconnectivity - The New Imperative? Retrieved June 17, 2018, from http://greatpeopleinside.com/hyperconnectivity-new-imperative/
Hyperconnectivity. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2018, from http://complexitylabs.io/hyperconnectivity/
Patterson, P., & Wilkins, L. (2014). Media Ethics: Issues & Cases (8th ed., pp. 1-20). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
