This study aims at evaluation and exploration of the Web 2.0 which is usually known as the social network. Since its advent, it has led to different implication especially on the way interact socially, morally and ethical impacts of the same. The research aims at identifying these impacts. The study will also try to examine of the major trends, pros, and cons of the social web and how has it do with the social interactions in the society we live in (Ellison & Boyd, 2013).
Introduction
Since the advent of technology and its subsequent advancement, there has been numerous development that resulted in technological applications such as the Web 2.0 (Sclater, 2012). The social network has attracted many people across the world and especially the young population. This has resulted in its exciting features and ability to accommodate most social characteristics. The social network has created an avenue for social interactions and social media platforms like facebook, twitter, Instagram, youtube among others. It has however led to an outcry and a lot of security concerns on the insecurity of information, moral deterioration especially among the young people, social cohesion, and interactions among others. This research paper hence introduces us to a closer examination and investigation of the causes and impacts of the Web to social morality and cultural aspect of our society (Attwell, 2014).
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Research Justification
The study involves examining the impacts that the social network has to the society and culture. The way people interact, share information, download and use informational content from the internet and how has this impacted on social and cultural settings of our community. The study will, therefore, be critical and will serve as a guideline on the approach and use of social media and other online platforms facilitated by Web 2.0 (Battelle, 2015).
Objectives of the Research
• The research aims to achieve the following goals and objectives:
• To understand the nature and role of Web 2.0/ social web
• To examine the underlying social issues in social networking sites
• To evaluate the impacts of Web 2.0 in communication and information security
• To analyze and understand the implications that the social web has on culture
Research Questions
Below are the various questions that the researcher aims to achieve upon successful completion of the study:
• What are the various ways services does the social web offers to the internet users?
• Which are the main social issues related to using of Web 2.0?
• Which are the cultural implications of the social web?
• How does the Web 2.0 influence the way communicate?
Statement of the Problem
Following the advancement and the recent improvement in technology, many people are now able to freely access the internet and enjoy a variety of online goodies (Lai & Turban, 2011). There has been the social web that allows people to interact with the online platform using the social networking sites like facebook and twitter. People from different cultural backgrounds upload and download information content without control. They enjoy seeing any content with a click of a button using their Internet-enabled mobile phones. These interactions are meant for promoting communication and unity based on information sharing. This is however not the case; there have security woes, immigration being promoted over the social sites consequently leading to cultural alienation. This study hence aims at establishing the various implications and the possible remedies to the general problems associated with the same (Lai & Turban, 2011).
Literature Review
The introduction of Web 2.0 as raised a lot of security issues since it has reduced the internet into an avenue where there is a meeting of people virtually, communicate and exchange all kinds of information (Attwell, 2014). It very addictive and people will continue the internet to enjoy the exciting services it offers. Despite the advantages of this technology, security of information that is flowing is becoming an issue. The uploading and downloading of explicit materials from the social sites id leading to compromise of integrity and moral values.
According to Roberts (2013), people share anything over the internet. These people originate from different cultural backgrounds, religious and political backgrounds. The continued interactions and content sharing over the internet leads to security threats, moral decay, and cultural alienation. This is brought about by young people trying to copy some foreign cultural practices borrowed from other cultures as they interact. The social web is also influenced by blogs. This is where one will find all kind of information that doesn't meet legal and ethical standards. Those with ill intentions and motives will take advantage of these interactions and find their way into fraudulent information and steal important data to their advantage (Jones, 2010).
Age limit should be a regulation on accessing the internet. Young people of below the years of age are easily accessing the internet today. This is very dangerous since they are likely to be exposed to explicit content on the internet. They can misuse the same and consequently lead to moral deterioration (Crook, 2012).
Study Methodology and Approach
The study will use the qualitative approach in data collection and analysis. The researcher uses sampling techniques and uses questionnaires to collect data. The target group will be a section of the youth aged between thirteen to 30 years who are the major users of social media and other online services (Sclater, 2012). The researcher will also use the journals, magazines, IT dailies and books as primary sources of primary data.
Research Findings
The research found the following form the study
The social web is an avenue for people from a diverse background from all over the world to interact and exchange informational content (Everitt & Mills, 2017).
Other contents uploaded and downloaded from the internet are videos, audio and visual.
There is no control or limitation to content sharing and availability
Everyone on the internet is struggling to get control of much data as possible hence paving the way for people with ill motives to upload explicit materials and compromise the integrity of information over the social networking sites. Data is stolen and corrupted by the internet hence security becomes an issue (Belk, 2014).
Informational content over the internet has great influence on culture. People share different cultures by sharing the experience of their respective cultural practices (Kawashima, 2010).
The social web/ Web 2.0 is a major contributor to moral decay in the society. This is influenced by content flow over the internet. Explicit content is availed to every user regardless of age boundaries. This leads immorality (Battelle, 2015). Young people also learn through the social networks, new ways and of doing things and behaviors that make hem to abandon their cultures, and hence they become culturally alienated.
Discussion and Conclusion
The development and advent of social web also known as Web 2.0 were a boost to enhance social networks and provide a ground for social media for people to interact effectively and gain most from it.the study discovered the main flaws of this technology (Snee, 2016). Its main disadvantage such as moral decay, information security, and cultural alienation. It can also be used to the advantage of a single individual. It is essential therefore to realize the defects of the web and make the quick adjustments. Making good use of the web will also promote the integrity of the internet and other related technologies for the welfare of users. It is also advisable for the users of the social networking sites to be mindful of the informational content being shared online (Szablewicz, 2010).
References
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Crook, C. (2012). Web 2.0 technologies for learning: The current landscape–opportunities, challenges and tensions.
Ellison, N. B., & Boyd, D. M. (2013). Sociality through social network sites. In The Oxford handbook of internet studies .
Everitt, D., & Mills, S. (2017). Cultural anxiety 2.0. Media, Culture & Society , 31 (5), 749-768.
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Kawashima, N. (2010). The rise of ‘user creativity’–Web 2.0 and a new challenge for copyright law and cultural policy. International journal of cultural policy , 16 (3), 337-353.
Lai, L. S., & Turban, E. (2011). Groups formation and operations in the Web 2.0 environment and social networks. Group Decision and negotiation , 17 (5), 387-402.
Roberts, B. (2013). Beyond the ‘networked public sphere’: Politics, participation and technics in web 2.0. Fibreculture , 14 .
Sclater, N. (2012). Web 2.0, personal learning environments, and the future of learning management systems. Research bulletin , 13 (13), 1-13.
Snee, H. (2016). Web 2.0 as a social science research tool. British Library , 4 , 1-34.
Szablewicz, M. (2010). The ill effects of “opium for the spirit”: a critical cultural analysis of China's Internet addiction moral panic. Chinese Journal of Communication , 3 (4), 453-470.
