Tutorial 3 Task

Amen To New Communication Technologies!

Technology has come a long way since Samuel Morse invented the first electric telegraph line in 1843, and in my opinion, thank God for that!

Personally, I enjoy being able to talk to my friends anytime, anywhere and being able to send my mum a text message when I’m in my room to see if dinner is ready yet. Nowadays, there are just so many different ways of communicating that are user friendly, accessible and reliable that anyone can use them. As a typical 19 year old, my favourites at the moment would have to include MySpace and Facebook (yes, I do have both) and, of course, my favourite accessory, my mobile phone! But if these are the new communication technologies that appeal to me, what is everyone else into?

A recent survey conducted for the students studying New Communication Technologies at Griffith University, Gold Coast showed that good old Email is still alive. Not one person that took the survey said they had not used Email once in the last month, while a massive 55.8% said they use Email daily. Online gaming is another form of communication that is becoming very popular. Programs such as 2nd Life allow the user to create a person they want to be and interact with others in an online world. Although it would be expected that programs like this are most popular for children, it is actually adults who use it most frequently. An episode on 4 Corners actually interviewed a lady in her mid 30s who uses 2nd life about 15 hours a day. The survey also showed that only 1.1% of students haven’t used a mobile phone once in the last month and 46% have used IM (Instant Messenger) or “chat” daily. Overall, 74% voted that new communication technologies give us more control over our lives. HOORAY! So it’s all pros and no cons with the communication technologies of today?
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.


Online Relationships
Friendly or Freaky?

We all love to be loved, and we all hate to be alone at some point. Today’s new communication technologies are a way of ensuring quick entertainment and, even better, immediate company 24/7. But we have to ask ourselves, if MySpace, Facebook, MSN Messenger and Chat Rooms are open to anyone – children, teens and adults alike, are we putting ourselves at risk? Because these ways of communicating are so enjoyable, exciting and ambiguous, they are a magnet for children and, likewise, paedophiles. We’ve all heard terrible stories about cyberstalkers preying on children, but what about 56 year old Raymond Merrill who was drugged and burned to death by his online lover and her real life boyfriend after they had received the $10 000 Merrill had agreed to give her to set up a clinic and used his credit card on numerous accounts. While it’s amazing that we can be online with our friends and loved ones, we must remember that we are sharing this space with strangers – and sometimes not always the friendly kind.

Some people like the fact that you can give yourself whatever kind of online presence you like and you can pretend to be someone you’re not. Users of 2nd Life often comment on how it makes them happy to be able to create who they want to be and see what it’s like to live through their life.

The only online friend I have ever had turned out to be a fraud. I once made friends with a girl called Talitha on MSN Messenger who I knew was friends with a friend of mine who lived in another town. We hit it off from the start and would chat for hours on end, gossiping and bitching about our friends. Not that either of us new each other’s friends, but it sure felt like we did after hours and hours of chat. Eventually, we decided it was time to meet. We arranged for her to come and stay with me for a week and I thought it was going to be great. But when I actually met Talitha, she was so different and we actually had nothing in common at all. The week wasn’t a total nightmare, but it was a bit awkward and we didn’t find it anywhere near as easy to chat in real life! It’s no surprise that we don’t keep in contact anymore.


Privacy
How Much Is Too Much?

I guess, in the end we have to draw the line somewhere. Although talking online is fun and exciting, it can be dangerous and precautions need to be taken. In my opinion, it is best to keep your MySpace and Facebook profiles private, and only accept friend requests off people you know. However, sometimes people may want to make new friends. An example of this is people who want to meet people in another country of a similar age if they are planning on travelling there. In cases like this, I believe the best safety tip is common sense. Remember the person is a stranger. Just think - you wouldn’t walk up to a stranger on the street and give them your address or telephone number, so why would you give personal details to an online stranger?