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Are Cultures and Communities
Being Changed by the Internet?
(1/29) The internet is an integral part of our modern lives. We use it to buy our goods, to book our services, to discover new and interesting information and utilise those pixelated avenues to keep up to date on current events, but it's not just our spare time that is dominated by the internet. Millions of people now work purely from their
computers and receive their pay through the net, whilst having a web-enabled business is now a must for budding entrepreneurs. With the internet exerting such a huge effect on our lives however, are traditional aspects of our society, culture and community, being affected too?
Since the early twentieth century western culture has increasingly been defined by film, music and television. Up until the twenty-first century, one's consumption of these cultural artefacts would have been conducted in a compartmentalised manner, and the internet has not changed this certain-provider-for-a-certain-service milieu. There have been
changes however.
Watching television shows and films on well-known networks and in cinemas has transformed into watching shows on providers such as Netflix, but now lovers of shows can access entire series at once, gorging on box sets and indulging in marathon view sessions. Instead of listening to pop music shows on the radio or via physical media (CD, Tape, Vinyl
etc), services such as Spotify are consistently winning over music-lovers. This move to new media has had a variety of effects. Consumers now have instant access to their favourite media, opting for subscription-based, not individual product-based forms of payment; small sub-cultures are now popping up, centred around certain shows; and the
choice of media on offer has widened society's exposure to new and exciting genres, stories and sounds. More choice is indeed a good thing.
The rise of online gaming, where people can play casino games such as poker, roulette or blackjack from the comfort of their armchairs, can be seen as being affected by changes in legislation, but more is at work than just gambling laws. Sites such as JackpotCity
aren't seen as a menace, much like their bricks-and-mortar cousins, and this has been primarily due to a thawing of concern; people see gambling as a fun escape to be enjoyed in moderation. Such a point of view is
shared by rabbis; although depending upon online gaming and gambling for one's primary source of income should not be done, enjoying every now and again as a form of entertainment is perfectly fine. Gambling simply does not change cultural or community ideals if it is enjoyed responsibly.
The internet as a whole is indeed an issue for cultural and community aspects that require a lot of time to undertake- traditional sports, customs and services may indeed suffer- but this is more of an issue of making these activities appealing in this day and age, rather than internet-based pastimes corrupting hearts and minds. As with any ideal
the benefits of subscribing to said ideal should be made known, lest the march of time consign aspects of culture to the history books.
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