The journal article Modern Communication Infrastructure as a Means of Cultural Diffusion seeks to demonstrate that current technological advancements have increased the rate of cultural integration. Technology has had a significant impact on many aspects of day-to-day life, including altering the way people communicate over long distances (Temu, 2022). This has made some methods of communication – such as mail and stationary phones – obsolete. In their place, new innovations based on widely used technologies have emerged. This has allowed for greater interaction between people of all backgrounds and cultural heritages, leading to cultural diffusion.
This diffusion has had both positive and negative effects on people’s lives. The positives are shown in greater ability of individuals to learn about different cultures. This allows even those who fear that diffusion will cause their culture to disappear to learn about others without direct contact with them. Technology has facilitated the interaction between men and women in the form of dating apps. On the other hand, it has undermined one’s ability to say no to sexual encounters and made it easier for abusers to perpetrate domestic violence.
Technology today plays a major role in the development of cultures because people from different backgrounds can interact in real time and share experiences. However, people currently have a limited understanding of the processes that guide the change in culture through technological influence. It is difficult to predict even what technologies will become successful. One of the things that has been shown through studies is that technology must be adaptable and flexible in order to accommodate a multitude of different kinds of users. For this reason, the internet is a successful tool, as it offers a vast array of opportunities, especially in the field of education.
Technology makes cultural integration easier by remaining neutral in the face of social imbalances. For example, it has made it easier to remove social barriers in communication, allowing individuals with disabilities more access. However, while the use of algorithms in systems such as education should have removed societal inequalities, in practice technology is still affected by the biases of its users. This allows for stereotypes and racism to be disseminated throughout automated systems. The anonymity granted by technology has made it easier for people to hide or ignore racial or social inequality. Studies suggest that both in societal and financial sectors, technology must be separated from the human factor, which produces bias. When properly integrated, however, modern technology has been shown to promote well-being, especially workplace wellness among employees. It has facilitated the interaction between service providers and users.
Despite the fact that technology has been changing and shaping people’s values and understanding, some cultural notions still have a limiting effect on which technologies are adopted by certain societies. Some may choose to pursue a certain line of technological advancement based on cultural preference. Still technology helps promote innovation and change even in these scenarios. Technology is ubiquitous and must continue to be evaluated to prevent it being used to cause harm. Today, people have access to more information than they ever did. This is good, as it can promote cultural development and innovation, however, can be used to mislead the public with the use of misinformation. Knowledge management is particularly important in this regard, as people rely on it for help with many lifestyle choices, including where to live. Overall, a better understanding of how technology will affect cultural development is instrumental in adapting to the change. With the vast increase in the speed of communication, these changes will be happening faster than ever before.
Work Cited
Temu, Augustine. Modern Communication Infrastructure as a Means of Cultural Diffusion. Duquesne University, 2022.