As we evolve as a culture, and as technology develops as the foundation of our society, it becomes increasingly important to understand how this evolution impacts people. Cultural Identity in the Digital Age: Navigating Virtual Communities is an essential read for anyone looking to understand how modern technology impacts social and cultural identity. A virtual community is an online space where individuals can communicate with other users for a variety of purposes. These can range from social to purely professional, and interaction can be casual or formal. Virtual communities can also serve as support spaces for individuals dealing with life challenges, and some may even provide a platform to share information and tips on navigating the workplace.
The proliferation of digital technologies has profoundly changed the way human beings think, interact and communicate with one another. The transition from material to non-material cultures has been a major factor in this change. This non-material culture is based on information and communication technologies, and it is what makes up the technological culture of digital society. Technological culture is not limited to the Internet and the social media we use, but rather extends to a whole range of new tools that are being developed by scientists. These include artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality, all of which have the potential to revolutionize how humans preserve, create, access and experience culture.
Whether these new tools will be more beneficial or harmful to the overall state of humanity is yet to be seen, but it is clear that they will impact the social and cultural identities of many people around the world. These changes are being felt at an exponential rate, and the way that we view ourselves is constantly shifting in response to our relationship with technology. The current state of technology has brought about a lot of positive changes, and some negative ones as well. For example, while modern communication systems such as the Internet allow people to connect with others in distant locations, they have also created a number of cyber-threats including cyber crime and cyber warfare. The rapid advancement of technology also tends to expose new vulnerabilities as it is rapidly adopted by companies, individuals, and even governments.
The authors of this book are all experts in their field, and each contributes a unique perspective to the discussion of how culture is being impacted by digital technology. The book examines how social media and other technological tools are allowing members of under-represented groups to find their voice and cultivate their own community in a way that is both accessible and empowering. In addition, the book analyzes how mediated cultural information transfer can either facilitate a vibrant public sphere or create social and cultural cleavages. This book is sure to appeal to a wide audience of scholars, academics, and general readers interested in the ways that contemporary culture is being influenced by and affected by technology. -Reporting By Ayanna Clarke, a PhD candidate in GW’s Department of Psychology.