How has the internet changed our notion of collective identity.

The internet has already changed our society in many ways. The most major change is communication. Throughout the years it has got much easier to connect with others than it used to be. Easy is how things are getting for us as a society, a lot of things we do or use are by the touch of a button whether on a computer or mobile phone. Technology itself and the internet are almost dominating our worlds, without them we would crumble. To some, the internet is a fascinating invention but to others it isn’t so great. However to some it is completely meaningless; those who do not interact with the internet or cannot, those who abide by old ways and ideas.

Since the 1970’s communication has improved rapidly. From sending telegrams, letters and smoke signals, the 1980’s brought mobiles. However they were not as cool as they look today, but like huge bricks with long aerials, texting wasn’t available until the decade later either. In the 1990’s there was a huge difference and a major invention kicked off; the internet. Web pages were made and bulletin boards, text messages and e-mails were also used. Web conferences and video conferences were deigned also. More improvements occurred in the 21st century, we don’t now only have the internet on a computer, we can access it on our mobile phones, there is also instant messaging and online gaming. File sharing is possible; saving individuals having to print them off and deliver them to where they need to go. Social network sites couldn’t be more popular.

The new and improved designs can help us to stay in touch however they also help youngsters of today to be lazy. 30 years ago people would have to be more physical, to see someone it could only be done by physically walking around to that persons house. Now we don’t have to do that we have webcams and video calling. It doesn’t just make kids lazy but according to ‘Marc Prensky’ students no longer want to put effort into their studies, they would rather do the minimum that is required. In the long term this is dangerous and poses serious threats to our collective identity. In Prensky’s article he discusses the differences between today’s adolescents and elders. He suggests that we are almost like and entirely different culture and nationality because of the technology that we use. It is because the elder generation have not grown up with technology they are ‘digital immigrants’ to it. Whereas the younger generation are ‘digital natives’ who constantly use the internet and have learnt how to use it since they have been physically able. Students also disagree with how they are taught. ‘Digital immigrant’ teachers have stuck to old methods of teaching; step by step guides, taking it slow. Students today prefer to be quicker, because of the speed they learn with the internet. They want instant gratitude, they do not know how to wait for things as with the new technologies there is no waiting. Children haven’t experienced waiting days, weeks or months to hear from somebody or to receive a letter and so the most they may wait is a few hours to receive a text. It is not their fault they haven’t experienced old ways which elders constantly say is the only way.

In Prensky’s article he demonstrates how in the long term these new technologies could damage the way students are taught. He says the way to teach students now and in the future would be by video games. He claims that this is the only way they want to learn as they spend more time on the internet and watching TV then reading books. New methods have to be introduced to grab students attention in order for them to learn quicker.

New technologies such as virtual worlds on the internet is a way of meeting someone without actually being present. Lectures can be taught whilst sitting at home on a computer screen. This may be useful for students who cannot make it to school or for teachers even. Characters can be made to represent individuals to show that someone is logging into the lecture or lesson. However by making characters instead of physically attending school is one way in which our identity’s can be lost and therefore our collective identity too.