Positive Impacts Of Digital Communication On Conflict And Change

Question 1

Sutton, palen, and scklovski (dealing with disasters/culture/change/positive/significant)

Answer 1

• Twitter / X pages used during natural disasters to help and educate locals
• e.g. California Wild Fires - January 2025 case study - ‘Cal Fire’ page on X - Promoted information on where to seek shelter / food / water / the direction the wild fires were travelling / areas at risk
• immediate communication to warn and prepare, information can reach a huge number of people simultaneously, backchannel communication plays increasingly important role

Question 2

Kirkpatrick (development of online campaigns and social movements conflict/culture/politics/change/negative/positive/significant/insignificant)

Answer 2

• The ‘Facebook effect’ - Examined how social media sites spread quickly and on a large, global scale; meaning that they are imperative in modern day political protest – Allows freedom of speech and ensures marginalised / ‘silenced’ groups can fight for democracy and the right to vote

Question 3

Ghonim (development of online campaigns and social movements conflict/culture/politics/change/negative/positive/significant/insignificant)

Answer 3

• Social media was at the forefront of revolutions taking place from 2011 onwards with individuals stating that Facebook, weblogs, Twitter and YouTube played an important role in these events.
• Areeba Areeba website used to make the Western world more aware of issues in the Middle East and also to allow people freedom of speech in the fight for democracy

Question 4

Friedman (creation of cultural homogenisation culture/politics/change/positive/significant)

Question 5

Fukuyama (creation of cultural homogenisation culture/politics/change/positive/significant)

Question 6

Spybey (creation of cultural homogenisation culture/politics/change/positive/significant)

Question 7

Sreberni and mohammadi (cultural defence and glocalisation conflict/culture/politics/positive/negative/insignificant)

Answer 7

• point out the image of western media and domination is exaggerated and ignores complex interactions which occur between cultures (they can influence each other)

Question 8

Giddens (cultural defence and glocalisation conflict/culture/politics/positive/negative/insignificant)

Answer 8

• discusses reverse colonialism where in fact western cultures are not powerful groups, but in fact the reverse of this is occurring such as the mexicanisation of California where food, dress and music has become a key part of Californian lifestyle

Question 9

Croteau and hoynes (cultural defence and glocalisation conflict/culture/politics/positive/negative/insignificant)

Answer 9

• argue that global digital media companies have also been forced to take into account local markets/audiences