week 12: social networks and online communities

Online communities exist for many reasons, but they usually involve a group of people with the same interests who interact online to share information. Examples of such communites are Youtube, where people can share videos whether its popular television shows or homemade videos, Flickr, where people upload portraits and share their love for photography, or my personal favourite - Tumblr, an online "scrapbook" where people can share photos, videos, audio tracks, or just post their thoughts. Most people are aware of such communities and are able to see the power of online communities in human interaction, but this interaction might not always be good.

We were shown a video in class of how a young boy killed himself after being picked on in school, and one of the factors leading to his death was his online interaction with a boy who urged him to commit suicide. As sad as this story is, it is true that tools such as Facebook can encourage online bullying, and that the online world has groups which actually promote suicide. This article shows how a 19-year-old killed herself with the help of an online discussion group. Her story as well as the story of many others who believe in such groups make me feel really sad, and I think it is important for people to be aware of the dangers of the Internet and how powerful it can be.

But of course there are two sides to every coin, and there are also organisations who set up online communities to try and make a difference in the world. One example has been clearly explained by Khai, who educated us on the "One Day Without Shoes" movement organised by Toms shoes. Another community which touches me is that of the Invisible Children, a website dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children in Uganda who are captured to become soldiers. These full-time volunteers aim to educate people on the lives of these children, and spur the public to action through means such as monetary donations which can go to scholorship and mentoring funds, help build schools, and improve the living conditions of these kids.

I believe that the Internet has helped in creating awareness of such organisations, and it also aids the volunteers in receiving help because people from countries all over the world are able to find out more just by clicking on the website, and can provide support whether by linking others to the site or by clicking on links to donate money.