Impact of Ict on Social Capital

2141 Words9 Pages
What impact can the new information communication technologies (ICT) have on creating and maintaining local social capital? The modern world is interlaced with Information Communication Technologies (ICT). Devices such as mobile phones, iphones, internet services, on-line social networking, and interactive whiteboards, are the popular and well used sources of communication in our world today. ICT has had a massive effect on the way we communicate and incorporate ourselves with the groups of people living in close association with each other. It has affected social capital in ways of which we associate ourselves within our communities. In today’s society ICT is creating change within social capital and has a very large impact on social connections that exist between people, and their shared values and norms of behaviour which enables and encourages mutually advantageous social cooperation as well as other forms of discrimination. From these changes one could argue if they are for the better or worse for our local community, and what we need to do to continue and maintain local social capital within our local community to incorporate all community members and alleviate discrimination which is a constant barrier. I will include some of my experiences within my local community explaining the positives and negatives using ICT as a tool for social capital as I live in a remote area consisting of a very small community made up from two small towns and a combination of full-time residents and part-time residents (known as weekenders). All local social capital consists of some aspect of social structure within the local community, community members coming together in very civilized organized gatherings or in contrast casual random events such as having a relaxing afternoon drink at the pub. Social capital can benefit a single person with their own social needs or the
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