Cultural Illiteracy and the Internet

Abstract

The Internet has created different expectations regarding its possibilities as a tool for including groups that have heretofore been excluded from the modern world. But mere access to information does not necessarily imply correct and effective use of it. Despite the great increase in Internet access in previously excluded areas, expectations of inclusion have not been fulfilled. Research suggests that the effectiveness of Internet use varies among cultures, but all such studies analyze countries as a whole with no further breakdown. Yet it is known that within a given country there co-exist subcultures that differ both in language and social context. This paper presents a study that shows the correlation between different social subcultures and their Internet knowledge.

Development and validation of a web-delivered positive psychological intervention in an Indian Milieu: Lessons from a limited pilot randomized controlled trial

“…Although very few interventional attempts emphasize the notion of cultural appropriateness (Layous, Lee, Choi, & Lyubomirsky, 2013), there is an obvious need of studies that possess cultural ubiquity and the ability to enable diverse ethnic groups (cf. Recabarren, Nussbaum, & Leiva, 2007). Regarding the current study, we do not resort to replicate the interventional attempts but make an active effort over and above to corroborate the implied understanding of web-based well-being or wellness promotion interventions.…”

Dividing or uniting Europe? Internet usage in the EU

“…The ''digital divide" has been defined as the phenomenon where people of higher socio-economic status demonstrate greater access and usage compared to those from lower socio-economic status groups (Di Maggio et al, 2001). Recabarren et al (2007) show that in part Internet knowledge and skills are dependent upon the type of school a person attended and that individuals belonging to a subculture of low social strata do not have the knowledge necessary to make effective use of the Internet. This reflects both the technical ability to be able to use the Internet and the potential advantages of doing so in terms of the greater range of services that a wealthier person can benefit from.…”

Forum: Populism, Identity Politics, and the Archaeology of Europe

“…An archaeology that exists in isolation from modernity will soon make the discipline obsolete but, as González-Ruibal (2014: 44) puts it, ‘an archaeology that is relevant helps us to think and problematize society (past and present)’. This is not to suggest that archaeologists should act as a kind of moral gatekeeper (see Popa, 2019) since ‘the choice between all the potential arguments that history can potentially provide ultimately depends on the values and principles that individuals and groups decide to sustain and the context within which they operate’ (Bottici, 2008: 54; see also Recabarren et al, 2007). Indeed, the public role of archaeology should be one in which we responsibly provide a historical framework for current debate.…”