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Digital Thinking & Innovation

CT109-3-1-DGTIN
Digital Culture and Society
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Discussion
→ How digital technologies have transformed the way we communicate, interact, and create
meaning in the world.

→ Challenges and opportunities that arise from increasingly digital world.

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Introduction
Digital Culture?

 Concept that describes how technology and the Internet reconfigure the way we interact, behave, think, create,
share and communicate as human beings in a society; simply the relationship between human and technology.

 The behaviors, practices, and values that arise from the usage of digital technologies are known as digital culture.

 Digital technologies includes smartphones, social media, digital collaboration tools, cloud infrastructures, IoTs.

 Digital culture leads to adoption of technology, directs people's preferred ways of interacting with technology in
their personal and professional/ work life.

 Digital culture includes online communities, social media platforms, digital games, and other forms of digital
expression.
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Introduction
→ Digital technologies changes the landscape of communication, sharing contents, financial
inclusion, access to trade and public services, health and medicine sector, agriculture, education,
science and research etc.[1]

→ Examples:

→ health sector, AI-enabled technologies are helping to save lives, diagnose diseases and extend life
expectancy.

→ Education Sector, virtual learning environments and distance learning

→ Public services are also becoming more accessible and accountable through blockchain-powered systems

→ Bots and AI Assistance

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Introduction
 The Impact of Digital Culture on
Digital Identity
→ Digital technology has significantly changed on persons identify.
→ We can now create, manage and curate our online identities in a variety of ways in various platforms.
→ We are able to show the world who we want to view us through social media platforms.
Examples
→ Social Media Profiles: Users create profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to represent
themselves digitally, sharing personal information, photos, and updates with friends and followers.

→ Professional Online Presence: Professionals maintain digital identities on platforms like LinkedIn or personal
websites to showcase their skills, experiences, and achievements to potential employers or clients.s
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Introduction
Cyber-Culture
→ It encompasses the cultural phenomena that emerge from the use of digital technologies and online
platforms.
Examples

→ Internet Memes: Humorous or relatable images, videos, or phrases that spread rapidly across the internet, often
reflecting current events, pop culture references, or societal trends.

→ Online Gaming Communities: Gamers form communities around multiplayer online games like Pubg, Fortnite,
Minecraft or League of Legends, engaging in collaborative gameplay, competitions, and social interactions.

→ Digital Art Movements: Artists explore new forms of expression through digital mediums, including digital
painting, animations, and interactive installations, often shared and celebrated within online art communities.
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Introduction
Digital Literacy
→ Digital culture emphasizes the importance of digital literacy skills for navigating the digital world
effectively.
Examples
→ Information Literacy: Ability to evaluate and critically analyze information found online, distinguishing
between credible sources and misinformation.
→ Media Literacy: Understanding how media messages are created, consumed, and shared online, and
critically evaluating media content for bias or manipulation.
→ Digital Security: Knowledge of online safety practices, including password management, data encryption,
and protection against cyber threats like phishing and malware.
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Introduction

→ Digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do
not (Approximately 67% of world population has Internet access).

→ Gaps, can be based on factors such as income, geography and location, education, and age.

→ Individuals who are not on the side of the digital divide have disadvantages in their access and utilization
to information, job opportunities, and educational chances.

To bridge the divide, strategies must address these underlying factors, including :

→ efforts to expand broadband infrastructure to underserved areas,

→ increase affordability through subsidies or community programs,

→ and provide digital skills training and literacy programs to empower individuals to fully participate in the
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Introduction

Influence of Digital Technologies

→ Impact on Social and Cultural Practices

→ reconfigure how individuals interact, communicate, and engage with one another.

→ access to information facilitates new forms of cultural expression and exchange.

Transformative Technologies

→ The Internet: Enables global connectivity, information sharing, and online collaboration across the glove
regardless the culture and society.

→ Smartphones: Provide constant access to digital content and communication tools

→ Social media: Facilitate social networking, sharing thoughts, views and contents, and shaping the societal thinking
and perception.
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Characteristics
→ Shared beliefs, customs, and behaviors

→ Rise of online communities and digital subcultures

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Evolution of Digital Culture
Historical overview: From the early days of the internet to the present digital age.

→ Early Days of the Internet: In the 1960s and 1970s, the precursor to the modern internet, ARPANET, was developed as

a means of communication between researchers and scientists which is a project funded by the U.S. Department of

Defense, which transmitted the first message in 1969. This laid the foundation for the interconnected network of

computers that would become the internet.

→ Expansion of the Internet: Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the internet became more accessible to the public. The

invention of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners Lee in 1989 revolutionized how information was accessed and

shared online, leading to the creation of websites and web browsers.

→ Proliferation of Online Platforms: With the growth of the internet, various online platforms emerged, including email

services, discussion forums, and early social networking sites like SixDegrees (1997) and Friendster (2002). These
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Evolution of Digital Culture
Emergence of Social Media

→ The early 2000s saw the rise of social media platforms that transformed how people connect and communicate

online.

Examples

→ MySpace (2003): one of the first widely popular social networking sites, allowing users to create profiles, connect

with friends, and customize their pages with music and graphics.

→ Facebook (2004): Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook quickly became the dominant social media platform,

offering features such as news feed, photo sharing, and event planning.

→ Twitter (2006): Twitter introduced the concept of microblogging, enabling users to share short messages (tweets)
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Evolution of Digital Culture
Rise of Smart-phones

→ The introduction of smartphones revolutionized how people access and interact with digital content, enabling mobile

internet access, app usage, and multimedia consumption on the go.

Examples

→ Apple iPhone (2007): The iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry with its intuitive touchscreen interface, App

Store ecosystem, and integration of multimedia features like music, photos, and videos.

→ Android Platform (2008): Google's Android operating system offered an open-source alternative to iOS, powering a

wide range of smartphones from various manufacturers and driving innovation and competition in the mobile market.
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Evolution of Digital Culture
Expansion of Online Platforms

→ The digital landscape continued to evolve with the rapid growth of online platforms catering to

various needs and interests.

Examples

→ YouTube (2005): YouTube revolutionized online video sharing, allowing users to upload, view, and

share videos on a global scale, fostering creativity, entertainment, and educational content.

→ Instagram (2010): Instagram popularized photo and video sharing through its mobile app, offering

users a platform to express themselves visually and connect with others through visual storytelling.
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Digital Rights and Ethics

→ Digital rights encompass fundamental principles such as privacy, freedom of expression, and data

protection.

→ Privacy ensures individuals have control over their personal information, while freedom of expression

allows for the free exchange of ideas and opinions online.

→ Data protection safeguards individuals data from unauthorized access or misuse, ensuring their

confidentiality and integrity.

→ Ethical concerns arise due to issues like algorithmic bias, online harassment, and misinformation.
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Digital Rights and Ethics

Role of regulation and policy in safeguarding digital rights

→ Regulation and policy play a crucial role in safeguarding digital rights and addressing ethical concerns.

→ Concerning bodies enact laws and regulations to protect individuals' privacy, ensure freedom of

expression, and promote responsible use of digital technologies.

→ Additionally, platforms implement policies and guidelines to combat algorithmic bias, restrict online

harassment, and mitigate the spread of misinformation, fostering a safer and more ethical digital

environment.
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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

Positive Impacts

 Connectivity and collaboration

→ Digital culture has transformed how people connect and communicate globally.

→ Social media platforms, messaging apps, and video conferencing tools have facilitated instant

communication and collaboration across geographical boundaries.

Example

→ platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp enable individuals to stay connected with friends and family

members regardless of their physical location, fostering relationships and strengthening social bonds as
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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

 Access to Information

→ The internet has made easy access to information, empowering individuals with knowledge and

resources previously inaccessible.

→ Online encyclopedias like Wikipedia, educational platforms like Khan Academy, udemy, coursera,

Programmiz and digital libraries provide free access to a wealth of information on diverse topics.

→ This has revolutionized education and research, enabling lifelong learning and skill development for

people worldwide.

→ Distant learning
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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

 Empowerment

→ Digital technologies have empowered individuals and communities by providing platforms for self-

expression, activism, and entrepreneurship.

→ Social media campaigns, crowdfunding platforms, and online marketplaces have enabled individuals to

amplify their voices, mobilize support for social causes, and pursue economic opportunities.

Example

→ the #MeToo movement leveraged social media to raise awareness about sexual harassment and

advocate for systemic change, empowering survivors to share their stories and demand accountability.
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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

Negative Impact

 Privacy Concerns

→ The widespread use of digital technologies raised concerns about surveillance, identity theft and data

privacy.

→ Huge amounts of personal data are acquired by social media sites, search engines, and internet

businesses, frequently without the users consent.

→ The data might be used for illegal purposes, targeted advertising, or other purposes compromising an

individual's privacy and freedom.

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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

 Digital Addiction

→ Excessive use of digital devices and platforms can lead to digital addiction, characterized by compulsive

behaviors and withdrawal symptoms when offline.

→ Social media, online gaming, and streaming services can be addictive due to their engaging content,

constant notifications, and reward mechanisms.

→ This can negatively impact mental health, productivity, and interpersonal relationships, leading to issues

like anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

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Impact of Digital Culture on Society

 Cyberbullying

→ The anonymity and reach of digital platforms have facilitated the rapid growth of cyberbullying,

harassment, and online abuse.

→ Social media, messaging apps, and online forums provide bullies with a platform to target individuals

with hurtful messages, threats and harassments.

→ Cyberbullying can have severe psychological and emotional effects on victims, leading to depression,

anxiety, and even suicide in extreme cases.

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Challenges

→ Activity on the internet is continuously observed and tracked.

→ Businesses get information on our social media activity, search queries, and browsing
preferences that can be used for targeted advertising.

→ In addition to being exploited for more serious activities like identity theft or political
manipulation.

→ Spread of misinformation and fake news

→ Addiction towards social media, online gaming, and other digital activities.

→ Can lead to problems with sleep, work, relationships, and mental health.
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Opportunities

→ Global Connection and Collaboration

→ Adaptability and easy to tackle change management

→ Continuous improvements

→ Automation to enhances the overall productivity and response

→ Innovation and improved efficiency

→ Access to Educational and personality development resources

(Online learning platforms, digital libraries allows to learn, skill development and personal growth)
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Conclusion
→ Digital culture presents both challenges and opportunities.

→ By being aware of the challenges, we can take steps to mitigate them.

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Source: techtarget
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The Four Pillars of Digital Culture
→ Collaborative, data-driven, innovative,
and customer-centric are the four pillars
of digital culture that allow businesses
to have a strong positive impact on all
of their stakeholders, including their
staff, customers, shareholders, local
communities, and society at large.

Source: The World Economic Forum

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Additional
→ What Is a Digital Culture and Why is it Important | Dale Carnegie
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CASE STUDY
 Perform Case Study on :

One real incident which caused huge positive impact and another real incident which caused huge Negative
impact of Digital Culture on Society.
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References

 [1] United Nations. (n.d.). The Impact of Digital Technologies. [United Nations website]. Retrieved
May, 2024, from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3898928?ln=en.
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“It’s one small step for man, one giant leap

for mankind.”
- NEIL ARMSTRONG