A network of connection

We are living in a network age, where connectivity has become a vital part of the way in which we live. This is exemplified by the Internet, which is the medium by which a majority of these connections now occur. As a result we are now part of a globalised network, or a network culture whereby we are able to communicate in ways which were not previously possible. Through social media websites such as Facebook, I am able to view narratives about other people and therefore understand more about the way in which the world works. Whilst I understand that these representations at times can be unrealistic, I believe they offer an opportunity for deeper connection and understanding and therefore I also believe the global network is a positive thing.

The rise of the globalised networks has had a significant impact on the way in which we live our lives. Scholars such as Geert Lovnik argue that the globalised network is a bad thing and that it results in ‘electronic loneliness’ and that we in fact, experience nothing, exist without context and essentially live in a world of shallow artificiality.

Unlike Lovnik, my view of the globalised network is mostly optimistic. I believe that the global network is what you make of it and it’s positive and negative effects are determined by how you view the network.

Kazys Varnelis presents an optimistic view of globalised networks, asserting that we no longer live in an ‘internet age’ but in a ‘network age’ where connection is more important than division.

As Varnelis suggests this connection opens up a realm of opportunity for trade and communication between nations which in turn leads to more development and better opportunities for people, despite their geographic isolation from the globe. These opportunities which stem from the global network by far outweigh the potential negatives that Geert Lovnik presents. Where Lovnik suggests that the net is the ideal merry-go-round for self styled identities, I see it as an opportunity for people to discover themselves through discovering others.