"Connecting" and "Disconnecting" With Civic Life

For my New Media and Society journalism class I was required to read and examine a recent article on the effects of internet usage in society. The article was called "Connecting" and "Disconnecting" With Civic Life: Patterns of Internet Use and the Production of Social Capital.

The article was a study on how social capital has changed since the use of new media such as newspapers, television, and the internet. The researchers looked at the civc, baby-boomers, and the X Generations. They discovered that it was hard to determine whether or not the internet had a negative or positive effect on real life social interactions in our society.

Instead we should be examining the way in which we use the internet. Some people use the internet for to learn about current events around the world, others use it to share and discuss ideas via blogs and forums.

Over all I personally think the internet had definitely changed the way people interact with others in real life. The internet has had both positive and negative effects in our society. The internet has be positive because it allows more like minded people to share ideas across the world. As a result more people have become more open and educated about the world around them.

On the other hand the internet has made face to face interactions more challenging. People have become so conditioned to shooting a quick email, instead of taking the time to send a handwritten note. And some people don't even bother to pick up the phone and CALL someone.

In the fashion world, understanding the way new mediums have changed our society is important.
More fashion houses are becoming tech savvy and realizing that e-commerce is vital to their future success. Netizns are sharing ideas and fashion news through the internet instantly, brands need to be able to keep up with their consumers.
One of the most forward fashion brad in e-commerce right now is Burberry.

Fast Company recently published the "Top Ten Most Innovative Companies in Fashion", raking Burberry number one.

"For breathing new life into a luxury stronghold. Burberry has not only emerged as one of the best-designed and most successful luxury brands, but also the most technologically advanced. Last year, the fashion house live-streamed its runway show in 3-D and offered an unprecedented 72-hour presale to consumers worldwide."