ICT, or information and

communications technology
(or technologies), is
the infrastructure and
components that enable
modern computing.
Although there is no single, universal
definition of ICT, the term is generally
accepted to mean all
devices, networking components,
applications and systems that
combined allow people and
organizations (i.e., businesses,
nonprofit agencies, governments and
criminal enterprises) to interact in the
digital world.
Pros
Through the use of social networking
portals such as “Facebook”, friends and
family can communicate easily with one
another. It has become a regular channel
for social interactions where people can
exchange photos, opinions and thoughts
with their peers, consequently
improving interpersonal relationships.
Pros
Feelings that are normally suppressed
can be vent out on the websites,
effectively acting as an emotional
outlet. Others can also console or
share their thoughts, providing
emotional support at times. These
features result in social cohesion and
improvements in human bonds.
Cons
Contrarily, ICT can also affect social
relations negatively overshadowing its
benefits. Privacy, an emerging issue where
people are concerned with their personal
information being accessed by the
public. Personal information and posts
which are shared on the websites are not
only viewable by the intended audience, it
can also be stumbled upon by some
unknown parties.
Cons
This can lead to situations where one’s
blatant speech about a friend can
quickly invite criticisms from
the surrounding peers, which in turn
leads to strained relationship when the
friend being commented on views the
website.
Cons
Internet addiction which Raymond has
talked about in one of his posts,
is undoubtedly a major concern for the
society. People becoming reluctant to
interact with one another in reality and
spending most of their time on the
Internet can lead to social isolation.
ICT is a double-edged tool that can either
promote social cohesion or
creates additional social problems. The
effects of ICT on the society are
influenced by the ways people use it.
Only when used appropriately and in
moderation, can ICT bring benefits
leading to a better society.
Communication technologies, despite
their huge corporate, military, and
surveillance applications, also afford
opportunities within political
movements to debate, mobilize,
reflect, imagine, fantasize, critique,
archive, and inform, and will be
pivotal to developing a future for
humans rather than for capital.
focuses on some possibilities offered by
three such technologies, radio, the
Internet and the mobile phone, to
political movements. It provides a
variety of illustrations of their uses and
applications in social struggles, large
and small. First, however, it dwells
briefly on some of the issues and
concepts in the air at the time of
writing, which may help to frame and
thus interpret the specifics.