PART 5:

THE LIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERNET

Rainier E. Enage; Mary Ann Ferrer; Jefirson Soriano; Jenalyn Fraga; Jolo Valera
A. The Internet and Interpersonal
Communication
What is Interpersonal Communication?

It is a type of communication that takes place between or among two or more

people. It includes conveying thoughts, ideas and emotions through by passing
messages either verbal or non-verbal. This type of communication is not just
about putting words and speaking it rather it requires the proper facial
expressions and other elements such as gestures and body language that adds up
to the expression of messages.
Elements of Interpersonal Communication
The element that composes the interpersonal communication is represented
by the diagram shown.
•The Communicators (Sender and
Receiver)
This includes two or more people communicating with
each other.
The sender is responsible in sending the message which is
considered the source while the receiver is the individual
who decodes the message that has been sent.
•The Message
These are conveyed thoughts and even emotions expressed
in different ways like gestures and expressions of the face.
Particularly, this is the main content of the communication
enabling the two or more parties to get involved and share
something with each other.
•Barriers (Noise)
These are the factors which can be internal or external that hinder the
transmission of the message from the sender and the receiver.
These can result to ineffective communication causing problems in conveying
the right message.
•Feedback (Response)
A feedback is an element of communication which entails the response of the
receiver towards the message conveyed by the sender.
It shows the understanding of the receiver to the message he decoded or
processed.
•Context
It is the type of environment where the communicators are in while
communicating with each other.
The setting or the mood of the place can affect the way of communication and
every communicator should consider this in any way possible.
•Channel
This pertains to the physical object used in conveying the messages. Channels
may differ from forms considering that there are different types of
communication.
For example, in a call which involves two persons, the communication takes
place with the use of phone which limits the channel to the speech alone.

How do Internet influence our way of Communication?

In today’s society, we are very fond of using social media such as Facebook,
Twitter, and even Emails which we are being used in different fields such as in
work and in business.
In this, we can clearly see the influence of internet in our daily lives
particularly in communication which is very vital in a community.
Examples of these are the messaging applications that let us interact to our
families and loved ones through a different world. This is where the integration
of the interpersonal communication takes place.
How do Internet influence our way of Communication?

1.The information provided in the internet is more of a written.

2.Communication over the internet is considered undirected since there are
lapses in transferring the data or the message.
3.Messages in Internet are often anonymous as it covers a wide range of
platform resulting to a more diverse type of people involved in the conversation
4.Since internet is composed of interconnected networks, it captures wide range
of audience over the interpersonal type of communication that may vary from
its scope.
5.Communication over the internet reduced social presence.
6.Convenience in terms of time is more useful when it comes in using the
internet compared to a personal conversation.
B. Networking and Community

What is a Network?
Network is described as the group of devices that has the capability to connect
with each other and be able to send information.
Community In the World of Technology
Network of community are series of computer system which purpose is to give
assistance to communities and often provide services, particularly for those
communities that are sharing the same goal and belief.
Community Technology Centers (CTC)
These are types of facility headed by different organizations such as the non-
profit organizations with the strong assistance from the local and national
government.
Goals of Network Community

1. Provide easy access information through the help of functioning networks or

resources

2. Give a trusted platform which can be used by the community in discouraging

digital divide

3. Promote a developed community through different technology engagements.

4. Develop a strong connection with the citizens of the community

C. Social Capital

Social Capital are the factors that are present in a community or society.
It is also the network of values that focuses on maintaining a social relation
which can lead to reaching the organizations goal.
A social group is a unit of people
associated with each other due to their
shared belief, characteristics and
principles.
One Side of Social Capital: Variety Based On Direct
Approach

•Bonds
This is the link between people sharing the same culture and ethnicity. Most
common example is loved ones and friends.

•Bridges
This category is focusing on a more varied relationship compared to bonds
which is beyond its scope.
Example: Associates

•Linkages
Related to people that are considered in the higher level or the lower level of
the hierarchical structure of a society.
The Link between Internet and Social Capital:

“Social capital may turn out to be a prerequisite for, rather than a consequence
of, effective computer-mediated communication.”

-Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse

and Revival of American Community
D. The Internet and Civic
Engagement
What is Civic Engagement?
Civic Engagement pertains to the works or activities of an individual or a group
of people concerning about the civic values of the community.
What is Internet Civic Engagement?
The Civic Engagement and Internet is a several single or cluster commotion
talking about civic issues as well as working with the help of each other
whether the actions are related to politics or not with regards in using the
internet.
Differences and Purpose of Civic Engagement and
Internet
On civic engagement, you are involving yourself to the community face to face
or directly unlike in the internet, you are participating with the use of online
connection and not a personal connection.
The purpose of these two is both have the ability to express the people’s feeling
and thought and the people can participate or involve themselves to the
community
Types of Civic Engagement
•Direct Service
Offering your individual efforts, vitality and time to speak and express your
thoughts to help and provide the needs of the community.
•Community Research
This type of civic engagement focuses on discovering the probable assets,
challenges, and social problems in the community as well as in coming up with
the best possible solutions to the current problems.
•Advocacy and Education
It involves the implementation of different ways to persuade the government or
the decision of the corporate to make a decision that the entire civic will
benefit.
•Capacity Building
The help and participation of the different sectors in the community will make
an improvement and develop current resources or create new capitals that will
be used to find the solutions and come up to an precise answer to the specific
problems and to make the community become better.
•Political Involvement
It concerns the involvement of a person in political activities such as
participating in campaign and voting the right person to serve the people.
•Socially Responsible, Personal and Professional Behaviour
Being responsible in all the time on whatever you are doing. Your actions must
be always in ethical regardless if it is personal or professional life.
•Philanthropic
Being part and volunteer to the projects of the government or non-government
organizations to raise fund and use this to provide the needs or donate
something to the people of the community.
Participation in Association
A type of participation that encourages a person to be involved in the existing
organizations of the community that may improve your socialization skills to
have a better foundation and better association in your community.
Civic Engagement Organizations
These are some of the civic engagement organizations that the Philippine has:
•Philippine Red Cross
The purpose of this organization is to help and serve the people on
their various offered services all over the Philippines. These are some
service that they have such as national blood, managing the disaster,
youth services and so on.
•Gawad Kalinga
The goal of this organization is to eliminate the shortage and
at least provide some basically need of more than a million
of families, as well as reestablishing the trust and dignity of
the poor people.
•Greenpeace Philippines
This is one of the volunteer organizations in the Philippines
which is very active in doing some stuff for the
environment.
Their main crusades are to stop the climate change and
preserve the environment to have a better place to live in.
Impacts and Importance of Civic Engagement
Based on the study, it shows that once the populations participated well in
making a decision for the organization of the community are much more
appropriate and utilized than in any other civic engagement organization.
Having this kind of organizations is more effective and inclusive.
Internet Based Engagement: A New Form of Civic
Participation
In 2010, there is a phone data survey that
was conducted to study and discover the
works and correlation between the civic
engagement internet form and the
traditional.
In the investigation of local participation,
the researcher considers form analysts such
that membership organizational,
consumption of media, and the discussion
of interpersonal.
The researcher examines the significance
of the factors that being mentioned above
as part of the involvement in the
community through online.
SUMMARY

This chapter discussed the light side of the internet which includes the
connection between internet and interpersonal communication, the elements of
interpersonal communication that influence how the internet is applied and
used effectively in sending information. Also, the chapter tackled the difference
of the two in terms of consumable time, effectiveness, convenience, privacy
and scope. Part of the discussion also focuses on the formation of community
with the help of networks and its applicability in everyday tasks. In which this
network of communities leads to foundation of Community Technology
Centers (CTC). Aside from the network of communities, social capital was
defined as the factors associated with social groups which include tangible and
non-tangible resources. Variations of Social Capital are tackled by presenting
links with different types of people. Lastly, the purposes of internet to civic
engagements are presented with the given organizations in the Philippines. The
whole chapter covers positive side of the internet used in different aspects of
human development.