Online Friendships

Technology is an apparent part of our lifestyle such that its absence will cause a massive chaos in the real world. Today we turn to technology or more specifically, the computer, to not only look for information or for our entertainment, we use it to build bonds and form relationships with people online. Is it safe, you ask?

Computer Mediated Communications (CMC) has definitely allowed us to forge relationships with others and it transcends the boundaries of space and time. No matter where you are, you are able to talk to others online.

Normally, we look for people with similar interests and from there, we get to know each other. So, how do we look for people with the same interests as us? We would obviously enter the sites that we like. For example, gamers proceed to gaming sites and fans of a certain band will go to the band’s fan club page. From there, these people make friends with those that enter said sites Even through the social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can we locate buddies of similar interests!

I am sure that all of you practice CMC and do have “online friends”. For me, I register in forums and participate actively in the community there. As an avid kpop fan, these forums fulfil my needs to follow the artistes that I like and at the same time, make friends with people that like them too. One such forum that I am actively involved in is the ukissmeSG forum, a place for Singapore fans of U-Kiss, the Korean boy band. Through interacting with the members of the forum, bonds are ultimately forged. In fact, instead of just being friends online, the ukissmeSG family are friends in real life too! Just recently, some of us met to fly kites and just enjoy each other’s company.

This, my friends, is an example of an online community formed through CMC, existing in real time. Personally, I do not really have any qualms communicating with people online as honestly, there is only so much that they can do to me.

Despite my own “fairytale” example of online friendships, I still value communications in real life. To me, communications offline are more personal as we see the other person’s expressions while communicating and also hear the tone of their voice. This reduces any chances of miscommunicating. Some may argue that Skype and other webcam-oriented chat sites also enable us to see and hear the other person. But is it personal? Nothing beats face to face communication. I guess frequent meetups allow the ukissmeSG family to be tightly knitted. Like I said, nothing beats face to face communication and here, communicating in reality reinforces our friendship.

Some may question whether it is safe to make friends online. I guess the answer to that is: to each his own. There will never be a clear cut answer to this as different people have differing views on the safety of CMC. As many articles have popped up, a lot of people have been manipulated online and conned into thinking that they are in a relationship with someone when in fact that person was just putting on a façade. So how do we know what’s real and what’s not, when everything on the Internet these days are so grey? What to do you think of making friends online?

YOG

As all of you should have known by now, Singapore will be hosting the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 August to 26 August this year. As the inaugural event is drawing near, have you noticed the increased exposure about the YOG by the media? This, my friends, is an example of the agenda setting function.Through repeated news coverage, the importance of YOG is etched in the public’s mind, forcing us to anticipate the arrival of the actual event.

What makes the media successful in setting their agenda, in this case, highlighting the importance of YOG? One of the reasons is the unobtrusive nature of this issue. Although Singapore is the host for this said event, not all Singaporeans are taking part in the preparation of it. As such, whatever news coverage that mentions YOG, most Singaporeans will tend to believe it wholeheartedly as they have no direct experience with the mentioned issue. Furthermore, the amazing amount of news coverage on YOG also contributes to the agenda setting. There is a wide variety of media that covers YOG, such as online journals, blogs, official website, newspapers and radio. The abundance of news coverage further highlights the importance of this event. As most political persons are involved in YOG and have in one way or another promoted the event, the public are more inclined to be “moved” by what the government officials do/say. For example Ministers like Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Mr Masagos Zulkifli played a part in this agenda setting function by giving speeches at separate events related to YOG (here, here). As such, the public will view YOG as something that is important as “important people” are promoting it.

Not only the politicians, but schools and other organisations are also promoting the event, helping in the success of the agenda setting function. For example, SIMGE has been raising awareness by asking for volunteers to help out in YOG. Organisations like the NTUC and Girl Guides Singapore are also asking for volunteers and of course, they will be sending in their own batch of volunteers. Through the massive coverage and the huge number of assistance needed for this upcoming event, the public will definitely see the importance of YOG and the amount of effort put in by everyone to make it successful

As media represents the view of the powerful elite and by promoting and providing extensive coverage on YOG, clearly, it is to remind us that YOG is taking place in Singapore and the importance of it relative to our overall status.

I am most definitely looking forward to this inaugural event as, agenda setting or not, YOG is obviously a respected event and for it to be held in Singapore is something to be proud of. And! Micheal Phelps is the ambassador for it, so of course I’m excited!