Unit 4 / Chapter 6 : Societal Impacts
1. Introduction
Broadly speaking, Societal Impact is how organisations, businesses or individuals' actions affect the surrounding community. It may be the result of an activity, project, program or policy and the impact can be intentional or unintentional, as well as both positive or negative.
Societal Impact refers to the way in which individuals change their behaviour to meet the demands of a social environment. It takes many forms and can be seen in almost all spheres of life styles.
Typically social influence results from a specific action, command, or request, but people also alter their attitudes and behaviours in response to what they perceive others might do or think.
Societal Impacts of Information communications technology (ICT)
ICT has the power to transform society. It plays a key role in the country's Sustainable Development Goals, providing the infrastructure needed to achieve them. It also enables financial inclusion through m-commerce and allows people to connect with millions instantaneously.
The impact of ICT on business is particularly significant. It empowers people to share knowledge and advice instantaneously and set up an online shop or website at a low cost, dramatically lowering the barriers to starting a business. As such, it is an important enabler of change and ICT maturity is closely linked to economic growth.
Advances in technology have always been used by for-profits to increase revenue. However, government bodies and NGOs have struggled to successfully apply them for social good. An emerging type of business, the social business, is bridging the gap between the profit and non-profit organisations. Becoming socially responsible means turning into a digital citizen.
Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level. As the rate of technological advancement continues to increase, the world as a whole is becoming more dependent on the Internet for day-to-day activities.That can mean checking a bank account, purchasing a product, or simply keeping in touch with a friend.Regardless, the Internet is packed with potential pitfalls that could catch many students off-guard. More importantly, malicious Internet users can quickly harm someone online, even if it’s only through harsh words.
So each one of us need to be a Digital Citizen to leave a good digital footprint.
Digital citizenship applies to “those who use the Internet regularly and effectively,” according to Karen Mossberger (et al) of the Massachusetts Institute for Technology.
Good digital citizenship engages young students and shows them how to connect with one another, empathise with each other, and create lasting relationships through digital tools.
Bad digital citizenship, on the other hand, entails cyberbullying, irresponsible social media usage, and a general lack of knowledge about how to safely use the Internet.
Three principles to be a good digital citizen -
1. Respect: the elements of etiquette, access, and law are used to respect other digital users.
2. Educate: the elements of literacy, communication, and commerce are used to learn about the appropriate use of the digital world.
3. Protect: the elements of rights and responsibilities, security, and health and wellness are used to remain safe in the digital and non-digital world.[
If you practice these principles,
definitely you will leave your
How can you manage your digital footprint?
Here are a few places to start:
- Google yourself: Take inventory of what’s out there. Search for your name every few months, so you’re cognisant of the information others have access to.
- Set up Google alerts: It is recommended setting up a Google alert for your name. The tool will then send you occasional alerts of every post that has your name on it.
- Protect your personal data: Don’t disclose your personal address, phone number, passwords or bank card numbers. Consider using a nickname instead of your real name.
- Keep login info under lock and key: Never share any of your usernames or passwords with anyone.
- Think before you post: Never put a temporary emotion on the permanent internet. Anger is temporary; online lasts forever. Pause before you post: Think twice, post once, advises Sue Scheff, online defamation survivor and author of Shame Nation.
- Nix the pics: Any photo you post could be dug up some day. Limit your sharing of questionable images. Fifteen minutes of humour is never worth a lifetime of potential humiliation, adds Scheff.
Leave a good impression of yours always!!! Try at least!
Benefits of a digital footprint
When done wrong, your digital footprint can be detrimental, but it’s not all doom and gloom. When they’re done right, a digital footprint can provide you with a great first impression. You’re now aware that employers are following your trail, so take advantage of it. There are many ways you can leverage your digital skills to land a job.
“A strong online presence, or digital footprint, can be a career asset in today's competitive job market. Many employers are performing online searches—in addition to reviewing resumes and cover letters—in an attempt to learn about prospective hires, including their interests, industry involvement and, more important, their ability to market themselves effectively,” says Diane Domeyer, career expert and executive director of The Creative Group.
“If hiring managers are impressed by the content they find, like thought-provoking commentary or links to industry articles, they may be more apt to reach out to individuals for an interview. On the other hand, a lack of activity can be a turn-off.”
“Your digital footprint is now a reality of life. If you want to do anything big in the world, you're going to have to understand how to craft your footprint and use it,” says Harrington from Oxfords.
Leave a strong footprint
Now that you know what a digital footprint is, take the proper steps to cultivate it. The digital world isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—so think of it as a lifelong development. Take advantage of the platform to present yourself in a good light and show off your best qualities. After all, you never know who will be looking in our newfound digital economy.
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| INTERNET ETIQUETTE |
Communication etiquette is ingrained into culture, although etiquette while using internet or network and technology is a fairly recent concept. The rules of etiquette that apply when communicating over the Internet or social networks or devices are different from those applied when communicating in person or by audio (such as telephone) or videophone. It is a social code of network communication and help.
Netiquette also called Internet Etiquette refers to a set of rules an individual needs to follow while communicating through mails, writing blogs, sharing views on online portals or any other online forum.
Let us go through some Internet Etiquette:
- Make sure emails are self-explanatory. The other person should understand your views and ideas.
- Don’t use capital letters in emails unless and until it is the first alphabet of a word. Turn off the CAPS lock key. Emails written in all capitals are considered rude and loud.
- Be crisp. Lengthy emails are seldom read. Never ever deviate from the actual topic
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| Netiquette Rules - Netizen |
- The subject line ought to be meaningful and relevant. Through subject line employees can quickly know what is written in the email.
- Start your mail with formal greetings.
- Format your emails correctly. Justify your text. Break the complete message into short paragraphs with equal spaces in between. Use bullets -points wherever required.
- Keep all related members in loop. Do mark a blind copy to your reporting boss for him to know what you are up to?
- All official emails must have signatures at the bottom. Your signature should include your name, your company’s name, your designation and contact details. Make sure your signatures do not have incorrect information.
- Avoid writing offensive emails to anyone. It worsens the situation. It is always better to sit with the other person and discuss issues face to face.
- Take care of your font style and size. Official emails should ideally be written in Arial style with a font size of twelve. Emails written in various colours and designer styles are considered unprofessional and childish.
- Make sure you reply to all your mails. Don’t add members just for the sake of it. Don’t send mails to individuals who have nothing to do with your information. It is a sheer waste of yours as well as their time.
- Don’t write anything in your mail which might fall back on you. Read your mail twice before hitting the send button.
- Employees should not open illegal or porn sites at workplace. Read carefully the terms and conditions before opening any website. Do not open any site which might harm your office computer.
- Take care of spelling errors, punctuation marks and grammar. Wrong spellings irritate the readers. Be polite and soft in your communication.
- Avoid using short forms or abbreviations in official mails.
- It is important to respect other’s privacy. Don’t check anyone’s mails in his absence.
- The mail meant for a particular individual should be marked only to him. Do not mark anyone else in bcc. Communicate with him in private.
- Use words like “regards”, “thanks”, “yours sincerely” to close your mails.
- Avoid attaching heavy files to your mail.
- Do not upload objectionable photographs in any networking site.
- Respect the other person’s views while sharing information on various online forums.
BE REAL !!!
Why is Net Etiquette important?
Net Etiquettes help us show respect and consideration to others and makes others glad that we are with them. Without proper manners and etiquette, the customs of polite society would soon disappear and we would act more like animals and less like people. Aggressiveness and an "every man for himself" attitude would take the lead.
In earlier times, the rules of etiquette were used for two purposes: to remind people of their own status within society and to reinforce certain restrictions on individuals within that society.
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, for instance, etiquette dictated everything from how low a person of inferior rank had to bow to a person of higher rank to how long a man had to spend courting a woman before the two could marry.
Over the centuries, as society has become more democratic, etiquette has become an excellent combination of good manners, common sense, and rules of conduct that reflect cultural norms and the rules of our society as a whole rather than just one distinct group within it.
Etiquette provides personal security.
Knowing how to behave appropriately in a given situation makes you more comfortable.
It protects the feelings of others. Proper etiquette requires that you make others comfortable and protect their feelings. You do not point out the errors or draw attention to their mistakes.
It makes communication clearer. Etiquette enhances communication by breaking down barriers, not erecting them.
It will enhance your status at work. In any working situation, you are perceived as more capable, more professional, and more intelligent if you are familiar with the proper code of conduct for the workplace.
It makes good first impressions. The first five to seven seconds after you meet someone are crucial. Your first impression lingers in the other person's mind long after you are gone. If you use proper etiquette, that first impression will be a positive one.
BE REAL!!! BE GOOD!!!
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