In its current usage the term cyberspace is
a global network of interdependent information
technology infrastructures, telecommunications
networks and computer processing systems.
Cyberspace also stands for the meaning of
“computer,” “computer network,” or “virtual
reality”. The term has become a conventional
means to describe anything associated with the
Internet.
In cyberspace we exchange our minds with others,
we share our minds with others and develop our minds.
In network reality there is a dialogical development
of meaning.
“As people view the e-mail,
web page or instant message
written by an online
companion, some people
truly feel
that their minds are
connected to or
even blended with the
minds of the others”.
(Suler 2007)
In the network of minds there is an interaction
between minds. Individual brain-frame changed to
inter-brainframe.
temporal flexibility, no limitation of space, social
multiplicity, textual communication, recordability,
speed of exchanging information, entertainment,
better informing, empowerment of human potential,
equality, diminution of hallo effect...
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Time in cyberspace is
flexible;
Streching of time;
Synchronous communication
via chat rooms; metaworlds
(avatars);
Asynchronous
communication via e-mail, or forum discussions;
Geographical distance in cyberspace don’t exist.
Computer network enable people to find each other
without the limitation of time and space.
In cyberspace a person can communicate with
hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. By posting a
message within a blog, discussion board, or social
network, which are read by countless numbers of
users, people are connected with others who match
their interests.
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E-mail, chat, instant messaging, SMS, and blogs
continue to be the most common forms of social
interaction;
Present oneʼs identity,
perceive the identity
of oneʼs online companion,
and establish a relationship;
Some people feel that they
can express themselves better in writing;
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The advantage of typed text that can always be
saved (on disks, tapes),
printed or stored in
standard files;
In cyberspace people can
reexperience and reevaluate
any part of the relationship
they wish;
In cyberspace there is the ease and speed with which
messages transmit across huge distances. People can
send and get messages in very short time.
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Through movies, video games, music, online books,
magazines, and chatting the Internet offers people
entertainment;
Internet has become a source of entertainment for
the millions of people across the world;
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In cyberspace people are better
informed than in real life;
Through a lot of online
newspapers, magazines,
books and bulletin boards
people can find any
information they want;
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Empowerment includes full
development of human
potential, which means
freedom from biases,
compulsions, hostility,
self-doubt, lack of
understanding, and an
unreflective acceptance of ideologies;
It helps develop creativity and personal identity;
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The Internet does not
discriminate and marginalize
people by gender, class or
ethnicity;
It gives people the opportunity
to show their own ideas by creating their own sites
for the World Wide Web;
Everybody can publicate on Internet his opinions,
needs, interests and aspirations;
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In cyberspace the perception of one trait (i.e. a
characteristic of a person or object) is not influenced
by the perception of another trait (or several traits)
of that person or object;
In cyberspace people cannot judge personality by its
physical appearance;
lack of sensual integration, absorbing information
without filtering it, frustration caused by technical
difficulties, redefining identity, cyberstalking,
behavioral disinhibition, feeling that happiness
belongs to others, cyberaddiction...
In text based communication the failure of voices,
facial expressions, or body language can cause
misinterpretations. Tactile stimulation, gustative,
olfactive and spatial feeling is low online.
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Not all information on Internet is good, true, valid,
or has quality;
Individuals can become
unthinking consumers
of the electronicallyproduced meanings
flowing over the Internet;
Network leads individuals to expect that they can
find a tool that can quickly solve every problem;
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Frustration with technology
can halt progress in a course;
It seems that students become
paralyzed until the
technical issue is resolved;
The Internet can distort ideas, and manipulate
receivers, especially with youths that are vulnerable
to uncritical acceptance of oppressive ideologies.
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Social network sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter...) can
cause sadness and loneliness
to people;
Looking at “happy” photos of
others can cause that some people
start to be convinced
that other people lead a perfect
life
and they overestimate otherʼs
happiness;
Can be present in a variety
of ways such as:
 threatening or obscene
e-mails;
 spamming;
 live chat harassment (flaming)
 leaving improper messages on boards or in guest
books;
 sending electronic viruses or unsolicited e-mail and
so on;
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Internet encourages anti-normative, aggressive,
uninhibited behavior;
In cyberspace people are not constrained by the
social rules; there is no negative feedback;
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Davis (2001) distinguishes the
two types of Internet addictions
as: specific and general;
Specific
(e.g. gambling, stock trading);
General - multidimensional
overuse of the Internet itself that result in negative
personal and professional consequences;
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People donʼt notice
the vast amount of time
and energy they devote
to Facebook;
Facebook Addiction Disorder;
Positive aspects
 Through social networking sites
(e.g. Facebook, Myspace,
Twitter) and virtual worlds
(e.g. Second Life,
World of Warcraft) people
with common interests can
share information, work together, tell stories, joke
around, debate politics, help each other out, or play
games.
Negative aspects
 In cyberspace can
communicate only
those who have the
possibility to communicate
through the computer media.
Positive aspects
 Cyberstudents gain new skills ;
 Stronger motivation;
 Multimedia usage; quizzes,
games usage; knowledge
sources online; synchronous
chatting, discussion forums,
video conferences, e-mails.
Negative aspects
 Less liveliness;
 Real-time discussions allow for teachercyberstudent interaction and provide the richness of
interpersonal interactions so often missing in
distance education classes.
Positive aspects
 By using the Internet
people can choose
a false name, hide
personal information
and identify details;
 People express themselves more freely and sincerely
than they would in a face to face interaction (online
disinhibition effect);
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Self-disclosure and intimacy can
be accelerated;
helpful to those who live
in countries where freedom
of speech and the press may
not be so widely supported.
Negative aspects
 The physical distance
between web participants
leads to disinhibited behavior;
 Every person can create many
identities
(e.g. a man creates a
female identity, or a high school
student claims to be an egineer).
Through cyberspace we have the ability to:
 freely choose between synchronous and
asynchronous alternative communication
 be better informed
 communicate without limitation of time and space
 present our identity perfectly in a written form
 record moments of our life
 watch movies, play games, listen music, read book,
magazines, chat
 empower our identity and be equal with others.
On the other side, in cyberspace we:
 cannot touch, smell or taste
Sometimes we:
 misinterpret messages
 absorb a lot of information without filtering it
enough
 are manipulated in Internet by others
 feel that hapiness belong to others
 are frustrated because of the technical difficulties
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are confused between virtual and real reality
encounter there with cyberstalking.
are anonyme in that virtual world, but our
anonymity can cause that we communicate with
violent people without being aware of it.
are globalized to a psychosocial network, but we
put others people who are not Internet users on
margins.
Cyberspace has become part of our everyday life,
and it is necessary to thinks, can we find some
options to make this aspects more positive than
negative. Shall ever exist cyberspace with a
minimum of negative aspects? It is up to all of us to
built a new future of cyberspace with more positive
aspects than negative.