Virtual reality

Social networking sites have caused a communication revolution. Youth are not only using them to keep in touch with friends, but to work on assignments, upload portfolios and even to stir up causes dear to them. Amelia Naidoo and Rania Moussly look at how these sites are impacting us.

When you meet someone nowadays and perhaps want to establish a friendship, the question is no longer, 'what is your number?' or 'can I have your digits?' Instead, it is 'Are you on Facebook?', 'what is your MySpace name?', or, 'do you Tweet?'

People born between 1982 and 2001, who are now aged between 8 and 27 are referred to as 'Millenials' or the older part of Generation Y.

Essentially Millenials are a generation that is "tech-savvy, achievement-focused, team-oriented, family-centred and attention-craving". It is through social networking sites that this is most evident.

Notes looks into the use of social networking sites (SNS) in the UAE and its effects, by discussing the matter with students and professors.

Of all the students Notes spoke with, it is apparent that Facebook (FB) is the most popular website for social networking, for now. Nashar Latif is from Yemen and was born and raised in Dubai. He began using SNS at 15. When asked if he remembers life before FB he immediately answered Hi5.

"Actually more on the internet," was Latif's answer to the question of whether he socialises more virtually, or face to face. "For one it's cost-effective. It's also easier for you to get to know people," said the 22-year-old business student. He explained that some people are more approachable online than in person. "I find it easier to talk [to people] through that [FB] and get to know them through it," he said.

He admittedly realises that socialising online affects him as a person. "It makes you shyer, more reserved...you keep stuff to yourself. When you are on the computer it's just a screen in front of you; it's easier to... let things out," he said, referring to the ability to open up more and be more himself in virtual reality. "I'm comfortable, at the moment [living virtually]. By the time I meet more people and socialise a bit more, I will be more confident of myself to go out into the real world," he added.

With the rise to fame of such stars like Lily Allen through MySpace people seem to want to emulate her success by the same methods. Kofo Orisayomi recently moved to Dubai from the UK. He is signed up to all the popular SNS: FB, MySpace and Twitter. "But I hardly use it [Twitter]," he said. He immerses himself in virtual reality for "shameless self-promotion".

"I like people knowing what I'm doing. I like the exposure," he said.

Do you hope to become famous through it? "Yes I do."

He explained that these days, most famous people use SNS as an effective way of keeping a fan base. The 19-year-old animation student has been using SNS since he was 15.

Having said that he does admit, "It's really time consuming; it really is. I'm not going to lie... you can actually get lost in it too," he said. But Orisayomi does not shy away from real human interaction. "Funnily enough, I do prefer face-to-face contact because it's a bit more realistic."

However, there seems to be a common case among most social networkers where they become a lot freer with their words in a virtual world. When asked if he is a different person online he said, "I would say so... people find me more interesting and a bit more opinionated."

Why is it that people feel they can be more themselves and speak their mind from behind a screen? "Maybe because nobody can see me that easily... it's only on the computer."

B.Com student Rezwan Abdul Razzaq, 22, has accounts on SNS but barely uses them. According to him, he checks his FB account once a month, if that. "I have all my friends on it [FB] so if I want to keep in touch with them later on, it might be helpful."

He views virtual living as a waste of time. "I have many more things to do... if you can socialise with your friends every day, what's the purpose?"

Notes spoke to Abdul Razak among a group of his friends, who admitted they are aware of the potential 'double life' they lead on SNSs. The uploading of certain pictures if seen by their parents, who come from conservative Indian backgrounds, would be viewed as disrespectful. However, Abdul Razak disagreed with them. "Everywhere I am the same, so it doesn't actually affect me much."

Anyone who grew up during the 1990s or before the internet boom, will tell you stories of fighting over the telephone with siblings to talk to friends or getting in trouble with parents for running up a high telephone bill.

It was the 'cool' thing to do. Come home after school and talk about everything that happened at school. In this day and age FB seems to be the new telephone if not just a cheaper substitute. Like everyone else, friends Shehlla Gul, 18, and Natasha Arif, 17, use FB to stay in touch with old friends and "talk to our current friends when we are home," said Gul.

Gul has been using SNS since the age of 12 and finds that it has a positive effect on her. "We get to know many people, so we learn about different traditions," she said. "Some friends you have on FB are not from the same country you are in, so you get to know [their lifestyles] and become better friends with them," explained Arif.

When asked if they live life in their computer, Gul did not hesitate to say no. "We use it for two or three hours a day, but most of the time we are out." Arif comes from a large family and is unable to use the computer much at home, so she checks FB three times a week as opposed to her friend Gul, who logs on three times a day.

Coming from conservative Pakistani homes, the girls do not think they are different people online. "I think what you are, is what you believe you are. Being different would be wrong... . Ok you do share your pictures, but you only want close friends to comment [and see them]," said Arif.

When Notes asked the girls if they saw themselves using SNS for the rest of their lives they answered, yes. Could you live without it? "No," said Gul. "I'm like kind of addicted to it... I have to use it every day," she said.

Myra Khattab, an educational technology graduate programme coordinator with Michigan State University Dubai, said Arab students are communicating on social networking sites (SNS) in pure Arabic, English and a combination of Arabic and English, where English letters and numbers are used to form Arabic words.

"Language is an issue but we are living in a global village and need to be equipped with all languages," she said.

According to Khattab, students are educated about "netiquette". "When you are a digital citizen, you have to know netiquette. Otherwise it's like driving a car without a licence."

Online bullying, too, is an issue in the Arab world. "Cyber bullying is very common just as it is on the playground. It seems that whatever young people face in a traditional setting, it will occur on the net."

In the Middle East, SNSs are empowering tools for women. They are able to access online learning and attend universities not available in their home country. "Access to education in the Arab world is not as strong. Through the net, minorities, disadvantaged people and the disabled can have access to good-quality learning. It empowers women and people who are stuck in the cycle," Khattab said.

Dr Sherief Abdullah, a lecturer on the Faculty of Informatics at the British University in Dubai, said many universities in the UAE have a Facebook presence, which is mostly led by students.

"They form groups such as study groups and alumni groups to maintain relationships after graduation. In our university we started to build our Facebook presence to harvest the social network to market the university."

Abdullah said he hasn't seen much bullying on SNS. However, student sites in the Middle East are more politically inspired. An example of how much influence these sites have is the April 6 movement in Egypt. A small group of young liberal Egyptian activists used FB to organise a major protest against the current regime. The dissidents' use of new media to challenge the Egyptian authorities won them international acclaim.

"SNS has the potential to mobilise people also for good causes and it's an excellent environment for collaboration," Abdullah said, adding many students use SNS to raise money for charity, and to collaborate online with other universities.

One of the interesting spins-offs of SNS is that they can improve psychological well-being and self-esteem, especially when people have a large entourage of friends.

Jason Ward, senior instructor in the American University of Sharjah's Department of Writing Studies, said SNSs have an impact on people's social skills.

"From my own experience, I think it does. I jump out of my skin when the phone rings at work because I'm now so used to responding to questions through email. This means that when I do get a 'live' call I often feel less prepared and babble."

He said students may find it harder to develop the skills they need to interact and present their ideas if most of their work and interaction are online; there has to be a healthy balance. "It's also not a good idea to spend too long in front of a computer screen!"

Ward added that Arab users will find and establish their own norms to fit their community and although this will probably push the limits a little, "the users also self-regulate as we can see from comments on forums, news stories, YouTube, blogs, etc".

He said: "When someone posts something that goes too far, his/her peers will make this known."

Ward also said that there can be issues when different cultures collide but the web can at least help to provide a more global perspective, which shows the whole range of responses possible.

They say that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, which is exactly the approach universities and colleges are taking with SNS.

Apart from socialising with friends, students are using SNS to work and collaborate on projects said Myra Khattab. "They spend a lot of time playing with these gadgets - our response is to adapt and adopt the tools for educational purposes."

Khattab explained that universities are taking SNS and reusing them to have a positive effect on student achievement. "We merge our curriculum by infusing technology and making it more relevant and meaningful."

An example of this is of students creating web portfolios where they upload their projects. The students are publishing to a "real, authentic audience and that's why they prefer SNS". Students' efforts are also available to international experts and student communities, who can give valuable feedback.

"The difference between the web and SNS is that the latter allows one to be an active contributor and not a passive recipient."

Dr Abeer Al Najjar, assistant professor in the AUS Department of Mass Communication, said professors are using SNSs for projects and grading assignments. Topics are also debated on blogs she said.

Khattab said that the use of SNS in education is not without a few bumps. Current students were born in a digital world and have a "digital nature". However, teachers, who are older, are "immigrants" to the digital world.

She cited Grown Up Digital author Don Tapscott who talks about growing up in a digital world. "He says the current generation is making up the content on the internet. They are voting, they are creating content and they are in control. They've changed what it means to communicate with the writing and reading undergoing a transformation."

Khattab said there is nothing to be afraid of from SNSs. When technologies such as the pencil, typewriter or printing press came about, huge changes followed. "We should accept these changes. The one good thing about the generation is that they are actively participating in the distribution of information. Bloggers are moving and shaking the world. Media are not monopolised by one media company."

Abdullah said the major influences on web technologies are teachers but they are not fully prepared for this responsibility. "Including myself; I've still not caught up with the social revolution."

Although the first SNS started in 2000 we should keep in mind that social networks existed thousands of years ago. It's the internet revolution that makes it possible on a much larger scale.

Yes, it's the information age, but Abdullah cautions students to think carefully about what they put up on public platforms such as SNSs.

"You can use SNS to pursue job opportunities, for example on LinkedIn" where you can rank and recommend someone. But this can also harm employment.

Students need to be aware that what you put on your profiles can have ramifications. Keep in mind that future employers will look at what kind of friends you have and this indirectly affects their decision." He said it is also possible that committees looking at scholarship applicants will visit people's profiles to see what kind of people they are.

Issues around privacy and security are also hot topics because of predators and fraudulent behaviour. Abdullah said the use of people's information to conduct more aggressive marketing is under debate at the moment.

The expert advises people to be vigilant about the kind of plug-ins you install as well and to read the fine print as you may sometimes waive your privacy rights when you click to install.

Jason Ward of AUS said it's not what's out there but how you read it.

"I don't think that it (SNSs) should be controlled because this raises questions about who or what has the authority to control information."

Mobilising students through technology

Upon hearing about 20 per cent tuition hikes in the upcoming academic year, about 1,400 students at the American University of Sharjah started a Facebook group to oppose the decision.

The 'NO! For the American University of Sharjah Annual Fees Raise' says: "This group is dedicated for one purpose only. To enable students of AUS to express their opinions about raising tuition fees by about 20 per cent per year. Now, the question is, is such a great increase truly required?"

Students have also circulated a hard copy petition soliciting 2,000 signatures, which was handed to the university management through the AUS Student Council. Students are asking the university to increase tuition by a smaller percentage.

AUS chancellor Dr Peter Heath responded: "The university management is fully cognisant of this matter and is doing its utmost to satisfy the concerns of our students regarding the proposed tuition increase. In an email earlier this month sent out to all our student body, I had clarified many of the issues regarding this matter. As I explained to them, given the current economic environment, such concerns are totally understandable."

He said the decision to increase the tuition was based on the need to increase student grants and scholarships by 26 per cent (Dh14 million) for a total of Dh67 million for the next academic year alone.

"I have assured our students that the decision to increase tuition was not taken lightly; every effort will be made to minimise the tuition increase for academic year 2010-11."

AUS has also taken strides to market itself more aggressively and keep in touch with its student and alumni bodies by setting up Twitter and YouTube profiles.

- Check them out on http://twitter.com/AUSharjah and http://www.youtube.com/wwwausedu.