In the 21st century, the world has tremendously become advanced in various sectors. Perhaps, the most improving and ever growing sector is the information and communication technology. ICT has affected entire human activities such as economic, political and social. Some of the information and communication technology that has affected political socialization include text messaging, twitter, facebook, as well as internet. In fact, Information and communication technology in the contemporary society has affected political socialization immensely especially in developed democracies. Political socialization refers to a process by which orientation of citizens are transmitted, and conditioned by shifts in social, economic and political framework at international, national and local level (Owen, 2008, pp1-5).
Arguably, new information and communication technology has critically incorporated the lives of people in the globe. It has become the most influential tool for citizens in political socialization. In developed democracies, the impacts of Information and Communication Technology are highly rated. This is because there is free flow of information, as well as freedom to express once opinion (Owen, 2008, pp7-8). As compared to countries where democracy is at its lower level, citizen is deprived their rights to get information. It is clear that ICT has profoundly transformed the citizens’ way of thinking, because it has enhanced the process of transmission and acquisition of knowledge.
Information and communication technology such as facebook, twitter and the internet is the most influential agents of political socialization. Internet has become the pillar of communication on political issues. In fact, politicians have discovered that most of the citizens in developed countries and democracies have free access of information. Hence, they communicate using ICT agents. Facebook and twitter has upgraded the learning process of children and youth on political issues (Handelman & Ethridge, 2009, pp24-26). In fact, it has designed and transferred political norms and systems to many generations. As a matter of fact, political opinions in the globe are developed from childhood; therefore, information and communication technologies have helped in developing political opinions from among the young generation.
In additions, ICT has an agent of political socialization has enabled citizen in dev eloped democracies to acquire feelings and perceptions on their political surroundings. Certainly, it accounts for diversities and commonalities in the political life of citizens. Furthermore, ICT has influenced the public opinions and political beliefs; this is because they have information on every aspect of politics. Facebook groups have become the most influential sites on political issues. Apart from been a campaigning tool, social networking provides citizens with powerful information, as well as becoming a toll for aggregating interests and expressing political views.
Undeniably, just like any other agent of socialization, ICT has both the disadvantages and advantages. As a matter of fact, ICT has shaped the socialization process in political, social, and economic arena. As an agent of socialization, it saves a lot of time and money. This is because; an individual can pass information at the lowest cost possible. It actually fulfils the desire of people to the receiver and pass information. Additionally, ICT eliminates the elements of superficiality in the entire socialization process (Owen, 2008, pp10-13).
ICT has promoted and led to development of virtual communities of which they can share ideas and help each other in various fields. Virtual communities bring people of equal interest, goal and purpose. Furthermore, unites people from different ethnicity, races, and social classes. In one way or another, ICT has united the world, and converted it into a global village (Handelman & Ethridge, 2009, pp34-35).
On the other hand, ICT is degrading the societal abilities to interact at an interpersonal level. Generally, Information and Communication technology has eliminated important aspects and virtues of socialization. For example, social interaction entails using all common senses such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, as well as body language; of which ICT has eliminated most of them. Additionally, information from the internet and other social networks might not be true.
References:
Handelman, H & Ethridge, M. (2009). Politics in a Changing World. London: Springer, pp 12-34.
Owen, D. (2008). Political Socialization in the Twenty-first Century. Washington: Georgetown University Press, pp 1-26.
