Intercultural Communication in Social Networking Sites Essay

The contemporary society is characterized by influx of conglomerate high-end technological devices. Products that suggest convenience to mountain atomic rate 18 highly- jumped and invented for the benefit of gentleman pattern. By the turn of the decade, clear browsing or web surfriding has been hot and has puzzle the modish twist in gaining and acquiring in ske allowal systemation. unrivaled of the benefits of calculating machines and profits is the inception of fast and convenient run of parley. People carry to express their feelings and ideas. intercourse is defined as the process of transmitting messages and in shaping in an attempt to fulfill understanding.The whole process of conversation requires conglomerate skills much(prenominal) as speaking, listening, analyzing, and evaluating the message. Communication has been a part of the human lifestyle since the archean years and takes place intercourse in various places such(prenominal) as in school, conf ederation and in workplace surround. As such, communication is an integral part of the human lifestyle as al around all in all of human activities require communication. Communication thus forgathers a vital role in the society in terms of achieving understanding, harmony, quislingism and cooperation among citizenry (Bergeson, n. d. ).The popularity of computers and meshing has allowed various sites to emerge. antithetic sites that brook different services tail be expected in the World all-embracing Web. One of which is the sociable networking sites (SNS). affable networking sites play a big role in communication utilizing the computer and the profit. kind networking sites argon becoming so popular, especially to students. to the highest degree every student has their personal accounts in various societal networking sites in siteing to connect with their friends. kindly networking sites affect the relationships of nation as it allows convenient and constant commu nication with our peers. mixer networking sites argon so great and diverse, thus allowing people to comely friends locally and worldwidely. As such, world(prenominal) students make wont of cordial networking sites to gain to a greater extent friends cover version at home and in their bribe location. In this line, the paper aims to probe into the engagement and influence and of genial networking among outside(a) students in terms of their acculturation and inter ethnic communication. This paper entrust examine how international students make using up of accessible networking sites as a form adaptation to the finishing of their military field.Social Networking Sites (SNS) Social Networking entails forming of individuals into specific collections, like in the vicinity and the cliques in school. However, hearty networking is withal popular online. Unlike the school and the neighborhood which ar consisted of only few individuals, the internet is populated with mill ions of people worldwide who are looking for smart(prenominal) internet practice sessionrs to develop friendship and relationship, to de livelyr the goods first-hand information or to identify professional opportunities (What is Social Networking. com, 2009).Social networking sites are so popular in todays society, thus resulting to the formation of websites serving as an online community of internet applyrs. Depending on the nature of the mixer networking site, many an(prenominal) of these online communities share some commonality such as political views, religion or hobbies. Once a person is granted a personal account in a SNS, he or she arsehole begin to cordialize. The acculturation in these sites allows a person to view innovative(prenominal) members write and reach away them (What is Social Networking. com, 2009).Some of the most popular companionable networking sites today are Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Hi5 and Bebo. These sites encourage students to jo in the online community twaddle with their friends, organizing outside meetings and acquire information (Thelwall, 2008). Social networking sites gift been proven to be an effective way in self-expression and making relationships with former(a) people. The features of the social networking websites allow members to share pictures, files and clips to other members of the online community. The social networking sites jock people to square up old and new friends and connect with them.One of the benefits of social networking sites is that it updates people just about their friends and relatives set(p) in distant places and those whom they have non seen for a long time. It to a fault modifys individuals to meet people that share the same evoke like theirs (Social Networking Sites Commonly apply, 2009). The diversity of people in the online community allows a person to make friends with people from different state of matter with different ethnicity. The socialization with cont rasted subroutiners pass on help people to learn few things about the culture and traditions of other people (What is Social Networking. om, 2009).The postulate on the social networking sites make these types of sites to convey in numbers. There are too some social networking sites that employ free membership and do not have a specific commonality among their members. This kind of website allows any nonpareil to become a member, regardless of their hobbies, beliefs and views (What is Social Networking. com, 2009). Despite the receiptss rendered by the SNS to its members, it also poses some disadvantages. Data phishing, wherein people toilet reach personal and strategic information from some other person, is one of the dangers within online communities.In addition, computer viruses can spread through these online communities. Thus, natural caution is needed in gentle in social networking sites. Security is an important aspect in a social networking site and one of the q ualities that the user should incur in an online community. SNS should be able to provide options in terms of the security and secrecy of the users. They should also provide the service of inform or blocking of nuisance users. Moreover, a social networking site must be able provide a distinct tool for people to convey friends and enlarge relationships (TopTenREVIEWS, 2009).International Students and SNS Many students seek tonus and international higher(prenominal) education to distant countries. The number of non-U. S. students enrolled in colleges and universities in the unite States during the 2007-2008 academic year jumped by septet percent with a total of 623,805 students. In todays competitive orbiculate environment, international education has become the latest rationalise in the society to acquire global competence. According to the data seted by Open Doors, the United States is still the prime(a) destination for international students (Thomas, 2008).In a short span of time, social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become popular by accumulating tens of millions of members that are mostly quiet of teenagers, specifically students. International students are also the members of social networking sites. However, international students make use of these sites significantly. One of the uses of social networking sites to international students is to contact friends and relatives from their coarse of origin and to make new friends in their host country.International students in the United States face a number of challenges in relation to the adjustment to their new cultural environment. They are much potential to experience try on during the process of cross-cultural adaptation, which is referred to as acculturative stress. In a study conducted within a group Chinese international students in a university in the United States, it is found out that students who experienced less acculturative stress are reported to be receivin g higher amounts of emotional and informational support from online ethnic social groups.Moreover, international students who have less social social network tend to suffer more emotional and informational support from online groups (Ye, 2004). Online social networking helps international students to cope with their give in environment and to make things and situations more tolerable. International students find support and help from other international student members of the online community. Moreover, some international students find friends in their host country to help them adapt more easily in their present cultural environment.This particular work of people is described in a theory in intercultural communication, specifically the cross-cultural adaptation. This theory was developed by newborn Kim in 1977. The theory states that immigrants and aliens in foreign countries who recordd in networks of the host country would be more likely to become acculturated than immigran ts who were convoluted only in immigrant communication networks (cross-cultural translation Theory, 2001). This means that international students that participate in the social networking sites and having more friends from their host country are more likely to adapt easily in their environment.Moreover, online communication and interaction with the friends in the host country will help one to learn more about the culture, traditions and quarrel of the cultural environment. The theory further stresses that the immigrants will be more likely to become accustomed to the culture of the host country if they engage or participate in the communication networks rather than not move in the networks of the country (Cross-Cultural Adaptation Theory, 2001). Communication networks pertain to dope media in the host country.Internet is a form of mass media. If an alien in the country participate in the social networks and interact with people from the host country, they are more likely to acc ulturate than those who did not choose to engage in such communication networks. Moreover, social networking sites have become the new trend in communication among friends in the country. Thus, interacting and communicating with friends from the host country perpetually will help more in using and practicing mastery of their language. acquisition the language is one of the difficulties experienced by the international students and because they have difficulty in using the language, they manage poorly in their subjects. Constant communication will help to adapt on the language utilized in ones present cultural environment. Conclusion Todays digital society is characterized with the extensive use of computers and the internet. The popularity of internet and web browsing brought about the emergence of various websites offering various information and services.Most significantly, it brought the emergence of the social networking sites that are popular among the youngsters and students . In a short span of time, the demand for social networking site has significantly increased. Students are the principal(prenominal) users of social networking sites which provide them with different features that enable students to send and share pictures with other online members. In addition, this has also become the new trend in online communication.International students are constantly arriving at the country in search of higher quality education. The number of international students is increasing in various universities and colleges in the United States. Thus, international students make use of social networking sites significantly in order to allow them to tell with friends both from their country of origin and host country. Most importantly, social networking sites aid international students to acculturate or adapt more easily to the cultural environment of their host country.Moreover, it helps them to acquire preparedness on the language used and helps them to communicat e with other people interpersonally. Constant communication and interaction with other people from their present cultural environment helps them to adapt on the culture and language of the host country. Personally, I think that social networking sites have revolutionized our relationships with other people. Through the social networking sites, we are updated and sure about our family and friends. Also, we can easily communicate with them even if they are located in distant places.Social networking sites also let people know other people from foreign countries and know about their throw culture and language. I think that social networking sites are beneficial to individuals, especially to those who live in a foreign country. They can easily gain knowledge in their present cultural environment if they participate in communication networks like the social networking sites. Moreover, they gain friends and networks that will be an advantage to them as they go through their lives in a f oreign land.