Virtual world and real world

Embedded in the digital era, we are under huge influences of the virtual world: social media connect the public and change the way we think, new technological firms appear and try to get consumers’ attention, traditional media also start to develop their online platforms to increase its media power. But it is still difficult for traditional corporations to find a right strategy on social media. The honeycomb framework presented in article“Understanding the functional building blocks of social media” is useful for the transmission from off-line to online models for traditional companies.

Along with convenience and colorful online life, problems like assault and online violence also appear in the online community. However, the obligation of virtual world problems is always a controversial issue. Platforms or producers always deny their obligation to solve problems due to its likely negative influence to its profit. Second Life is a special case since some of universities involved students compulsorily in. In this case, Bugeja highlights the duty of school. However, the participation of game users and social media users are voluntary in most of the occasions, where harassment and violence still exist. As Bugeja depicts, “Avators symbolize the self. They represent our deepest wishes, aspirations, virtues and yes, vices.” It is likely that accumulated achievement of sexual harassment online may lead potential criminals to conduct real-world crimes.Thus, who is supposed to be responsible for the problem? The producer or government?

Also, this issue reminds me of a prevalent game called “Glory of the king” in China. Players can choose historical figures roles with different professional skills like assassinating, curing to fight in groups. This game changes some historical facts in game settings. For instance, it portrays a famous male assassin as a female beauty. Many primary and middle school students suppose what games represent are the facts of history. Thus, this popular game was asked to change settings because of the distortion of historical figures. In reality, a lot of games and social media platforms with distorting information and fake news exist in daily life. How could we treat this phenomenon appropriately? Do schools have the obligation to develop related courses?

As for the correlation of academic performance and life online, I partly agree with the point “there is no negative relationship between Facebook use and academic performance.”The article ”Facebook and academic performance” points out a possible reason:”Because Facebook use began in relatively privileged environments (first at Harvard University, then at select U.S. Colleges.” In my sense, Facebook use do not necessarily lead to the worse academic performance, but if some students are addicted to the virtual world, it may exert some negative impacts on their life.