Taking it outside our borders

As one might expect, the use of social media tools (SMT’s)or SNT's (social network tools)as they are called in the article on Ghana, is not as ubiquitous outside of the U.S. and other “first world” countries as one might like to think. Despite the fact that technology could potentially lend much needed support to the educational systems in poorer countries with low literacy rates there are several barriers to the widespread implementation and use of SMT’s and technology in general. One of the more obvious barriers is the initial cost and resources required to establish an acceptable technological infrastructure in less developed and developing countries. Another resembles one we experience within U.S. borders as well: Resistance from champions of more traditional forms of instruction which oftentimes results from their unfamiliarity with, fear of or unwillingness to learn to use the new technologies. In some countries, such as China, SMT’s are banned entirely. Why? They are perceived as a threat to and by the government. Particularly in those countries where the governing authorities discourage freedom of speech. They fear that SMT’s might allow for people to self-organize rapidly and band together in protest of perceived or real injustices. This fear is justifiable. In his book, “Here comes Everybody”, Shirky (2008) references the unrest the Belarusian Government was unable to quieten, the challenges the Catholic church was unable to ignore because of the self-organizing power of the people via the web (pg.23). Social media provides a platform for opinions and allows these opinions and related stories to spread at astonishing or “viral” rates. We are truly blessed to live in a country that allows and encourages free exchange of opinions and ideas across any platform; even when they are neither complimentary towards government officials currently in office nor their policies.