Internet Society and Global Culture. Revision of Interdisciplinary Project at Opole University of Technology

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Internet Society and Global Culture. Revision of Interdisciplinary Project at Opole University of Technology

Anna Rajchel

Milena J. Jdrzejewska Doctor of Humanities, Ass. Prof. Faculty of Economics and Management, Opole University of Technology, Poland. MA, PhD candidate, Faculty of Journalism Information and Book Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

An interdisciplinary project «Internet society and global culture» was conducted by the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Opole University of Technology, in 2012-2020. The idea lead to exam the relationships between various areas of global culture inscribed in virtual space. Researchers considered human functioning regarding online safety, risks and benefits of using the Internet, exclusion of «offline people» and especially young users. Different institutions were reviewed: schools, libraries, churches, banks, shops, etc.

The result of the joint meetings was the creation of six monographs: «Internet society and global culture. Legal and cultural aspects of human functioning in virtual reality «, «Internet society and global culture», «Church on the Internet - Internet in the Church: Internet society and global culture», «Internet and modern economy», «Internet society and global culture. Young user on the web. Part 2», «Internet society and global culture. New media in education as a challenge of the 21st century». The project was directed primarily to young people for whom the virtual world has become a permanent part of their life, study and work. Globalization is an irreversible process that brings benefits but also brings threats (e.g. climate change). It was very important that teachers, entrepreneurs and representatives of public administration participated in the project together with the students. The topic has become particularly important in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic and its limitations.

Key words: Internet, new media, globalization, eduaction, youth, scientific projects, Poland.

Анотація

Інтернет-суспільство та глобальна культура. Ревізія міждисциплінарного проекту в Опольському технологічному університеті.

Міждисциплінарний проєкт «Інтернет-суспільство та глобальна культура» був проведений Факультетом економіки та менеджменту Опольського технологічного університету у 2012 -2020 роках. Ідея проекту спрямовувалася на вивчення відносин між різними сферами глобальної культури, вписаними у віртуальний простір.

Проект мав міждисциплінарний характер, пов'язаний із інтересами студентів, викладачів та батьків. Дослідники розглянули функціонування людини щодо безпеки в Інтернеті, ризиків та переваг використання Інтернету для «автономних людей» і особливо молодих користувачів. Були розглянуті різні установи: школи, бібліотеки, церкви, банки, магазини тощо. Економісти, підприємці, представники влади та місцевої адміністрації показали молоді, як швидко та якісно виконувати службові справи, платити податки, робити покупки.

Віртуальна реальність стала невід'ємною частиною життя людини. Пандемія СоуМ-19 і переведення всієї офлайн-діяльності в онлайн-активність показали, що навчання, робота та задоволення від культури можуть відбуватися в такій формі. Дослідження та звіти на цю тему в основному стосуються оцінювання онлайн-навчання студентами, думок про проведені заняття, дидактичні методи та виконання навчальної програми. Важливим є також аспект, пов'язаний з психічним і фізичним станом молоді та її поверненням до денної форми навчання. Пандемія також вплинула на забезпечення комп'ютерами шкіл та домогосподарств, і показники електронних покупок зросли. Суспільству довелося навчитися користуватися послугами електронного уряду. Це також показало недоліки цифрових навичок поляків. Вчителі, діти, студенти, учні, старші почали функціонувати в іншій реальності, для когось дуже складній.

У проекті взяли участь понад 100 дослідників з усієї Польщі. Він складався з шести тематичних конференцій та публікацій після конференцій. У зустрічах також брали участь вчителі та учні загальноосвітніх шкіл. Проект був адресований насамперед молодим дослідникам та студентам, які брали активну участь у проекті. Представлений проект досі є активним полем для дослідження глобального суспільства в контексті віртуального медіапростору. Адже сьогодні віртуальний світ переступив черговий поріг свідомості, дуже інтенсивно проникаючи в усі сфери нашого життя.

Ключові слова: Інтернет, нові медіа, глобалізація, освіта, молодь, наукові проекти, Польща.

Introduction

The virtual network popularly called the «Internet» dates back of the early 1990s. The first home page in Poland was registered in 1993, and in 1995 a website «Wirtualna Polska» started as the nationwide online information service. Since then, improvements to this global medium rapidly emerged. It is considered today as one of the most epochal inventions of humanity.

In connection with the development of the Internet, valuable initiatives aim to consciously use global information resources and «organize» in various aspects. One of them is the «Safer Internet Day», started in 2007. Its initiator is the European Commission, and the goal is a safe access to global online resources of children and young people.

In Poland, users already have numerous security options, addressed primarily to parents and caregivers of the youngest. By installing the appropriate software, we can comprehensively protect ourselves from unwanted content, such as pornography, profanity, violence, etc. One of such programs is «Student's Guardian» («Straznik ucznia») Kalczynska, M., Rajchel, A. (2018), Spoleczenstwo internautow a kultura globalna. Mlody uzytkownik w sieci, cz. 2 (2018), Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Opolskiej, Opole, pp. 5-7..

The positive aspect of the network's society is «netiquette» - a set of rules on the Internet, including, e.g. a ban on sharing «chains of luck» or on provoking arguments. The goal is to build a society without borders, but with a certain ethical norm. Some examples of behaviors that do not comply with such rules are: e.g «trolling» - influencing the user to ridicule or insult, or provoking a quarrel; «floding» - sending identical messages in quick succession, «spamming» - sending unnecessary messages, «offtoping» - arguments not connected to the topic matters. The rules of «netiquette» are to serve everyone equally. Everyone must remember that nobody is completely anonymous on the Internet Stamm, A. (2018), Flame wars, trolling, drama, hating - zachowania niezgodne z netykietq Przyklad portalu YouTube, [w:] Kalczynska, M., Rajchel, A. (eds), Spoleczenstwo internautow a kultura globalna. Mlody uzytkownik w sieci, cz. 2, Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Opolskiej, Opole, pp. 25-37..

Analysis of research on the problem

According to scientists, the young generation, especially those born after 2000, do not know the reality without the Internet, without access to a computer or other mobile devices. For them, the virtual world has become an integral part of professional and private life. It is a generation to which a series of studies on their behavior in the labor market and the adaptation of their needs to the requirements of employers have been devoted Zarczynska-Dobiesz, A., Chomqtowska, B. (2014), Pokolenie „Z” na rynku pracy-wyzwania dla zarzqdzania zasobami ludzkimi, Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrodawiu, nr 350, pp. 405-415; Muster, R. (2020), Pokolenie „Z” na wspolczesnym rynku pracy w opiniach pracodawcow, Humanizacja pracy, nr 1, pp. 131-146, https://rebus.us.edu.pl/bitstream/20.500.12128/13825/1/Muster_Pokolenie_Z_na_wspolczesnym_ rynku_pracy_w_opiniach_pracodawcow.pdf, access May 9th, 2021; Messyasz, K. (2021), Pokolenie Z na rynku pracy -strukturalne uwarunkowania i oczekiwania, Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Sociologica, nr 76, pp. 97-114; Arora, N., Dhole, V. (2019), Generation Y: Perspective, engagement, expectations, preferences and satisfactions from workplace; a study conducted in Indian context, Benchmarking An International Journal 26(5), pp. 1378-1404.. This is a generation that will combine work and private life without harming these areas Robak, E. (2017), Expectations of generation Y connected with shaping the work-life balance. The case of Poland, Oeconomia Copernicana, Vol. 8, No 4, pp. 569-584; Pinzaru, F., Vatamanescu, E.M., Mitan, A., Savulescu, R., Vitelar, A., Savulescu, R., Noaghea, C., Balan, M. (2016), Millennials at Work: Investigating the Specificity of Generation Y versus Other Generations, Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, Vol.4, No. 2, pp.173-192; Mendryk, I. (2015), Employees of Generation Y - Their Profile Based on Research Results, International Journal of Synergy and Research 4(2), pp. 75-86..

They use e-shopping, e-education (which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic), e- administration or e-taxes on a daily basis Olszewska, K. (2020), Znaczenie e-learningu we wspolczesnej edukacji, Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Czqsto- chowskiej. Zarzqdzanie, nr 37, pp. 48-63; Langowska-Marcinowska, K. (2020), Nauczanie zdalne (e-learning) cech^ nowoczesnych technologii w edukacji, Pedagogika Przedszkolna i Wczesnoszkolna , Vol. 8, pp. 63-69.. They are open to changes, operative, and know foreign languages. However, incompetent use of the Internet also poses a number of threats, such as Internet addiction, access to content promoting behavior inconsistent with the applicable Polish, European and international law, content showing violence, promoting racist, xenophobic behavior, referring to well - established stereotypes or prejudices Wojcik, S. (2017), Zagrozenia dzieci i mlodziezy w internecie, Dziecko krzywdzone. Teoria, badania, praktyka, Vol.16 , Issue 1, pp. 270-287; Piechna, J. (2019), Szkodliwe tresci w Internecie. Nie akceptuj^, reaguj§! Poradnik dla rodzicow, Nask Akademia, https://akademia.nask.pl/publikacje/Szkodliwe%20tre% C5%9Bci%20w%20internecie_www.pdf, access May 9th, 2021; Farrukh, A., Sadwick, R., Villasenor, J. (2014), Youth Internet Safety: Risks, Responses, and Research Recommendations, Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/youth-intemet-safety_v07.pdf, access May 9th, 2021, pp. 1-18; Machimbarrena, J., M., Calvete, E., Fernandez- Gonzalez, L., Alvarez- Bardon, A., Alvarez - Fernandez, L., Gonzalez- Cabrera, J. (2018), Internet Risks: An Overview of Victimization in Cyberbully- ing, Cyber Dating Abuse, Sexting, Online Grooming and Problematic Internet Use, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 15, Issue 11, pp. 2-15.. Young people are not always aware of the real dangers in the virtual world.

The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 in article 72 paragraph 1 states that «The Republic of Poland ensures protection of children's rights. Everyone has the right to demand that the organs of public authority protect the child against violence, cruelty, exploitation and demoralization» Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 kwietnia 1997 r., Dz.U. 1997 nr 78 poz. 483 z pozn. zm.. This means that every institution or public authority has a duty to ensure the safety of children and young people in the global network.

The Office of Electronic Communications has published a guide for parents and teachers entitled «I'm clicking consciously» („Klikam z glow»). According to the authors, in Poland, «only every second parent uses parental control in the context of the child's use of the Internet. This percentage decreases with increasing age of children (7-9 years - 59.7%, 10-12 years - 52.2%, 13-15 years - 31.7%) Klikam z glow^. Poradnik dla rodzicow i nauczycieli, Urz^d Komunikacji Elektronicznej, https://cik.uke.gov.pl/download/gfx/cik/pl/defaultaktualnosci/130/18/24/poradnik_klikam_z_glowa.pdf, access December 4th 2021. Uchwala nr 125 Rady Ministrow z dnia 22 pazdziernika 2019 r. w sprawie Strategii Cyberbezpieczenstwa Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na lata 2019-2024, p. 6..

In Poland, the basic legal acts related to cybersecurity include:

1. Act of July 5th, 2018 on the national cybersecurity system, Dz.U. 2018 item 1560.

2. Regulation of the Council of Ministers of October 2nd, 2018 on the scope of activities and working procedures of the College for Cybersecurity, Dz.U. 2018, No. 2018 item 1952.

3. Regulation of the Minister of Digitization of December 4th, 2019 on organizational and technical conditions for entities providing cybersecurity services and internal organizational structures of key service operators responsible for cybersecurity, Dz.U. 2019, item 2479.

An important Polish legal act in the field of online security is Resolution No. 125 of the Council of Ministers of October 22nd, 2019 on the Cybersecurity Strategy of the Republic of Poland for 20192024, which defines «strategic goals and appropriate political and regulatory measures to obtain high level of cybersecurity (...)»». The main goal of the Strategy is:

* increasing the level of resistance to cyber threats and

* increasing the level of information protection in the public, military and private sectors and promoting knowledge and good practices enabling citizens to better protect their information Ibidem, p. 8..

The rules of online trading are regulated, among others, by

1. The Act of May 30th, 2014 on Consumer Rights, Dz.U. 2014 item 827 with later amendments.

2. The Act of July 18th, 2002 on the provision of electronic services, Dz.U. 2002, No.144, item 1204 with later amendments.

3. Act of May 10th, 2018 on the protection of personal data, Dz.U. 2018 item 1000 with later amendments.

4. Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 20th, 2019 on promoting fairness and transparency for business users using online intermediation services.

The Internet, like any tool, has its advantages and disadvantages, which is always worth discussing. The subject of the globalizing society makes young people aware of their potential and real dangers. Tendencies occurring in contemporary society are increasingly based on the virtual world of new media.

Description of the project

On the initiative of the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Opole University of Technology, in 2012-2020 an interdisciplinary project was conducted. The idea lead to exam the relationships between various areas of global culture inscribed in virtual space. global culture cyberspace internet

Researchers and science adepts considered human functioning in global space, referring to: law, ethics, culture, theology, economy, management, information science, bibliology, linguistics, security, social communication, psychology, art and broadly understood education.

The following questions were asked: how to protect and secure users of the virtual world with particular emphasis on children and youth, what are the risks and benefits of using the Internet, how to deal with the exclusion of people not adapted to the virtual world. A lot of space was devoted to young users who was implied in the world of modern media starting from birth Wloga, M. (2020), Dzieci w sieci, Niedziela, 21 January, 52, https://www.niedziela.pl/artykul/146645/nd/ Dzieci-w-sieci, access May 9th, 2021.. Different institutions were reviewed, as inscribed in the development of new media communication, among others: schools, libraries, churches, banks, shops, etc. In the face of socio-economic and cultural changes new perspectives for e-education were discovered. Also they tried to identify the type of the modern Internet user.

The project was attended by over 100 researchers from all over Poland, representing scientific centers such as: Opole, Poznan, Dqbrowa Gornicza, Wroclaw, Warsaw, Szczecin, Zabrze, Katowice, Rzeszow, Lodz, Krakow and others. Headmasters and secondary school teachers from Opole also pa r- ticipated in the meetings.

Post-conference publications covered such topics as: young user on the web, legal and cultural aspects of human functioning in virtual reality, Internet and modern economy, new media in education as a challenge for the 21st century. The publications featured 78 articles, of which 4 (in part II) were written by high school students from Opole.

An interesting initiative was the invitation of high school students, who discussed the pros and cons of using the global network, presented what means darknet and e-voting, referred to the avatars, trolling, identity of the X, Y and Z generation, etc. Many perceptions of high school students were included in subsequent editions of the project, which resulted in a broader approach to the subject. It is noteworthy that Opole high school directors and teachers also participated in these scientific meetings.

The project «Internet society and the global culture. A young user on the web» concerned aspects of the Internet functioning in global culture, including: social network as a new form of virtual community organization, the role of the Internet in education of high school youth, building the online appearance of Polish universities, online violence and protection of young users.

Researchers also referred to topics related to the economy in the Internet era, including: the Internet and the green economy, development of e-services in Poland, e-commerce as a supplement to traditional retail sales, online recruitment process, the current directions of socio-economic development in terms of the perspective of e-education development, the use of information and communication technologies in Polish households. Also it referred to the European area of online communication, analysis of user behavior based on research of British scholars, media of Polish community in Canada, etc.

The main subject of the study was to observe the behavior of young users in the virtual world. T o- pics related to the sphere of young threats on the web were discussed in detail: netiquette, illegal trade, online piracy, pros and cons of using a smartphone, personal data protection, privacy awareness, ways of speaking on the network and the problem of online credibility.

The topic of new media in 21st century education referred to the quality of education through new media channels. Related topics also included: social exclusion, e-learning and digital threats. The role of libraries in shaping the Internet society was also analyzed: ways of communication with users through social media and a wide range of e-resources that libraries propose to their readers (enduring value and power of community, information, and accessibility). There were also threads about overcoming barriers in virtual space, the senior's place in the network and upbringing into Christian values through social media.

The project was addressed primarily to young researchers of the virtual world and students who were personally and actively involved in the implementation of the initiative. The inspiration for the project were contemporary phenomena taking place in the social space, as it acquired a special attribute in the second decade of the 21st century. As we know, the environment always strongly affects the living conditions of modern man, seeking the best solutions for various solutions.

Project assumptions.

From the mid-90s of the 20th century, in the scientific methodology began to function the term «i n- ternet community identical with the virtual community, network community (virtual community, e - community, online community)» Maigret, E., (2012), Socjologia komunikacji i mediow, Oficyna Naukowa, Warszawa, pp. 418-419.. It is a community of people in which interactions take place via the Internet (tools for establishing communication) Szpunar, M., (2004), Spolecznosci wirtualne jako spolecznosci - proba ujзcia socjologicznego, [w:] Ra- dochanski, M., Przywara, B. (eds), Jednostka-grupa-cybersiec. Psychologiczne, spoleczno-kulturowe i edu- kacyjne aspekty spoleczenstwa informacyjnego, Wyzsza Szkola Informatyki i Zarzqdzania, Rzeszow, pp. 157184..

In Poland, the researchers started to focus on a broader scientific view of this phenomena recently. We dare to say that it caused the events related to the ACTA movement in 2012. «The network society, just like the consumer society before, gained many supporters and opponents, and the term itself indicates how much the role is attributed to the development of the Internet « Maigret, E., (2012), op.cit., p. 419..

In defining the network society, we must also refer to broadly understood culture in a global sense. In this case, contemporary culture is strongly correlated with virtual reality. The world around us is shaped by the development of media (mainly virtual) Stadniczenko, S., (2013), Informacja i komunikacja wyznacznikiem obecnego wieku, [w:] Kalczynska, M., Majos, M., Malinowski, P., (eds), Spoleczenstwo internautow a kultura globalna. Prawno-kulturowe aspekty funkcjonowama czlowieka w wirtualnej rzeczywistosci, Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Opolskiej, Opole, pp. 13-30..

The essence of the project was to look for a correlation between virtual education and the development of a network society. This has gained significance in the era of global pandemics in 2020 Mucha. W., (2020), Wirus w sieci. Gazeta Polska, 15 kwietnia, https://www.gazetapolska.pl/22100-wirus-w- sieci-czyli-opetani-przez-covid-19, accessed: 9.05.2021, pp. 54-55.. Therefore, the challenges for the global society members has been confirmed by practicing awareness for permanent education in order to adapt to the rapid development of knowledge and access to information (especially through new media).

The term «education» in the sense of virtual resources, means upbringing of young people entering adult life. School institutions adapt them to applicable educational norms and principles. The teaching system should assume subordination, succession and continuity towards current development. Technological progress should adjust the knowledge transfer to the needs of the recipient. It can therefore be concluded that the basis for success in modern education is the use of appropriate methods that comb ine innovation and efficiency in the transfer of knowledge Kalczynska, M., Rajchel, A., Jзdrzejewska, M. (2019), op.cit., p. 5..

During the learning process, students should be able to use knowledge in order to acquire the will for self-education and to reach for it voluntarily. Competent educators from state institutions as well as other non-school instructors should prepare them for this task.

Many researchers evaluate the behavior of subsequent generations, today called X, Y, and Z. Each of them is characterized by specific behavioral features correlated with technical and economic progress. Which was reflected in a seamless adjustment to the requirements of, among others e-education and the dissemination of mobile applications useful in security systems and in many other areas Lechowicz, N., Pikula, D. (2014), Pokolenie Z- czyli jak Internet ksztaltuje nowe pokolenie. Implikacje dla systemu edukacji i metod wychowawczych, [w:] Kalczynska, M., Rajchel, A. (eds), Spoleczenstwo internautow a kultura globalna. Mlody uzytkownik w sieci, Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Oplskiej, Opole, pp. 91-102..

However, the dynamic development of the Internet began only in the early 1990s. At that time, households were able to use the network. The global web spread around the world and it is present in every area of our lives. The development of information and communication technologies has given a pace to the global economy. The turn of the 1980s and 1990s is described by economists as the beginning of the fifth business cycle of Kondratieff Gorka, K., Luszczyk, M. (2013), Wspolczesne tendencje rozwoju gospodarczego regionu w kontekscie teorii cykli koniunkturalnych, Studia Komitetu Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania Kraju PAN, tom 155, p. 87..

Access to hi-tech equipment, development of digital skills and competences of children, youth and seniors is the basic determinant of the socio-economic development of the country. Digital competences are also one of the key skills in the field of «critical and responsible use of digital technologies and their use for education, work, etc.» as states the Council Recommendation of 22 May 2018 on key competences for lifelong learning Zalecenie Rady z dnia 22 maja 2018 r. w sprawie kompetencji kluczowych w procesie uczenia siз przez cale

zycie (Tekst majqcy znaczenie dla EOG) (2018/C 189/01), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/PL/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018H0604(01)&from=en, dostзp 9 maja 2021, p. 7.. This is important for shaping the learning process of the young generation of Poles entering professional work. New professions requiring digital skills and systematic improvement of knowledge are emerging and will appear on the Polish, European and global labor market. Table 1 shows examples of new professions in which skills related to data processing, graphic design etc. will be necessary.

Table 1. Examples of new professions