IT@Pitt

Xhibit, Dora and China....what an interesting combo

One of the key things that we have learned in IT so far, at least in my opinion, is that the expansion of the internet and other forms of technology have made information and "entertainment" sharing easier than ever. The internet has changed how the world entertains itself. Relevant information sharing and communication on the internet is something I am definitely in favor of. The internet has allowed huge advances in business communication, foreign relations and government transparency. However, I can not see much benefit or social importance in broadcasting "Pimp my Ride" and "Blues Clues" to Chinese people. An article recently came out about MTV attempting to bypass the regulations of the Chinese government and broadcast their programming to the Chinese people. The Chinese government tends to be overly restrictive and oppressive in their limitations on its people and the type of information and media that they are allowed to obtain, to that I will concede. However, I think they might be right in limiting MTV and other American programs.
I was rather shocked that MTV would be able to bypass the previously rather strict internet filter. Persons in China usually only receive about 70% of the internet and such things as pornography and various types of spam are usually blocked.
I believe MTV's ability to crack the Chinese governments chokehold on the free media access in their country only goes to further show how innovations in technology, especially internet technology, are changing the way government and the world operate. Governments may be using new technologies to more closely monitor their people, but new technologies are also giving people access to various forms of information whether the government likes it or not. Though, while I admit that I enjoy an hour or two of "Extreme Elimination Challenge," myself once in a while, I can honestly say that I would be probably be a better and more educated person if I spent that hour or two watching a biography of Woodrow Wilson on PBS. I believe that the same rings true for China; as much as people may enjoy "Pimp My Ride," there are better things to be broadcasting around the world.

posted by julie @ 3:25 PM