In its current usage the term cyberspace is

a global network of interdependent information

technology infrastructures, telecommunications

networks and computer processing systems.

Cyberspace also stands for the meaning of “computer,” “computer network,” or “virtual reality”. The term has become a conventional means to describe anything associated with the Internet.

In cyberspace we exchange our minds with others,

we share our minds with others and develop our minds.

In network reality there is a dialogical development

of meaning.

“As people view the e-mail, web page or instant message written by an online companion, some people truly feel that their minds are connected to or even blended with the minds of the others”. (Suler 2007)

In the network of minds there is an interaction between minds. Individual brain-frame changed to inter-brainframe.

temporal flexibility, no limitation of space, social multiplicity, textual communication, recordability, speed of exchanging information, entertainment, better informing, empowerment of human potential, equality, diminution of hallo effect...

Time in cyberspace is

flexible; Streching of time; Synchronous communication

via chat rooms; metaworlds

(avatars); Asynchronous

communication via e-mail, or forum discussions;

Geographical distance in cyberspace don’t exist. Computer network enable people to find each other without the limitation of time and space.

In cyberspace a person can communicate with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. By posting a message within a blog, discussion board, or social network, which are read by countless numbers of users, people are connected with others who match their interests.

E-mail, chat, instant messaging, SMS, and blogs continue to be the most common forms of social interaction;

Present oneʼs identity,

perceive the identity

of oneʼs online companion,

and establish a relationship; Some people feel that they

can express themselves better in writing;

The advantage of typed text that can always be saved (on disks, tapes),

printed or stored in

standard files; In cyberspace people can

reexperience and reevaluate

any part of the relationship

they wish;

In cyberspace there is the ease and speed with which messages transmit across huge distances. People can send and get messages in very short time.

Through movies, video games, music, online books, magazines, and chatting the Internet offers people entertainment;

Internet has become a source of entertainment for the millions of people across the world;

In cyberspace people are better

informed than in real life; Through a lot of online

newspapers, magazines,

books and bulletin boards

people can find any

information they want;

Empowerment includes full

development of human

potential, which means

freedom from biases,

compulsions, hostility,

self-doubt, lack of

understanding, and an

unreflective acceptance of ideologies; It helps develop creativity and personal identity;

The Internet does not

discriminate and marginalize

people by gender, class or

ethnicity; It gives people the opportunity

to show their own ideas by creating their own sites for the World Wide Web;

Everybody can publicate on Internet his opinions, needs, interests and aspirations;

In cyberspace the perception of one trait (i.e. a characteristic of a person or object) is not influenced by the perception of another trait (or several traits) of that person or object;

In cyberspace people cannot judge personality by its physical appearance;

lack of sensual integration, absorbing information without filtering it, frustration caused by technical difficulties, redefining identity, cyberstalking, behavioral disinhibition, feeling that happiness belongs to others, cyberaddiction...

In text based communication the failure of voices, facial expressions, or body language can cause misinterpretations. Tactile stimulation, gustative, olfactive and spatial feeling is low online.

Not all information on Internet is good, true, valid, or has quality;

Individuals can become

unthinking consumers

of the electronically-

produced meanings

flowing over the Internet; Network leads individuals to expect that they can

find a tool that can quickly solve every problem;

Frustration with technology

can halt progress in a course; It seems that students become

paralyzed until the

technical issue is resolved;

The Internet can distort ideas, and manipulate receivers, especially with youths that are vulnerable to uncritical acceptance of oppressive ideologies.

Social network sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter...) can cause sadness and loneliness

to people; Looking at “happy” photos of

others can cause that some people

start to be convinced

that other people lead a perfect life and they overestimate otherʼs

happiness;

Can be present in a varietyof ways such as: threatening or obscene

e-mails; spamming; live chat harassment (flaming) leaving improper messages on boards or in guest

books; sending electronic viruses or unsolicited e-mail and

so on;

Internet encourages anti-normative, aggressive, uninhibited behavior;

In cyberspace people are not constrained by the social rules; there is no negative feedback;

Davis (2001) distinguishes the two types of Internet addictions as: specific and general;

Specific(e.g. gambling, stock trading);

General - multidimensional overuse of the Internet itself that result in negative personal and professional consequences;

 

People donʼt notice

the vast amount of time

and energy they devote

to Facebook; Facebook Addiction Disorder;

Positive aspects Through social networking sites

(e.g. Facebook, Myspace,

Twitter) and virtual worlds

(e.g. Second Life,

World of Warcraft) people

with common interests can

share information, work together, tell stories, joke around, debate politics, help each other out, or play games.

Negative aspects In cyberspace can

communicate only

those who have the

possibility to communicate

through the computer media.

Positive aspects Cyberstudents gain new skills ; Stronger motivation; Multimedia usage; quizzes,

games usage; knowledge

sources online; synchronous

chatting, discussion forums,

video conferences, e-mails.

Negative aspects Less liveliness; Real-time discussions allow for teacher-

cyberstudent interaction and provide the richness of interpersonal interactions so often missing in distance education classes.

Positive aspects By using the Internet

people can choose

a false name, hide

personal information

and identify details; People express themselves more freely and sincerely than

they would in a face to face interaction (online disinhibition effect);

.

Self-disclosure and intimacy can

be accelerated; helpful to those who live

in countries where freedom

of speech and the press may

not be so widely supported.

Negative aspects The physical distance

between web participants

leads to disinhibited behavior; Every person can create many

identities

(e.g. a man creates a female identity, or a high school student claims to be an egineer).

Through cyberspace we have the ability to: freely choose between synchronous and

asynchronous alternative communication be better informed communicate without limitation of time and space present our identity perfectly in a written form record moments of our life watch movies, play games, listen music, read book,

magazines, chat empower our identity and be equal with others.

On the other side, in cyberspace we: cannot touch, smell or taste

Sometimes we: misinterpret messages absorb a lot of information without filtering it

enough are manipulated in Internet by others feel that hapiness belong to others are frustrated because of the technical difficulties

are confused between virtual and real reality encounter there with cyberstalking. are anonyme in that virtual world, but our

anonymity can cause that we communicate with violent people without being aware of it.

are globalized to a psychosocial network, but we put others people who are not Internet users on margins.

Cyberspace has become part of our everyday life, and it is necessary to thinks, can we find some options to make this aspects more positive than negative. Shall ever exist cyberspace with a minimum of negative aspects? It is up to all of us to built a new future of cyberspace with more positive aspects than negative.