These days, many people argue that internet technology has allowed us to understand the lifestyle of foreigners without having to travel overseas. From my perspective, I partly agree with this viewpoint, believing that while technology advancements come with many amenities including the informative function, they cannot replace real interactions.
Firstly, it is obvious that technological advances have simplified the conveyance of information, including allowing us to detail our life on shared platforms. In this developed era, people can connect instantaneously through live broadcast or virtual calls using gadgets like smartphones and laptops. Unlike in the past where inter-geographic communication was difficult, modern students who study abroad can unproblematically conduct video calls with their families even from the other side of the globe to update about life and provide assurance. Moreover, if there has not been the existence of internet networking, life in some insulated countries such as North Korea would remain a puzzle to the world.
Nevertheless, a deep and thorough understanding of a country’s lifestyle and folkways will not be possible if people learn merely via the internet. In today’s information society, journalists and reporters might not always be impartial purveyors of information as they should be. The dispensation of news and information may unconsciously be affected by personal bias, prejudices, and in some cases religious and political propaganda. Therefore, we are only capable of knowing foreign countries to an extent if we stay at home and passively absorb given information.
To conclude, I believe that whilst it is possible that we obtain knowledge of foreigners’ life utilizing technology advancements, profound understanding continues to require factual interactions in the target country.