Blog 4

In my research project, my research topic is "Why Hong Kong teenagers keen on cyberspace of political discussion greater than the actual? ". I will focus on how Hong Kong teenagers spend their time to discuss something about political. It is now representing the urgent and the issues of concern in Hong Kong, this research question can be more able to bring out our perception of teenagers online statement and the actual level of political participation. I would like to identify some of the key concepts that are relevant to my research.

The rapid development of computer technology to make the web has become an important platform for international communication. In modern society, people around the world are available to exchanges and cooperation through the web tool. This type of network media conducted the participatory interaction which gradually led to a global culture. Many scholars called this culture to participatory culture. Many educators regard the participatory culture seen as a way of learning and ways of expression.

Participatory culture focus on relationship building and identity. Internet broke the time and geographical constraints so that modern interactive more convenient and frequent. The traditional networks has brought great uncertainty to the interpersonal relationships which lack of basic trust and efficiency. New media made up for deficiencies of the traditional network to virtual community and real relationships chain. It enhance the individual exchanges and interaction in the virtual and the real world.

Network of political participation as a way to new forms of political participation. Through the participatory culture, people express their wishes and aspirations of this new platform through the network, thus affecting the manner and behavior of political decision-making. We can thus know the extent of people participate in political of online and the actual.

The concept of convergence culture which proposed by Henry Jenkins, convergence can be described as we are entering an era where media will be everywhere, we will use a variety of media with respect to each other. The combination within a single piece of new media and old media, the media work come together in different media product or technology. Media integration is leading us towards a digital renaissance, a period of transition and transformation which will affect every aspect of our lives. Media convergence is making human dependent on the media. Integration of media products or technology means that, when we do not leave our home, we can also achieve our dreams at the touch of a button. This concept is relevant to explain the phenomenon of people dependent on network.

For my research, I am now starting the in-depth interview of my research and everything goes smoothly. I am going to have the in-depth interviews with 15 Hong Kong teenagers who are around 16-25 year old to investigate the extent of their participation in the online communities. There are around 15-20 questions for each respondent which is hoping accurately to know their views on the cyberspace. Teenagers are usually apathetic to politics, it is a minority group of the relatively proactive and stand up to parade while the number of online statement exactly the opposite. I am hoping I can investigate this doubt and uncertainty through the interview.


Student name: Yip Tsz Yau

Student number: 10641720