Social Web Divided By Race?

The internet was once considered a great equaliser, a platform that could bring strangers together, even across racial boundaries. But internet users of the same race have recently begun clustering on certain social media websites.

Micro-blogging website Twitter has seen an upsurge in traffic from Hispanic and African-American audiences. These groups now claim about 30% of the site's user base, according to third-party statistics website Quantcast.com.

Meanwhile, white users claim 90% of US traffic on Pinterest.com, while Tumblr.com has seen an over-representation of Asian Americans as of late.

Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd says though experts once thought the internet would help destroy racial barriers, "all of the divisions that exist in every day life, including those by race and class, actually re-emerge online".

The internet was once considered a great equaliser, a platform that could bring strangers together, even across racial boundaries. But internet users of the same race have recently begun clustering on certain social media websites.

Micro-blogging website Twitter has seen an upsurge in traffic from Hispanic and African-American audiences. These groups now claim about 30% of the site's user base, according to third-party statistics website Quantcast.com.

Meanwhile, white users claim 90% of US traffic on Pinterest.com, while Tumblr.com has seen an over-representation of Asian Americans as of late.

Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd says though experts once thought the internet would help destroy racial barriers, "all of the divisions that exist in every day life, including those by race and class, actually re-emerge online".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18680485

 

The internet DEPICTS REALITY so why would it help anything??

People are scumbags AND WILL BE ONLINE ALSO!!!!!!!!!


The only thing i can see the internet helping is: GETTING THE TRUTH OUT!! -- When they try to censor news,the internet gets us the info we wouldnt otherwise get!

 

It all depends on personality, to some this kind of site repels hispanics maybe even blacks since a majority of them don't experiment with drugs or have that "hippie ideology". I knew the internet wouldn't break barriers, instead it has classified everything to a more defined position. Everyone has their own little corner of the internet that they visit regularly, the internet overall does create a melting pot but it depends mainly on where you reside in that melting pot.