Global Means Global

 When we consider Web 2.0, the biggest draw is the global reach.  The premise of the World Wide Web is to share information (originally a library system) quickly across the miles.  All you need is a connection.  Wireless Internet and smartphones means that getting connected should be easier.  So imagine my surprise when reviewing the Pew Research study from this week's reading that this overview is based on 37 countries.  Notably, there are only six sub-Saharan African countries and zero data from Central America and the Caribbean.  While DataReportal reports a significant gap in penetration in these areas, these three gaps represent roughly 10% of Internet users.  This makes me challenge even the conclusions about sub-Saharan Africa.  Worse by erasing such a significant part of the developing world, we miss the high penetration of social media use in the Global South.

Global Means Global.  If we are truly learning to engage learners across borders, focus on the Global North is shortsighted at best.  If engagement, for example, is the goal, why ignore the strong opportunities in the developing countries that are connecting every day?  If you want to add your social learning video series on YouTube, based on the data above you should be looking for users in Manila and São Paulo as intensely as you look for them in Miami and Toronto.  The design principles must be as ecumenical as possible, embracing translation and plain language to make vernacular less of a barrier.  Best of all, how designers present information must be culturally sensitive, presenting the culture of the author fiercely but in a way that welcomes others.  The world learns by story: by telling an authentic story designers can attract learners and still show up in the learning.

We have to do better on how we take the pulse of Web 2.0 and chase after the global perspective every time.  Otherwise designers could be just preaching to the choir.