Virtual space

New communication technologies are increasingly being employed to create new cross-border spaces for dialogue. The use of social networking technology such as MySpace and Facebook is now being seen as an important tool to ensure ongoing dialogue in the absence of face-to-face meetings.

Whilst creating virtual space for the purposes of ICD is very important and is a cost-effective, efficient way of sustaining dialogue, it is important to take the following issues into consideration when including virtual space in an ICD project:

• There is a marked separation between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' of internet usage, including the elderly, disabled and more disadvantaged communities - this becomes more stark globally once considerations of connection speed are brought in.
• Studies show that people can use the internet in a discriminatory and exclusive way which mirrors social interaction in the real world. For instance, social networking technology like Facebook can virtually guarantee that you will not have to interact with anyone you don't know (or who doesn't know someone you know). See Danah Boyd, 'Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace' Apophenia Blog Essay June 2007)
• Even when an online activity does bring together a more diverse group, it tends to be a relatively functional activity (like playing a game) where a person's differences are not only irrelevant, but are also unknown.

Recently there have been increased calls to safeguard the equality of access to the internet and for constraints on the behaviour of people commenting on blogs and creative content (when it comes to racial and religious slurs or insulting language).

Social stratification, self-selection and exclusion are very real dangers in both the virtual and real world. Moderated and collective management by users of a shared space creates the potential for virtual spaces to become real promoters of sustained ICD.