“Cyber balkanization” is the term used to describe the division of people on the internet who intentionally avoid information that conflicts with their beliefs. While some groups may not be hostile to others, controversial groups may project hatred and prevent the gathering of contradictory information. This behavior goes against the idea that the internet is a place for exposure to new ideas. Some countries also use internet access control as a form of cyber balkanization. However, there are still people seeking knowledge and understanding who take full advantage of the “global community” path that the internet offers.
In the 1920s, the term balkanization was used to describe the formation of small groups of people who shared similar beliefs and ideas and who might be hostile to groups with antithetical ideas. Balkanization tends to divide groups of people instead of uniting them. This well-observed trait was also expressed on the Internet, leading to the creation of the term “cyber balkanization”, in the late 1980s. The idea that the Internet is not the global community once imagined, but instead can become a place where people intentionally avoid information is at the heart of this concept.
Cyber balkanization does not necessarily mean that formed groups are hostile to each other. When listserves first became popular, a Jane Austen listserve probably didn’t spend much time discussing other writers, especially modern novelists. The group’s objective would have been to evaluate Austen’s works and pass on information about Austen’s new productions or write about her. Such listserves are subject to limitations, but do not necessarily imply that those who belong resented people from other groups.
However, more controversially themed groups, in lists, chats, blogs or other Internet rallies, may specifically attempt to project hatred or anger towards other groups and prevent the group from gathering information that may be contradictory. They can also discourage outsiders from joining. Political groups of all persuasions have a tendency to practice it and may only refer to the work of people who disagree with them to criticize it. Such groups may have tendencies to repeat stories which are not true or which are told from a specific perspective, and this may arouse resentment towards others instead of a desire to understand things from an objective perspective.
Similarly, many online religious groups practice forms of cyber balkanization, especially when these religions are rigidly constructed. Many of these groups are not interested in exploring how their faith differs from other faiths and may respond hostilely if commonly accepted views are attacked or even mildly questioned. The goal is not to learn, but to affirm beliefs and to eliminate information that does not serve the objectives of affirmation.
To some extent, Internet access controlled by some restrictive countries can also be a form of cyber balkanization. This is similar to countries that don’t operate a free press. The concept of keeping people “out of the know” and making sure the world is interpreted to exacting standards is not global and allows for few questions. Many people with freedom of speech and press choose to isolate themselves in this way, however, to avoid information that conflicts with their beliefs, and they often belong only to narrow interest groups.
This behavior runs counter to the theory that the Internet is a place where people are constantly exposed to new ideas. Instead, people can go online to affirm ideas they already have and to try to stifle any ideas they disagree with. This isn’t always the case, of course, and there are plenty of people seeking knowledge and understanding who don’t belong to restrictive groups and are open to learning more. It is perhaps best explained that this form of isolation can and does occur, but there are also others who take full advantage of the “global community” path that the Internet offers.
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