Cyberspace Studies

In this article, I have tried to provide a comprehensive understanding of fundamental differences, historical evolution, and societal implications of analog and digital technologies. Analog technology, characterized by continuous signal representations of physical quantities, is contrasted with digital technology's binary nature. While digital technologies have surged in popularity, reshaping entire industries and daily life, analog technologies persist in niche applications. The historical narrative traces the digital revolution's inception from the introduction of the ENIAC computer in the 1940s to the miniaturization enabled by transistors in the 1950s. Mainframe computers, microprocessors, and the advent of personal computers in the 1970s and 1980s are pivotal milestones. The internet's emergence in the late 20th century and the proliferation of smartphones in the 21st century further demonstrate digital technology's transformative impact. I have also presented a case to show how digital and analog watches might have social and cultural implications, far beyond their technological nature.

This article reviews the legal framework governing the protection of critical infrastructure in Africa with an emphasis on threats like cyberwar and cyberterrorism. As African governments and businesses increasingly depend on the internet and information systems, there is a need to enact appropriate laws to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks that could jeopardize the economic and national security postures of African countries. The article outlines the need for appropriate legal instruments to protect critical infrastructure as African businesses increasingly rely on the internet and information systems. The lack of adequate laws regulating critical infrastructure does not translate to the absence of critical infrastructure in African countries. Ghana, for instance, has a legal framework governing critical infrastructure. These infrastructures are common in most African countries but lack the required legal framework to protect them. It is important to note that despite the Budapest Convention and African Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, there is no international legal framework regulating cyberwar and cyberterrorism. Considering these factors, this article reviews Ghana's Cybersecurity Act and the Directive on Critical Information Infrastructure and uses the United States framework for comparative analysis. In addition to reviewing the types of attacks critical infrastructure could face, the article looks at the legal framework for managing incidents that could arise from cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure.

In this article, I approach some phenomena seen predominantly on social-media sites that are grouped together as cancel culture with guidance from two major themes in Plato’s thought. In the first section, I argue that shame can play a constructive and valuable role in a person’s improvement, just as we see Socrates throughout Plato’s dialogues use shame to help his interlocutors improve. This insight can help us understand the value of shaming people online for, among other things, their morally reprehensible views. In the second section, I argue that it is required for the proper functioning of democratic institutions that some views be excluded from the public sphere, which follows some Platonic ideas from the Laws. In neither case do I argue that this approach is good in an unqualified sense or even ultima facie good. However, I maintain that these important insights from Plato’s dialogues illuminate crucial aspects of how we should think about cancel culture.

Since the bitcoin invention in 2008, blockchain technology has surpassed so numerous innovations that the pioneer networks such as Ethereum are adaptable to host a bunch of decentral information containing pictures, audio, video, domains, Etc., or even a metaverse versatile avatar. The transformation of tangible goods into virtual assets, known as the AR-utility of luxury products, and the intermixture of reality and virtuality organized a worldwide, semi-regulated, and decentralized marketplace for digital goods. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are doing a great help to artists worldwide, sharing diverse cultural outlooks by establishing a remote cross-cultural corporation potential and, at the same time, metamorphosizing the intermediary role and ceasing the necessity of a well-known art sale’s approval. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market has already acquired allocation and interest in the global domain, paving the way for a flourishing enthusiasm among entrepreneurs preoccupied with high-tech start-ups. In this qualitative survey based on participatory observation fieldwork, we shall decipher through self-exploration to investigate the ups and downs of the new cyberculture environment. Empirical encountering diverse Social Network Sites (SNS) and following the Cryptocurrency X(Twitter) trends, we have concluded that social media were the assembly line, producing success stories day and night which empowered a decentral market to surpass 14 billion worth of united states dollars. 

Social media platforms like Instagram facilitate connections among individuals through the sharing of images and videos, substantially augmenting the potential for influencing their audience. An area of particular interest that has evolved in recent years, especially with the growth of the virtual space and the visual-centric content on Instagram, is the level of satisfaction individuals have with their physical appearance, particularly among women. Their contentment with their appearance is intricately linked to the idealized beauty standards championed by Instagram beauty bloggers, often inspiring them to emulate or even contrast with these models. In cases where individuals deviate from Instagram's beauty standards, their definition of beauty still reflects certain parallels with these standards. For instance, they do not necessarily consider excess weight as a criterion for beauty, much like the Instagram models, who serve as symbols of conventional beauty, rarely possess excess weight. This qualitative research studied this subject through interviews with six female university students aged 20-30 in Tehran. The study aims to explore the influence of Instagram on their self-perception, satisfaction with their physical appearance, and their notions of beauty and desirable aesthetics. The research process involved a comprehensive review of key concepts and relevant literature, followed by the analysis and comparison of the interview themes. The study's findings, derived from an in-depth examination of these themes and concepts, provide a more profound understanding of the participants' mental constructs within the virtual space, shedding light on the substantial impact of this digital environment on individual mindsets.

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the impact of new social media on the marketing of sports products in Iran. The research utilized a qualitative and applied methodology, focusing on experts in sports marketing and sports management professors as the research population. Data from interviews were analyzed through three stages of coding: open, central, and selective. Within the context of Internet marketing in sports, several key issues emerged, including the absence of a dedicated authority for Internet sports marketing, instability in sports management, lack of comprehensive regulations, and underutilization of Internet marketing in sports business processes. Traditional methods persisted despite economic challenges. The study concluded that the absence of a specific authority for Internet marketing in sports leads to confusion, improper monitoring, and potentially harmful marketing practices. Establishing consistent regulations is crucial to the development and institutionalization of Internet marketing in the sports industry.

Artificial intelligence has brought about significant changes in various creative domains, sparking discussions about the nature of art and its authenticity in the era of AI. Some scholars assert that the computer monitor now serves as a canvas, a brush, a musical instrument, and even an art tutor, leading us to explore deeper connections between AI and creativity. However, in this presentation, we wish to emphasize the humanistic dimension of creative processes once more. we acknowledge the role of AI in enhancing creative endeavors, but we firmly believe that human creativity remains paramount in the production of artistic works. The current notion of machines replacing artists is, in our view, more of a media sensation than a reality. Examining the history of electronic arts, our paper argues that claims of AI's artistic superiority are not novel; they echo similar trends from the past. The current enthusiasm mirrors earlier media frenzies. While the sciences have made significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of the human brain, our understanding of the intricacies of our remarkably creative minds, their origins, and their fulfillment in our brains remains quite limited. Until these processes are thoroughly comprehended, artistic creation will continue to be a distinctly human endeavor.

This paper explores the impact of modernization and globalization on Iranians' cultural and identity-based relationship with the environment, resulting in a loss of mental and semantic dimensions. This has led to environmental numbness and disregard for the natural world. The study argues that virtual education can complement holistic education and provide a platform for Iranians to learn about the mental and semantic aspects of their relationship with nature, thereby restoring their sense of connection to the natural world. The paper suggests that virtual education can help develop environmental awareness, critical thinking skills, and social responsibility while providing access to educational resources for individuals who may be geographically or socially isolated. Integrating virtual education into formal and non-formal education in Iran can play a critical role in promoting sustainable development, addressing environmental challenges, and preserving cultural identity. The study uses qualitative and descriptive research methods.