Facebook's "Free Basics" and Implications for Development: IT Identity and Social Capital

Date
2017-01-04
Authors
Yim, Moonjung
Gomez, Ricardo
Carter, Michelle
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Facebook's Free Basics has been controversial among researchers in the fields of information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) and community informatics (CI). What is the nature of Free Basics' potential contribution to individual and community development? We explore this question by analyzing different uses of Facebook—one of the forefront services provided through Free Basics—and their relation to information technology (IT) identity and social capital. We find that, while issues and concerns surrounding Free Basics exist—e.g. restrictions on participants' choices in accessing and using information, possible privacy risks, and potential societal costs—there is room for positive aspects in broader use of Facebook, despite its potential pitfalls. We suggest ways to analyze both the contradictions and contributions of Free Basics to individual and community development, and examine implications for ICTD and sustainable development in general.
Description
Keywords
Free Basics, ICT4D (ICTD), IT identity, social capital
Citation
Extent
10 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Table of Contents
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.