Papers - Conference 2009 - Institute of Latin American Studies

Proportion of individuals that have already access the Internet in Brazil (2006) 191009080706050403020100Class A Class B Class C Classes DEHave never used InternetHave used InternetWhat is more, an Internet connection at home is not synonym of being able to access foreignmedia. Though Internet is inherently an international medium for being “the logical extension ofpostmodernism” (Besser, 1995) -where signs and news are recycled, reshaped and/or translatedwithin the net-, a Brazilian internet user has to be able to understand a second language in orderto make use of such media representation (attribute that is also related to social classes).Moreover, the worldwide web, as all media, has a protocol of its own (Gilteman: 2006. 7), whereits users tend to follow their online routine that consist largely in email checking plus a couple ofoften visited pages. Furthermore, in spite of other media, Internet as an interactive mediumrequires of its users a previous familiarity with the content that they are willing to get connectedor the will to go further in unexplored domains through web search engines. Internet users thustend to lie on pages of famous local media conglomerates 20 , practice that partially disregardsInternet‟s wide-range potential.4.Outcomes and Conclusions19 Comitê Gestor da Informática no Brasil, TIC Domicilios e Usuarios, 2006.http://www.cetic.br/usuarios/tic/2006/index.htm . Accessed on May 3 rd 2009.20 Alexa – Web Traffic Metrics. http://www.alexa.com/16