THE INTERNET AND COMMUNICATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN

Abstract

The Internet has undoubtedly influenced great changes in the field of communication. Through a comparative analysis of young and old people in the United States and in Japan, this study assess how and to what extent the Internet is changing communication by examining its effects on specific areas of the news media system and the organization of civil society. This study finds that, overall, the Internet is more disruptive to institutions and practices in the United States than in Japan. Further, patterns of Internet usage appear to vary with age more in Japan than the United States. However, there are similar patterns of Internet usage among the young people in both countries.