Internet-based Communication
From Roots of Hope Wiki
Contents |
Introduction
Before beginning a discussion of Internet exchange, it is important to note the current state of the Internet on the island. The primary questions of interest relate to restrictions on Internet access and on content access. With respect to Internet access restrictions, there exists a history of prohibition and lack of affordability for Cuban citizens. The most notorious aspect of this being the documented ban on Cubans nationals accessing the Internet in many hotels catering to foreign tourists. Beyond this ban, the high cost of Internet access in Cuba makes “at-home” Internet a prohibitively expensive proposition for the vast majority of Cubans on the island. In view of these affordability issues, many access the Internet via their workplace or school, while still others are forced to pay high rates at Internet cafes in order to reach cyberspace.
Restrictions on access to Internet content in Cuba are a key issue in evaluating Internet conditions on the island. Many websites that provide foreign sources of information are not available to ordinary Cubans. Be they American newspapers or personal blogs, there is a well-documented history of website blockages. Websites associated with independent journalists and members of the dissident movement in Cuba have also been known to be blocked, thereby preventing Cubans from seeing and interacting with non-state-sponsored information streams. One particularly famous example was that for an approximately three-year period, until February 2011, the website hosting independent blogger Yoani Sánchez was not available in Cuba. A more systemic issue is that many computers in Cuba are only enabled to access a Cuban Intranet, which does not connect to the World Wide Web, instead only reaching a set of Cuban sites.
The Internet in Cuba is an evolving phenomenon, and undoubtedly one with its fair share of complexities. The difficulties introduced with access and content regulations are an impediment to the free flow of information and to any attempts to connect with the island via the Internet. As such, they should be kept in mind when thinking about engaging in such communication.
Emails
Emails are a quick and efficient way to keep in touch with family and friends on the island. If you’re too lazy to pick up the quill and dip it in the inkbottle, the keyboard is definitely the way to go. So long as the person you’re writing to has a valid email address, you can send over your written thoughts, and they’ll have the opportunity to respond in kind. On a per-communication basis, this is, by far, one of the cheapest ways for you to communicate, as all it requires is an Internet connection. At present, there are Internet kiosks located around major cities in Cuba that serve as a relatively low-cost option for email access. These kiosks often experience long lines and slow connection speeds, but they do provide an avenue for communication. The ability to keep and maintain a continuously updating log of your exchanges also makes it easy to remember the important stuff.
Chat via email-linked instant messaging services, like Yahoo Messenger or Google Talk, is another interesting possibility that some have used with success. The major concern here is that connection speeds for the person in Cuba may produce lag time in the conversation, making for a less-than-instant message exchange. In any case, electronic communication of this sort is a viable option and one that is likely to improve as connectivity improves over the long term in Cuba.
Social Media
When you think about online communication today, social networking is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Though you likely gave the old MySpace a rest, you, like many other young people around the world, are living in a world where Facebook is option one. Harnessing the power of social media to connect with young people on the island is an incredible idea. This needs no explanation because it’s as easy as reaching out to your friends living outside of Cuba.
Some possibilities that you may not have considered include starting online groups based on common interests with people on the island. Whether it’s a collaborative blog or just a Facebook group, social media really gives you the ability to share and exchange views on any conceivable topic. Initiatives like these really set a path toward mutual understanding, collaborative learning, and a ton of fun. Imagine talking baseball with your cousins from Santiago or post-punk rock with your friend from Havana. It’s a blast!
Don’t forget that social networking sites are by no means ubiquitous in Cuba. Not everyone has a Facebook account, not everyone tweets. Young people and people in major cities are much more likely to participate than their older and provincial counterparts. Nonetheless, given its global popularity, social media and the Internet, more generally, will clearly play a bigger role in Cuba in the coming years.
Spotlight: Revolico and Cubisima
User-generated classified ads are commonplace in the United States. The same is not true of Cuba. Two websites, among others, have attempted to fill in the gap with the purpose of facilitating exchange between people online: Revolico and Cubisima. Revolico has been called the “Craigslist of Cuba.” The site serves many of the same functions as Craigslist does in many U.S. cities. Cubisima, on the other hand, got its start more than a decade ago as a forum to assist Cubans looking to engage in housing swaps (permutas). It has now expanded to include a host of other possibilities, including cars, jobs, and friendships. Both of these sites have an astounding number of posts and are well worth a look!
Revolico can be accessed at: http://www.revolico.com/. Cubisima can be accessed at: http://www.cubisima.com/.
