Determining the Transcultural Value of Free Flow in Digital Communication Platforms

Abstract Digital communication platforms dominate the contemporary communication landscape. The majority, though not exclusively, originate in the United States of America, developed and operated by a limited number of dominant corporations representative of the globalized cultural industry. This paper employs intercultural and transcultural theoretical frameworks to analyze the cultural nature of these platforms. Subsequently, we aim to determine the extent to which these dominant platforms facilitate transcultural exchange, and assess the efficacy of regulation in guiding platform-based communication. Our conclusion posits that current platform practices are fostering a discernible “techlash” directed towards cultural containers of communication.