E-Folklore and cyber-communication among emirati youth

The objective of this article is to explain the emergence of a new mediated heritage-social sphere and the articulation of a contemporary Emirati identity that transforms traditional oral heritage into an innovative form of electronic folk heritage. The literature addressing changes in folk heritage caused by the flourishing of new media, as well as off- and on-line social networking in the UAE, is scant. This research seeks to fill that gap by showing how Emirati nationals have succeeded in assimilating outside influences without deserting their heritage, and how global and local forms of communication have generated unique cultural patterns that help Emirati people maintain their identity, authenticity and social connectivity in aglobally changing world. The study shows that the Internet provides information zones, enhancing people's knowledge, and interaction zones, strengthening people's social relationships. To understand these two domains, this inquiry addresses online heritage and cybercommunication as used by both the UAE government (formal network) and ordinary people (informal network).E-Folklore and cyber-communication among Emirati youth For the purpose of theorising e-folklore, this research proposes a paradigm dealing with the content and form of heritage by bridging traditional/oral and technical/textual forms of communication. For Emirati young people, focusing on content allows for unusual engagement with the past through technologies that have the potential to shape and influence their future heritage. Emirati folk heritage has undergone a sort of 'cyber-communication' or 'internetisation', which means a process through which core elements of folk heritage are mediated by the Internet, reaching diverse audiences and allowing for broad public participation.