The Internet
what is the internet? Draw on the various stuff you’ve read so far. Some things to consider: where is the internet? what is not the internet? how many internets are there? what is the internet becoming? is the internet alive? what do you love about the internet? what scares you?
The internet is a medium through which ideas, content, tools, programs, and so much more can be created and shared between anyone, regardless of location. The internet is the largest network in the world. It is a universal platform of speech and creation; I would consider it a two-dimensional representation of the human condition. The internet is both nowhere and everywhere. It isn’t tangible, but the bandwidth that supports it is incredibly widespread. The internet exists anywhere there is bandwidth and technology capable of connecting to it. Someone could argue there is one internet that encompasses everything digital, or that there are several networks that make up the internet.
The internet is becoming a staple of modern life. In the United States, the internet is an integral part of society; in order to participate in society, you have to use the internet. It’s nearly impossible to get a job, find entertainment, stay in touch with friends, understand culture, or get an education without using the internet in some capacity. The internet can do practically anything imaginable with unbelievable AI capabilities; it has the answers to almost every question one can think of. With the current pandemic limiting in-person interactions, the internet’s role has expanded exponentially this past year. It isn’t unusual to find people spending the majority of their waking hours online; it’s how we work, go to school, talk to our friends and family, and entertain ourselves. I would say that the internet itself is not alive, but the content on it is. The internet is simply a medium, but the people behind the screen who use the medium are very real and alive.
I love how easy the internet is to use. I love how we have standardized it so anyone can learn how to use it, and it can be used for anything and everything digital. It isn’t reserved for certain people or purposes; the internet can be anything the user wants it to be. They can create, consume, communicate, and use it however they want to. The internet provides so much freedom and it instantly connects people, cultures, and news from every part of the world. I also love how far we have been able to progress and publicize information for the betterment of everyone. The internet has advanced science and medicine across the globe, saving lives and further developing society.
What scares me is the misuse of the internet. With everything so easily accessible and limitless, there are countless opportunities for corruption, malpractices, and misuse. The dark web, viruses, misinformation, identity theft, invasions of privacy, propaganda, hacking, and other harmful aspects of the internet can endanger real-life users. With the creation of the internet came the creation of a new form of crime . What also scares me is how the internet has changed the way we think and develop, as discussed in the Carr article. I don’t necessarily think the internet is making us stupider, but we have to be extremely wary of the way instant content affects our ability to concentrate and think. If not used in moderation, it can have negative effects, and the internet is very easy to become addicted to. I find myself getting lost in mindless content on my phone way too often, while struggling to stay focused while reading lengthy articles or books. I can’t blame this entirely on the internet, but I feel like my mind wouldn’t be so short-sighted and gratification-seeking if I hadn’t been raised in the era of the internet. Using the internet responsibly takes discipline, but when it is used well, it has the power to bring about incredibly good change.
