Socially: A Connected World
Immediately, the Internet connected people, tearing down boundaries to create a more globally connected world. The Internet connected 3 million people around the world in 1993. This total has reached almost 2 billion present day. The sharing of ideas through the network has caused massive cultural convergences of religion, education, politics, and entertainment. Today, the Internet also has a wide variety of applications for education, and has transformed the process of doing research.
Facebook and Twitter are two of the Internet's largest social networks |
Bill Gates on Online Education
"Many of my teachers use videos and articles from the Internet to help enhance a lesson, and often we are assigned tests and projects to be completed online. At home, the majority of my research for homework and projects is done online, students often collaborate on homework through chat sessions on social networks, and I can check my grades or contact my teachers if I need any help with assignments." -Student at Cypress Lakes High School
"(Before the Internet) You were very much limited to what was in the textbook. The Internet just became prevalent for research purposes when I was in college. The availability of information is much greater for students today. That brings with it, the need to be able to determine accurate information." Sarah Harty, Principal of Cypress Lakes High School |
The Problems Created
Early on, the internet has created a “digital divide” between Internet users and those who lack technical access, which continues to grow to this day. This has reinforced rifts between various segments of societies around the world – making it harder for the poor minority to escape their impoverished circumstances. More recently, the open exchange of information made possible by the Internet has left users vulnerable to “cybercrimes,” including identity theft, copyright infringement, and harassment. The Internet has helped increased the distribution of child pornography, as it gives a medium to easily share it. Also, some social scientists worry that the Internet may homogenize distinct societies. For example, the primary use of the English language in the Internet has caused a decline in the usage of other languages.
FBI 2011 Internet Complaints Report
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"Hackers are breaking the systems for profit. Before, it was about intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge and thrill, and now hacking is big business." -Kevin Mitnik, American computer security consultant
Educational Issues
While researching on the Internet, the overabundance of information can cause confusion on the legitimacy of the information students find.
"Sometimes Epsilen (online K-20 learning community) experiences technical difficulties which can cause a lot of problems, including a lack of access to important files." -Teacher at Cypress Lakes High School |
The Internet: Killing Our Privacy?
Information shared on social media, can easily be obtained by anyone or be taken for use by advertising agencies, taking away our right to privacy.
"Private is not really private. So, having pictures of drinking, illegal drug usage, guns, would be inappropriate on a Facebook page (of a teacher) and it could lead to termination." -Sarah Harty, Principal of Cypress Lakes High School
"Private is not really private. So, having pictures of drinking, illegal drug usage, guns, would be inappropriate on a Facebook page (of a teacher) and it could lead to termination." -Sarah Harty, Principal of Cypress Lakes High School