Introduction
The role of internet in the academic field cannot be undermined; it offers a library of information that sometimes is hard to find in other sources. Recent surveys and researches have shown that most students have been able to rely on the internet as the key source of finding scholarly information. It has become the reference point for any researcher who wishes to conduct research in any field. It offers one stop library for any person who wishes to undertake a research or look for information. The world is now shifting its global attention on maximizing the use of internet produce a breed of well-informed students, who are not limited to only one field.
Overview
Censoring the use of internet in America has created uproar and debates with mixed reaction from different stakeholders. The policy will not do any justice to the nation, and the positive effects will only be felt on the short term and not long term basis. An excellent education system should focus on a long term goal of producing an informed and knowledgeable class of graduates. A great debate has emerged on whether censoring the internet will be the only solution of producing students with acceptable ethical standards. Just like any other emerging technology, the internet faces its challenges which have to be addressed; however these issues need to be addressed with consideration of all factors both positive and negative. Within the last few years, the use of the internet has seen a boost with even most people having access to computer and internet connection. Mobile phones are now internet enabled offering a wide range of devices that can be used to gain access to the internet. The majority of internet users are students and especially college students who need to use the in their daily academic life. Some of them even study online courses that cannot be done without the use of the internet(White, Fred & Billing 464).
The government has a responsibility of protecting its citizens from sites that are not promoting appropriate social morals. There is however a given extent that this should take place without undermining the impact that the internet has on academic growth. Various measures have been put in place by the American congress various measures to regulate internet use in schools. The reasons given for these regulations were protecting children from indecent sites, harmful and violent acts on the internet, and child pornography. Schools had to install internet blocking softwares that would be used to protect students from these sites. The congress passed these laws which was viewed as a protection of the society morals in a world that has turned to be digital. Some students were against this move, and they rioted claiming that filtering and censoring the internet was a violation of their right to information.
Discussion
Apart from pornography and other obscenity in the internet, the internet was also identified to promote bullying in America. Some students used sites such as Facebook and twitter as bullying sites. Other nations such as China have censored the internet and users within the country are going through numerous challenges. Online gaming platforms are available through the internet, this sounds as an enticing idea but not to all. Tutors in America claim who engage in such games are always lazy and cannot participate in other activities. Such a claim sounds biased and with since it does not provide a valid basis for internet censoring. There are other users who need to access information from internet sites only to realize that they have been censored. The reason that the government uses is just misinformation of the people and oppression of their fundamental right to information (White, Fred & Billing 212).
Censoring the internet even in schools is a violation of human rights that requires them to have access to information. As much as the measure will be a protective measure, the academic system will be disadvantaged compared to other nations where there are no censor measures. Students and even tutors will be restricted to their basic and constitutional rights. Once the freedom of speech and self-expression is restricted, people live in oppression. In the 21st century censoring the internet would be similar to keeping people in a dark world with no information (White, Fred & Billing 431). In the academic world knowledge cannot be limited to specific sources. Students need to share their knowledge with the rest of the world. America will suffer the blow by implementing media censoring since students will be disadvantaged in terms of knowledge and research resources (Marzilli & Alan 73).
Implementing internet censors will slow down innovations among the academic field in America. Internet censoring develops a force that hinders creativity. The process of censoring involving putting filters on certain websites and even words found in the internet. Although some of these sites contain are immoral, they also contain crucial knowledge that can be used by researchers. There is a lot of useful information found on the internet, and once censorship measures are applied in the academic system, Americans will be limited to information. The internet has been identified as the key resource center by innovators who use it in their daily affairs. The purpose of education is to equip students with the ability to evaluate different information sources and use it to make a well researched judgment. Giving student filtered information will produce half-baked graduates who cannot carry a survey with open and uncensored information. With online learning platform and even group work, the internet is the key tool that is used. Censoring this powerful application is at the disadvantage of the student. They will not be able to collaborate in their group projects. Some of the censored sites are the social sites; they give students a platform to engage in extracurricular activities. Social networks make the world a global village, censoring such sites segregate students from the rest of the world (Rooney & Anne 35). Global issues not only in academic are being shaped by the internet and censoring it brings more harm than good to academic users in America. Putting censor measures does not give children an opportunity to develop their ideas ;( White, Fred & Billing 500) children and other students need to be given a chance to develop their beliefs. An example is that of HIV/AIDs, censoring the internet will leave students and all academic stakeholders in America wondering how sex lead to this disease. The internet has provided numerous information on such topics that people find difficult to talk about. Censoring such sites creates curiosity rather than avoidance of the issues, this urge to know what is actually being protected can cause significant harm (Semonche & John 72).
Some of those against the idea of censoring the internet have claimed that it is based on fear and personal opinions. Censoring the internet will only prevent children in America from having the knowledge of the immoral behaviors. With books and even magazines containing the censored information, the blame cannot be solely put on the internet. Children will grow up with misguided information. At one stage in life, students will need to know about some of the topics and issues that are censored in the internet (White, Fred & Billing 523), they will find it challenging since they will not have any idea about these topics. As long as the issues being censored exist in the real world, censoring it does not do have much advantage. The government has the mandate of censoring the internet in America but just like any other organ it is controlled by individuals. Monopolization and selfish gains in order to control telecommunication companies has resulted to some sites being blocked. Students and children suffer the greatest loss since there is no justified reason for censoring the internet sites. Just like any other business, there are people in the internet industry whose aim is to run the industry as monopolies. Unless stakeholders in the academic field, students will continue loosing as in terms of knowledge and information. Too much power is vested in the government without considering the academic welfare (Darity & William 63).
The internet is the only way that people approve other people’s way of life. Unlike politics and culture which has got its own walls of division, the internet does not discriminate. It is not based on culture, traditions, race or political trends. Use of the internet has united people and made the world a global village where information flows fast. The academic sector in America will have created a wall by introducing censoring policies on the internet. It will actually create disunity since there are people who will view this as a move for America to gain economic benefit by blocking other sites. This is equivalent to implementing internet cartels, which only harm the economy in the long run (MacKinnon, Rebecca 103).
Academics is an open filed that allows people to involve themselves in any area that they feel they can fit. Internet censoring is a human control measure that many people feel it is aimed towards control an individual. The government is in control of what an individual should know and should not know. America is a country that is populated by people of different races and beliefs. Each race has what it considers moral and immoral; censorship is applied in general without considering this aspect. In academics, people have different tastes, and this should be considered. America is a democratic society and democracy plays a vital role in academic growth (White, Fred & Billing 481). Internet censoring will only undermine the value of democracy. Academics should be an exciting affair, movies and books found on the internet are sources of internet for many people. Censoring the internet creates boredom and more people will devalue the value that academics has on the growth of America. Instead of more people joining schools, there might be even a higher number of drop outs and student enrollment.
Conclusion
After thorough research, this paper gives a comprehensive analysis on why internet censoring in America does more harm than good. An open and uncensored internet is the only way to promote quality knowledge. There are other measures that can be introduced such as parental control on the internet but censoring does not offer a solution. Academic is all about knowledge and developing logical judgments, this is the only way that quality academician and developed (White, Fred & Billing 495).
Work Cited
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MacKinnon, Rebecca. Consent of the networked: the world-wide struggle for Internet freedom. New York: Basic Books, 2012. Print.
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Rooney, Anne. Internet technologies. North Mankato, MN: Chrysalis Education, 2003. Print.
Semonche, John E.. Censoring sex: a historical journey through American media. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. Print.
White, Fred D., and Simone J. Billings. The well-crafted argument: across the curriculum. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
