Introduction
The origin of internet dates back to a time when people had difficulties in information sharing. The difficulties provided a foundation for a researcher at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, to develop the concept of an internet-based system. This system, as proposed, could read documents in the Hyper Text Mark-up Language found in Universal Resource Locators of websites. In the end, the researcher developed a browser editor in the form of WWW. The hyper-text system incorporated a simple interface that was so easy to use. Consequently, the world was now on its way to the on-line edition since the basic foundation of the internet had been created. As a matter of fact, in 1991, a major turning point was achieved. This was the establishment of the Internet Society commonly abbreviated as ISOC. People were now ready for a technological take-off. In 1993, Mosaic browser was developed as the first commercial browser. It incorporated a graphical interface that was user-friendly. As if that was not enough yet, the first web search engine was developed the following year – Yahoo. People could now locate resources on the web and even link up their communications equipment via the internet (Curran, 2012). The term ‘internet’ was unanimously defined by the Federal Networking Council in the United States.
Since its breakthrough invention, the internet has increasingly become a mass medium and a major topic in the society. Indeed, about 40% of all the United States households owned personal computers by the end of 1998. Of the 40%, approximately a third of them had better access to the internet. This shows the impact the internet medium has had since its invention. Many believed that it was a transformational tool, by itself, for the society (Lings, 2004). In fact, as many scholars and technologists have noted, there has been the transformation of economic and social spheres of life due to the internet. The internet has largely influenced the society on almost every front. Two extremes have been observed regarding the internet. There are those who perceive it in terms of great benefits to them as well as the critics of it who consider it a tool of moral and cultural decay in the society. There is also a minor portion of those who display both positives and negatives of the internet. This minority do recognize its potential in terms of benefits while also expressing concerns of the grave danger it poses.
One critical point to note, however, is that even those staunch critics of the internet find some benefits in it. This is in terms of the technology involved and subsequent burden offload that was not available with the conventional methods of linking up. On the other hand, even the greatest supporters of the internet revolution do express some concerns and pin point some drawbacks associated with it. All in all, it is prudent to accept at this point that different people have got different opinions on the internet as a media of transformation in the society. Under these different opinions lie value systems that are also different, making the perceivers of the internet express their own opinions (Hauben & Hauben, 1997).
One good example of such values is the libertarian value held by Esther Dyson, one of the ardent supporters of the internet revolution. Dyson expresses a value system based on liberty and maximum individual freedom. These, coupled with a free market and property rights create central values as to the positives of the internet medium. Dyson’s assessment of the medium is strongly linked with the values she holds about the medium and the society and also on the potential of the internet in proliferating the above-mentioned values. In stark contrast are the values held by various bodies and individuals such as the Council of Torah Sages and a major section of Orthodox Judaism. According to them, the highest and most adored value ought to be obedience to God’s law outlined in the Torah. Consequently, they regard the internet medium as harmful.
It is not only differences in the value systems that matter in one’s acceptance of the internet. An understanding of the technology is also paramount in appreciating it as beneficial to the mankind or destructive in nature. This entails understanding of how it works and its perceived benefits or negatives. It is critical to note that whether positives or negatives are given regarding the internet, it all narrows down to the users or society. There are those who wrongly feel and believe that the usage of the medium increases social isolation. However, research based on observations and experience could prove otherwise. In summary, one notes that the current differences on the internet’s positives and negatives fall into two categories; normative differences based on values and empirical values based on presence or absence of facts. There exists, thus, many benefits as well as negatives of the internet to the society. These positives and negatives are grouped based on the above discussed classifications.
Positives of the Internet
These positives include the benefits observed in almost all sectors where the internet is in use. Such sectors include commerce, information mining, communication, social circles as well as in entertainment. Additionally, there are other perceived benefits that have been linked to it. These are benefits that are linked to the understanding of various cultures and ultimate development of an individual (Turow & Kavanaugh, 2003). These benefits, however, are classified as less intentional. Basing the internet’s advantages on these, one finds that there can be as many benefits as possible; the list is not exhaustive. The major benefits observed include:
Quick source of information: there are vast amounts of information readily available on the internet. This information is continually added, making the internet the largest source of information. As is known, today’s society is hugely reliant on information for various purposes; as such, the internet has opened many doors for information access and ultimate individual success.
Communication: the internet is always a medium of communication through channels of single and/or multiple users. The users can interact easily without concerns regarding costs. It is always a two-way channel that allows individuals to air their views. As such, it extends beyond the mere distribution of the information since it also creates intimacy and acts in the coordination of actions between one person and the next.
Production: the internet has been at the forefront of new production models creation simply by coordinating and automating production processes. Additionally, it expands commerce and trade by creating new models for linking up of products and services within a wide network. This ultimately creates a faster cycle of production and delivery of products and services at reduced costs.
Learning: the internet has revolutionized the learning and development path by incorporating interactive learning methods thus creating new ways of information presentation. Together with computers, they have been ahead in promoting learning and general cognitive growth (Brey, 2000).
Understanding of cultures: the internet has been commendable in creating and promoting cultural cohesiveness and understanding of cultural identities between various cultures. This has been achieved through communication channels that have favored cultural exchange amongst people of different cultural and social standing (Curran, 2012).
Formation of social units: internet as a medium of communication has facilitated establishment and sustenance of individual communities and social units that are structured according to the people’s common interests and agenda. Through these communities and units, individuals can engage in social movements as a result of the formation of collective behaviors.
Development and maintenance of social relations: there has been the facilitation of social relations development as a means of interaction with those out of one’s geographical or immediate vicinity. Not only does it support the development of such relations, but it also helps in their maintenance since social relations are crucial to the proper functioning of individuals and the society.
Perceived Negatives of the Internet
Majority of the negatives associated with the internet are indeed the direct opposite of its perceived benefits. Critics argue that, despite the internet’s advantages to the various sectors where it is used, there exists a comparative harm to the same sectors. They give an explanation that the quality of activities performed over the internet, concerning these sectors, is often harmed as compared to using the conventional and traditional ways of performing them. The major harms include:
Falsified information: due to the absence of better selection mechanisms, the internet has of late been a dumping site of information. Majority of this information is false and contains unreliable links. Worse than that, it is almost always impossible to authenticate any information found on the internet since the sources cannot be evaluated or credited.
Overload of information: the internet is always a stimulant to the use of information. Consequently, its users are not in a position to know what quantity of information they need. As such, there is increased information overload, creating irrelevant and sometimes inaccurate information remains. This has been the major cause of anxiety resulting from unclear data. As a result, poor decision-making process and less efficiency at work where information is needed arise (Brey, 2006).
Harmful communication: of late, there have been claims of on-line harassment and hurting comments. This may arise especially because of the absence of face- to-face contact. As a result, unwarranted communication may spring up, often with ill-mannered and embarrassing speech. This seems to take the internet some steps back.
Effects on production: it is perceived that the current distribution of the information over the internet will come to hurt commerce and production processes. Through creation of new models of commerce and production, there is the vulnerability of these models to fraud and theft, including cyber crime.
Fragmentation of the culture: through the formation of virtual communities and social units, it has been claimed that the internet has caused cultural fragmentation. Majority of the people now consider the on-line social units more beneficial than traditional communities. There is, thus, increased abandoning of traditional values that span around culture and cultural identities.
In summary, it is not conclusive to think of the internet as purely beneficial or harmful. It is critical to identify, analyze and critique any assessments before concluding anything. However, it is not entirely possible to validate or reject assessments since they are mostly based on subjective values.
References
Brey, P. (2006). Evaluating the social and cultural implications of the internet. Journal of ACM Sigcas Computers and Society.
Curran, J., Fenton, N., & Freedman, D. (2012). Misunderstanding the Internet. London: Routledge.
Hauben, M., & Hauben, R. (1997). Netizens: On the history and impact of Usenet and the Internet. Los Alamitos, Calif: IEEE Computer Society Press.
Ling, R. S. (2004). The mobile connection: The cell phone's impact on society. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann.
Turow, J., & Kavanaugh, A. L. (2003). The wired homestead: An MIT Press sourcebook on the Internet and the family. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
