Time's Article: The Battle for the Soul of the Internet

The 2005 article really surprised me. I was hardly fourteen years old when that issue was printed; not to mention the age I was when the Laurence Canter and Martha Siegel scandal. Some of the issues the article discussed don’t exist anymore and I was really confused at some points because I never remember having to deal with such issues. For instance, in the article it states that only certain internet users could get online and it was usually because of a university or government research lab. This is so unrealistic because nowadays it is rare for someone not to have access to the internet. Therefore, some of the problems that were seen in 2005 such as the “newbies” joining the internet users as college freshmen and having overwhelmed e-mail inboxes with error messages from the “newbies” does not exist anymore.

As for the growth of small businesses offering the access to the internet, it is seen the prediction of the expansion of the internet did occur. Perhaps a little slowly at first because as the article had stated, many users were first observing and learning the capabilities of such a tool. However, currently there seems to be fewer small businesses and larger-popular businesses trusted to provide this internet service; no longer with modems but with advances such as wireless access. In that aspect, some challenges were created: the price of the service. Back then, the price of this service ranged from 10-30 dollars. Now, it is no less than fifty dollars, sometimes even in the three digit range when I see my Verizon Fios bill.

However, in general I do think some of the problems were solved and challenges were erased. Most of the problems and challenged discussed in the article occurred because the internet was still a new tool. Individuals were still exploring, companies analyzing its usefulness, and others were skeptical. Yet, some of the issues only evolved. For instance, the article states, “The Internet is a two-way medium. Although it is delivered on a glowing screen, it isn't at all like television…There isn't even a master switch that can shut it down in case of emergency.” This issue evolved into what we now see as a greater use for free speech but without any censorship, rules, and guidelines that keep in check what is being sent out though the web. At times, it may be used for useful purposes, but more than usual it is not. That is why there is so much controversy over social websites that have been established and sites that are not meant for all eyes to see. The web is not aware that the users are not only adults and college students anymore, but children, teens, mothers, grandparents, employers, employees and anyone who knows how to use a computer.