Chapter 9: The Internet and World Wide Web Two contrasting views: Media Critic Marshall McCLuhan: the Internet would help create a “global village” of increased contact and involvement, aiding our lives and experiences. Author William Gibson: the Internet is only helping people to identify with their consumer status. Which is correct?

The Internet and its Users Unlike other mediums, the Internet has users not audience members. A person can be both reading or using content and creating it. Current estimates are that there are 1 billion users worldwide. Nearly 75% of Americans use the Net from home. In 2000 women became the Net’s majority users for the first time.

The Commercialization of the Internet Nearly 80% of Americans make online purchases. Critics fear businesses will turn the Internet into an online shopping mall. Others fear privatization and control by large companies. Some point to the analogy of TV: started as an exciting new medium that would bring positive social, cultural, and political change to the masses but devolved into crass commercialization. 75% of all activity is spam.

The Internet and Freedom of Expression There are two broad freedom of expression issues: The potential to make the First Amendment guarantee a reality for greater numbers of people on the Internet. The problem of setting boundaries of control. The Internet can give voice to those typically denied expression. Alternative press and issues not covered by the mainstream press. Flash mobs groups (MoveOn.org) that can organize VIA the Internet. Blogs: more than 23 million are on the Internet. Blogs have their detractors in that they are answerable to no one.

The Internet and Freedom of Expression Controlling Internet Expression The Internet can be used to lie, cheat, and make false accusations. Legal remedies and libel laws are a possibility. Pornography on the Web. A 2002 Supreme Court ruling sided that existing laws were sufficient for child pornography and NEW LAWS SPECIFIC to the web were not needed. In effect, films such as Traffic, American Beauty, and Romeo and Juliet might disappear from the Net. The solution might be in software that can filter out sexual content, but this use on public computers is also controversial because it can be used to filter out other content as well.

The Internet and Freedom of Expression Copyright (Intellectual Property Ownership) Copyright laws apply on the Internet but they are difficult to enforce. New material is often combined with old material (mashups); this creates a question of authorship. Privacy privacy is protected by law. An ISP cannot divulge the contents of or other information. A government agency must get permission to listen in. Many organizations online collect personal information about consumers and customers and then sell them to a third party (this is illegal in Europe). Cookies and spyware are also used to track your Internet use.

Virtual Democracy Official websites, social networking sites, , and video sharing sites used in the presidential campaign; the ability for candidates to raise campaign funds. Some critics are concerned that as more politics (and democracy) goes online, those left out through the “digital divide” and “information gap” will be shut out: the working poor, people in rural communities, the elderly. Should the government actually supply broadband Internet service free or low-cost to everyone as a basic utility? The U.S ranks just 16 th in the world in high-speed access, down from 3 rd five years ago. Broadband in countries like Korea, Japan, and Sweden, that encourage municipal systems, costs ½ the access users in the U.S. pay.

Virtual Democracy Some critics also argue that cyber-democracy, and technology, is anti-democratic. Thirty years ago a Presidential address would command a huge audience on all three networks. Now, because of new technology, audiences are fragmented and much less likely to tune in. Also, does the Internet encourage people to splinter into virtual communities of people based on similar interests and ides? They need not question their own beliefs and assumptions and seek out people that confirm what they already believe?