You Never Know Who’s Watching December 11, 2009

The anonymity of the internet has been both a blessing and a curse for its users. Whatever parts of your true identity that you choose can be displayed while the parts you don’t choose can be ignored or made up. This can be exhilarating to some, but at the same time, it leaves you wondering who to trust.

Another issue is with websites where you think all of your information is private such as Facebook or MySpace. Many people, often students, post pictures and other information that is often inappropriate. This has led to trouble with employers and colleges. There have been many cases where applicants do not get the jobs they hope for or college students lose scholarships or even their invitation to attend the school because of pictures they post.

It all comes down to taking the time to read privacy policies and being knowledgeable to what you post on the internet. You have to be literate about who you are talking to and how you’re being portrayed because you really never know who is reading.

The Internet: What’s in it for you?! November 22, 2009

                How many hours do you spend on the internet a day?  That is the question I ask different generations and find that the answers vary drastically.  The uses and possibilities the internet provides us with are unbelievable.  Decades ago, the idea of how the internet is used today was nonexistent. Over time, different experiments proved that the internet can hold numerous amounts of information and can offer society a variety of programs.  As it started to develop, it attracted more and more people. When I asked my grandmother if the internet has ever been important to her, she laughed.  Born in 1925 and growing up on a farm, she was not introduced to the internet, let alone cell phones until she was a middle age woman. She lived her life without certain forms of technology and to this day is still not familiar with the internet and what it consists of. It is amazing to think that for years technology especially computers, have become a vital part of everyone’s life. Today, children are introduced to the internet at a very young age and become reliant on it as they grow up. I wonder what kind of opportunities the internet will provide people with in the future.  According to the article We Are the Web by Kevin Kelly, “A simple extrapolation suggests that in the near future, everyone alive will (on average) write a song, author a book, make a video, craft a weblog, and code a program.” Kelly explains that this idea is possible and less outrageous then those created 150 years ago.  I am interested to see if the internet will be able to handle the enhancements it will undergo over the next couple of years.  How do you feel about the progress of the internet?  What are your predictions about the internet in the future?To read more of Kevin Kelly’s article, visit http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/tech.html?pg=1&topic=tech&topic_set=