Failure and the Internet

The Internet continues to confound us all. So much of what everyone believed 10 years ago proved to be nonsense. Much of the current hype about Twitter and social networks is also "hopeful talking up" and not based on facts. There is a revolution going on; and we all need to become part of it.

In 1995 the ideal was; that everyone could be well informed, and that there would be a level playing field, so that many of the structural ills of society might be corrected. The fear was that a digital divide would develop, that some people wouldn't have access to Internet connected machines. We now have a digital divide. Even those who are well connected to the Internet, including many of those who say they are competent Internet users are unknowing and incompetent.

Information is power. When information is freely available, those who used to exercise power, because they have in the past controlled the information, now find that's difficult. Governments find it impossible to control what the public knows. Newspapers no longer control local news. Whatever you sell, can also be purchased online, often at a lower price. Nobody can be sure that their job is safe.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• The Internet
• nonsense
• Twitter
• social networks
• not based on facts
• a revolution
• everyone could
• well informed
• level playing field
• digital divide
• Internet users
• Don Tapscott
• Grown up Digital
• teaching people
• Microsoft program
• business online
• Web 2.0 tools
• blogs
• podcasts
• need to communicate
• Information is power
• the public knows
• local news
• job is safe

[wazzberger]

I typed in "The internet is a failure" because I think I have the same view as you!

My own angle is that it is a failure on an existential and philosophical level.

Instead of uniting it warps people. why do young people instead of furthering themselves choose to watch internet shock videos. such as suicides and people eating feces.