Communicating Online

The Internet: A New Medium!

With the creation of the Internet an entire new form of communication was born. The popularity of the Internet enabled people in all parts of the world to communicate, with just the click of a button. The Internet is very multifaceted which makes it difficult to identify the medium in which it falls (Adams & Clark p.28). Though the Internet has been in use for quite some time, there are still a lot of problems that arise when you are connected to the World Wide Web. The problems are mostly because people from all over the world are connected to one another, most often than not, at the same time (A & C p.30). Despite these setbacks, the developments of the Internet have made it a great experience. The multimedia aspect of the internet has enhanced the experience, by enabling the user to listen to music, download movies, and create their own home movies and a variety of other things (A&C p.35). Even if you are using the Internet to do homework, playing around with these services make it more like a learning experience within itself. The interactivity of the Internet also appeals to me because I am able to enjoy chatting on AOL instant messenger, as well as watch movies, email friends and family as well as shop online (A&C p.39). I love these aspects of the Internet; it makes me wonder how people ever lived without it. I know the Internet is used as a platform for people to learn and share their ideas, but I am concerned with the lack of privacy, that comes with its usage. Although certain websites attempt to protect their users, there are many people who are able to get around this and use this for there advantage (A&C p.42). This has the potential to be damaging to the victim and it also alters the reality, leaving the viewer misinformed. The Internet has its positives and negatives, but it is definitely an important aspect of our lives and will continue to play an important role into the future.