What is the internet?

We know that the Internet is a vast network that connects computers all over the world. Through the Internet, people can share information and communicate from anywhere with an Internet connection. Knowing this can we say that the internet is “alive” like you and me? Well, what does it mean to be “alive”? For something to be alive it has to be, “a person, animal, or plant that is living, not dead.” Well duh we know this, but it can also mean “continuing in existence or use” and “alert and active; animated.” Therefore, knowing this we could say that the internet is “alive,” because it exists and is in constant use. This is simply because we are the ones making the internet alert and active, in other words feeding it and giving it life. Once we stop feeding the internet it would die. So yes, the internet is alive but probably not in the way most people view the meaning “alive”.

Since the internet is alive that means it has a location. I believe the internet is located everywhere. For example, the internet can be at work, school, a local coffee shop, and in all of us. This is because we are the internet! We are the ones that put life into it. In this day and age, you can post, tweet, communicate with people all over the world in a matter of seconds. That means the internet can be anywhere and everywhere. Today, the internet is made up of more than 40,000 different networks. However, there are three distinct internets today, the internet of people, the internet of servers, and the Internet of things. Each of these three internets can be connected with each other by sharing the same system of IP addresses and similar web protocols. So, if all of this is connected then what is not the internet?

I think what classifies as not the internet now a days is completely not using any technology that has access to the internet like smart phones, computers, etc. However, it is very hard for people to stay off the internet since we are basically walking around with a computer in our pocket at all times. The Internet has changed business, education, government, healthcare, and even the ways in which we interact with our friends and family. The internet has become one of the key influencers of social evolution. The changes in social communication have become substantial.

What scares me the most is the extreme lack of social skills and norms that the younger generation is experiencing due to too much internet. We have lost touch to the outside world and instead have become too comfortable and dependent with the internet. We learn online, we go to work online, we shop online, we date online, and we even spend our leisure time online. It has gotten so bad that people now can’t even call or pick up their food themselves anymore, now they just hop on the internet and order everything online. What’s even worse is I have friends that can’t go to the bathroom without their phones. As pathetic that might sound there are probably just as many benefits as there are problems with the internet.

I do love that with the internet you can access information about almost anything in a matter of seconds. The internet allows people to learn information about any topic and offers an answer to any type of question, as it contains endless knowledge and information. This allows for us to work efficiently and learn more about a subject in great detail which has ultimately changed the field of education. However, this can be a blessing and a curse. Just because we have the ability to “google” anything we want doesn’t necessarily mean it makes us smarter. Search engines like Google give us the ability to broaden our intelligence by giving us access to a numerous amount of information that we can use to get a better understanding of subjects. The problem with Google though is that many people use this search engine to find quick and easy solutions to their problems. Whether it’s for work, school, or research people don’t want to learn anymore instead they just want to find the answer.

Another positive aspect about the internet is that it created the gateway for connectivity, communication, and sharing for people. Back in the day we didn’t have the capability to communicate with people as fast and efficient as we do today. Whether it’s for work or social life we can talk to people around the world in a matter of seconds. And lastly, the internet provides people an access to endless entertainment. With the internet, you can watch movies, videos, play games, listen to music, etc. This of course can also be a bad thing. When you have access to nearly everything with only the push of a button that causes people to become dependent and lazy. Overall, the internet can be extremely helpful, efficient, and an amazing tool, but too much of anything can be detrimental to ourselves and society!