Society's Dependence on the Internet

Internet on Our Daily Life

  Internet is a really important part of our lives, however; we are depending from it constantly. People are always using the Internet, in the car, classroom, even in the bathroom. It feel like people are fix on trying to be the most modern that they can, also they try to find answer to all their questions and worries via Internet. The problem is that we are getting to dependent on it, and if something happen to the Internet it will create chaos that will be really hard to recover from. There are bank accounts, assets and many more things that can be affected if there is an Internet Failure.  

If there is an Internet Failure, the communication between many people will be an issue. Companies would lose a huge amount of benefits like money. Schools would need to make some changes in how they perform and expect students to perform. In conclusion people will feel lost.

I came across from another blog and it talked about how useless we would become to perform without internet. Most of our references are in internet and if we need to find a way to fix any Internet failure we won't be able to access this information. Also we won't be able to get from one place to another because we would need a GPS to travel. When a computer or phone crashes we lose really important information and documents that are really valuable. We are relying on Internet to do basic human functions because it's just easier and faster. 

In my perception, I rather read and use the old "books" than use the Internet, however; Internet is more convenient and fast. Also, when a person starts to base their social life on the Internet, relationships and communications start to change, it becomes a problem because there won't be any human interaction. 

 

Media and Natural Disasters

Media and Natural Disasters

   During the last couple of years media has been a daily component of our lives. We can buy, sell and educate ourselves thanks to the media. I find it fascinating how individuals post and tweet about one specific thing and it can be a really important source of information. Also it goes viral and many people can get a hold of such information.

 Six out of ten people relied on online news for updates during these events. And one-third of the U.S. population said would use social media to let their loved ones know they were safe. (Read Cross)

 

 

Media has played a vital role in reporting events from elections and more important about disasters. For example the hurricane Sandy was transformed from images to newspaper, then to the Internet that made the carry process further for more people to be informed in any occasion about the most important things about the mother nature. For example, Last December  in New York, The mayor Cory Booker, who is a Twitter user help many people by responding to tweet requests from individuals to dig their cars and buses out of snowbanks. I believe Social media has made a difference by providing easy accessibility during natural catastrophes. 

Haiti suffered from a terrific earthquake and media was a way to make people aware and social media was the based to incorporate more  volunteers to help  this disaster. Ushahidi has also been a really important method that rescue programs have used in the past. this consist of a series of maps that show where there are shelters, food stores as well as cell phone charging centers.

The Red Cross keeps the population informed by twitter. they have information on how to act before, during and after a disaster. Organizations like the Red Cross are seeing the social media as an important medium to communicate and as well as to seek help during natural disasters.

Social Media and The Presidential Election

Social Media & the Elections

Campaigns and elections were based on speeches and newspaper to make the community get more involved in the elections, but everything has changed. Nowadays, the social media is playing a really important role in how the candidates are perceived. There are many sources in the social media that enables the candidates to raise money, recruit campaign volunteers and convince voters. The messages are being distributed in a more fast and efficient way through the media networks like Facebook and Tweeter.

Campaigns The campaign needs to be organized. The polls are really important because they can tell what kind of people, concerns, and information the community knows about the candidate. This way the campaign can more easily target the population and be more effective. These polls can also explain the public's opinion and the kind of advertisement the population wants.

Funding

"The 2008 presidential and congressional elections cost $5.3 billion dollars, a 25 percent increase over 2004." Federal Election Campaign Act explains how the assets are supposed to be used during a campaign and how much the candidates are supposed to used. So with such a high amounts of money being spent during campaigns and with a law that puts a limit to it, the candidates need to find a way to raise funds to maintain their campaign. In 2008, Barack Obama used the media in an incredible manner to get more people interested in the campaign and many of them contributed with donations towards his campaigns.

“First of all, if you look at the numbers on this, it’s absolutely incredible. He had 4 million donors to his campaign, which is about one in 17 people who voted for him gave him money," Peter Fenn. (Political communications strategist)

Convincing VotersPopulation want to know everything about the candidates. The candidates imagine is really important for a good campaign. In other words, the candidates want to share their background, experiences, and personal qualities. I believe media is a great way to share this kind of information

Collaboration, Transparency, Sharing and Empowerment.

Don Tapscott: Four Principles for the Open World

The Internet and the web 2.0  are great ways for people to come together and many of us see it as a way for human beings to create a better and clearer future. 

In my point of view, with the web being more open in the ways that Mr. Tapscott describes, society can be less ignorant and open to improvement. He talks about the Internet being more open in four main categories. First of all, it is collaboration. If the social media work together, there will be more social production and more ways for us to work together and help each other and be a stimulus for and by new ideas. Readers can contribute and trade information and many more things. Internet collaborations can create more improvements. For example, I found a really good blog about Internet collaboration. It makes me realize that there are thousands of people who would like to help and be helped.  Second, by the web being open, it also is transparent. The transparency of the web is based on how good the integrity of it is. People want good values that can produce trust and also communicate the information in a ethical way. It makes the people know what is really going on with important manners. Third, it is sharing. I feel like sharing goes hands on hands with collaborating. It is really important to share ideas, and social problems that need to be addressed with people all over the world. This also applies for institutions and organizations.

"Institutions are becoming naked as people develop powerful tools to find out what is going on in them. Wiki leaks is the tip of the iceberg," (Tapscott).

Empowerment is giving to more people over the web. We can find so many knowledge in the web that can be turn into freedom. Human beings have more chances to express themselves and learn from other cultures, religions, governments and organizations. The four principles will make people more conscious about  everything around them thanks to the web. Intelligence will be a way for humanity to come together, protect and create a better future.