hoffm493

The digital divide has been called one of America’s leading economic and civil rights issues. There are many controversial issues pertaining to the internet today, but in my opinion, the digital divide is one of the most critical issues that we should strive to resolve. Because newspapers, education, work and many other aspects of our everyday lives are moving strictly to online resources, it is important for everyone to have the resources and knowledge of the internet that they need in order to access all the information necessary.

The divide is linked to income, race geography and education. Single parents, rural residents, Native Americans, Latinos and African-Americans are all groups that fall behind in computer ownership and Internet access. Through watching the Google tech talk on YouTube, which is linked below, I learned that wealthy Americans are 20% more likely to have Internet access than the poor. African-American and Latino households are one-third as likely to have home Internet access as Asian households, and two-fifths as likely as white households, the college educated are 16 times more likely to have home Internet access than the least educated, but in rural areas they are 26 more times likely to have home Internet access than those with an elementary education.

There are numerous reasons for this digital divide, which we discussed in class on Wednesday. In my opinion, the issues with satellites are the most important issue for us to resolve in order to provide access to the internet for anyone who wants it. After viewing all the possible solutions that we have come up with, not many of them seem like they will be successful. It is somewhat unrealistic for everyone to have internet at their fingertips at all times. If we gain better satellites at least people will have available connections. This Google talk on YouTube addresses interesting facts and possible solutions for this critical issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7A1tbnm2Ic

Posted by hoffm493 at 12:22 PM | Permalink

As the internet has progressed and developed over the years, people are becoming dependent and in some circumstances addicted. Because there are so many means for information, entertainment and satisfaction through the internet, it has been said that ten percent of internet surfers are addicted. These addicts are mostly people who began surfing the internet as a teenager or earlier and have become dependent on the entertainment and satisfaction that it provides them. Teens today become consumed with video games, social networking sites and in many cases, shopping.

I believe that this recent realization that several people are becoming addicted to internet use, is an extremely important issue that needs to be addressed. Earlier I said that I feel that the digital divide is the most important issue that needs to be resolved pertaining to the internet. I feel that Internet addiction is more severe and can have extremely life altering affects for people, but the digital divide affects many more people and that is why I said that it is most important.

It has been said that social networking sites are the largest cause for internet addiction. Sites such as second life, cause people to escape reality and their everyday problems to sit on the internet and life a whole different life which many people take way way too far. Socialization is what makes the Internet so addicting. Plain old hanging out with other people and talking with them. Whether it's via e-mail, a discussion forum, chat, or a game online (such as a MUD), people are spending this time exchanging information, support, and chit-chat with other people like themselves. To me this is a sign that internet addiction could come from depression or loneliness because many people who are uncomfortable interacting with certain types of people in real life, become addicted to online interaction and cravethe attention and affection that they are receiving through the web.

Posted by hoffm493 at 12:40 PM | Permalink