How the Internet Has Changed World Culture

Posted: August 7th, 2013

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How the Internet Has Changed World Culture

            The internet, as we know it today, started as a way to communicate ideas among scientific researchers in different geographical locations. Necessity being the mother of invention, the scientists need to share their resources spurred the innovation that has revolutionized people’s lives. Its role in the transformation of world culture is evident when comparisons are made between now and before its advent. Its impact on the world culture is both positive and negative, although the positives outweigh the detractions.

The world has been reduced to a global village since the internet came into the public domain. Communication between people in diverse locations around the world has been eased by the internet in terms of cost and convenience compared to other modes of communication. Previous limitations of communication such as visual barriers have been overcome by the aid of e-conferencing calls and social networking sites that connect people who would have never met otherwise. It is now easier to connect and share an aspect of daily life in a way that was impossible before. The internet has opened up the world to its inhabitants in a way unknown before.

Access of information has been made easier and convenient. Earlier ways of study such as learning by correspondence have been expedited by the internet. Sources of information on virtually any topic are within reach, previous temporal and spatial limitations notwithstanding. This has changed the way people view information and access to it. It has helped change the outlook of certain people as far as others are concerned. It is now possible to share the experiences of people in foreign cultures that one may have never had the opportunity of encountering. Information on the internet is updated at a pace that contemporary books cannot keep up.

Free access to information is a detriment in itself because there are no restrictions to the content of the files and documents that are accessible in the internet. Content that is of an adult nature can be viewed by children. Societies around the world seek to protect children from pornographic content because it detracts from the wholesome understanding of sexual relations that cultures around the world uphold. The internet makes such material available to anyone because it does not have any central governing body. There are filters that can be placed to gauge the information accessible, but this is usually implemented in individual computers or networks with the exception of a few countries.

The internet is a beneficial component of daily life. It has grown since its advent to encompass various aspects of life and society. Its impact to the cultures of the world is evidenced by the change in attitudes of societies around the world aided by the interconnectivity offered by the internet. Positive aspects include the easy and convenient access it offers users. Although this has proven to be a disadvantage in its own way, the advent of the internet changed the way societies interact with each other. World cultures will continue to be shaped by the internet as its prospects expand with each generation.