Another essay for English Comp 1...

**i.m.cheap** · 10-27-2007, 10:02 AM

How the Internet Changed the World

Even though the idea of the Internet was formed in the 1950's, the World Wide Web, an offshoot of the Internet, became available to the masses in the mid 90's. The existence of this information super highway has revolutionized the way we communicate. Nowadays, we think nothing of emailing friends or family a half a world away, and receiving an answer in just minutes.

New words and phrases have been added to our language: dot-com, download, hyper-link, URL, web browser, blogging, and chat room, to name a few. The web has revolutionized business and personal communications. Bill paying that used to require addressing an envelope, writing a check, and licking a stamp, can now be accomplished with the click of a mouse.

The Web has become more like a world of its own, a world-wide community without borders, where we can shop, play, learn, sharing images and ideas. You can even read your local newspaper on-line while on vacation in another country. School children use the web to send instant messages to their friends down the street, or across the Atlantic.

While your parents or grandparents might have had their friends sign their high school yearbook, today you add your friends to your MySpace page. Many adults complete their college degrees without ever setting foot on a campus. On the web, you can find like minded individuals in forums, like www.frugalvillage.com or www.pcgamer.com. Have a question or a problem? Just post your dilemma, and wait for someone to post a response. Find a bargain or other news you want to share? Post it for your on-line forum friends. Fifty years ago, people shared this information over the fence with their next door neighbors. This neighborhood covers the world.

The web has been a boon to those doing research, which used to require hours spent in a library. Research can now be accomplished easily on your home PC, or on your notebook computer with WI-FI while sipping a latte at Starbucks.

The ability to shop on-line has been a boon to many, even the UPS is riding high on this wave. The web has delivered a bounty of merchandise to those all over the globe. Those in remote rural locations have especially benefited from this service.

However, not every aspect of this technology has been a positive. Phishing schemes involve emails sent to unsuspecting victims that appear to come from their banks, credit card companies, or even the IRS. These criminals are attempting to steal your personal information, such as bank account or credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords.

Cyber-bullying has nearly replaced playground bullying among those aged 11-19. In this type of bullying, the bully does not need to be larger or stronger than the victim, and the victim is not always younger or weaker than the bully. Rumors, taunts and direct threats can be expressed through instant-messaging, chat rooms, blogs, and email.

The web has been a playground for sexual predators that prey on children. Often posing as younger people, these criminals send sexually suggestive emails and obscene photos to children and young teens. Many arrests have been made through the use of police sting operations, but they only represent the tip of the iceberg.

Many relationships have been destroyed when one partner becomes addicted to the web, spending hours searching for porn, or spending time in on-line chat rooms, sometimes carrying on a cyber-sex relationship. On-line gambling, or even an addiction to on-line gaming can suck the life out of a relationship. For better or worse, the World Wide Web is here to stay.

**i.m.cheap** · 10-27-2007, 10:16 AM

After rereading this, I noticed that I used the word "boon" in two adjacent paragraphs, so I changed this one:

The web has been a great resource for those doing research, which used to require hours spent in a library. Research can now be accomplished easily on your home PC, or on your notebook computer with WI-FI while sipping a latte at Starbucks.