How the Internet has Changed the World

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Internet is the amazing advancement in technology that makes life easier and simple. Internet helps to meet people in many places in just few seconds. This has become the great medium to reach millions of people and it is useful in educating them. Internet has made the people to become computer literate as the Internet itself is very easy to understand. A person has to just sit down and type in the search engine of the World Wide Web to know any information or update that is happening around the world.

This has now become the vital source of information that is highly helpful in education. A person can find any information such as essays, blogs, books, articles, pictures, news, or any other topic. If the person is still struggling for their information, then they can email someone or set up their own web page with their findings to help others. The world has become the local place and with just a touch of button, a person can easily contact others who are on the other side of the world.

Friends and families can reunite in the social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other sites. Social sites not only help people to reunite, but also stand as a medium to educate people to fight against injustice just like what is happening now in Egypt. These sites are creating awareness  and making people create a revolution.

Internet is also a pool of many businesses and has created many job opportunities. It provides sources for business people and fun-lovers alike with resources ranging from financial organization tools to free bingo.  There are many online supermarkets and auction stores where a person can buy almost everything with just a single touch, and this has made shopping easy. Also, a person can buy a product at a relatively low cost as it is the virtual store that does not need dressing of a real shop. These are the simple examples of changes brought by the Internet.

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The Effects of Social Media on the Egypt Protests

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There was a real life example of exactly how influential the Internet can be when it comes to banding and pulling people together. Recently in Egypt people were unhappy with the way that the government was working. After 30 years they wanted to see a new person in power as they felt that the one that was there currently had lost touch. Instead of posting fliers and organizing protests through underground networks all the work was done completely via the Internet.

People would text, Twitter or Facebook what was going on and where the local protests would be. Quickly, one person would spread the word and call out others who were local to come join the protests or help the cause. On the Internet, they talked about their cause and what they believed they could do to fight it. Unfortunately there were many people who believed enough wasn’t being done and the riots turned from something with good intentions to something that destroyed many people’s lives and killed people.

Regardless of the situation it turned into the protests are further proof just how powerful the Internet has become over the past few years. Instead of having to do stuff by hand everything was quickly arranged in a matter of minutes through social media outlets and people were quickly there to lend their hand and support others.

Taking a look back on how many people were involved and how quickly the protests spread it is amazing to believe that simple Internet websites and communications could influence such a huge amount of people and gather such a large crowd.

Researchers have already talked about looking into exactly how Internet and social media played a role in the protests and exactly what lead to people rioting in the streets. Should research be conducted on it, it would allow governments and those that are looking to spread the message of other ideals online the ability to see exactly how powerful the Internet and social media can be.

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Internet Democracy

January 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In the post World War II era, many countries formerly led by oppressive regimes have given way to broader versions of democracy. The latest case is that of Tunisia escaping the clenches of an authoritarian leader who was essentially a dictator operating under the guise of a completely democratic system. With the downfall of the leader, preceded by the jailing of several reporters who had either attempted or been successful in portraying the “voting” as a sham, one wonders how much influence the news media, (which is largely internet based these days) truly holds.

Of course, where democracy is concerned, it never helps to stage an election in which, of the four total candidates, two actually suggest that everyone vote for their choice—the third candidate. What’s of even more concern is that this message was able to be portrayed to the outside world via social media outlets.

Never before has a regime change occurred during an era in which social media is as widespread as it is today. And the smallest things, unexpected things, are happening inside of those media outlets that point to the great sense of relief suddenly flooding the entire nation’s citizenry. The national flag is being shown in many people’s image window on Facebook as they display their proud happiness that democracy has finally, truly arrived in their country. International messages are being sent back and forth on the web as people discuss in real time what has been occurring, from riots to celebrations.

As more freedom and power sweeps the land, online degrees will become even more prevalent, as former internet censorship disappears and free knowledge transfer and education is made available. Those who were formerly repressed (Tunisia’s record was better than the average Arab country, but still behind many nations) will be able to access education in a way that they would not have been able to without online degree programs and in turn, pursue better lives.

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The Use of Facebook

December 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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If someone asked you what is the best way for an official to get voted into office you might answer through a good public record and the right kind of advertising. You wouldn’t be altogether wrong. There are a lot of reasons why elected officials get into office. The record is a good reason. However, there is another reason why these officials are getting into office in the computer age and it has nothing to do with the way they have served the office. It’s through the use of Facebook.

Facebook is a social networking website where you can connect with millions of people all over the world and see what they are up to and you can chat with them and make real lasting connections. It’s become the social gathering place and one that people are flocking to by the thousands every day.

The political process is not above taking a page out of the book of pop culture in order to win an election. It’s true that Facebook is blowing up and those running for office in the United States aren’t seeing this as a bad thing, but rather an opportunity to get their own message out there and meet new voters each and every day.

They are smart enough to know that in this day and age people check their Facebook with the same regularity they check their email. In some cases people check their Facebook more so. This means that putting their page on Facebook is a way to attract a swarm of potential voters. They attract people through the like button then send out status updates as a way of keeping voters abreast of what they are trying to do with their campaign and how they can use their help. This doesn’t always translate into votes, but when it doesn’t it’s wonderful for the candidates and since it costs nothing to have a page, it’s always worth it.

Filed Under: Computers, Democracy, Internet Tagged With: , , ,

The Internet and How We Interact With Representatives

December 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Internet is used for everything these days. From meeting people to finding any information under the sun, the Internet is the one stop shop for anything you could need in your life. It’s used quite often in the world of politics. It’s often used to win elections, but it’s used to change the nature of the way that you interact with your representative. The process for talking to a representative is something that has never been easy to do.

Back in the day there used to be a process for talking to your local rep. You could travel to see them at their office and hope they would be there. You could write them a letter and spend several weeks hoping they would reply with an answer to your inquiry. Or, if you you were able to, you could call them and see if you could speak to them directly. This has rarely worked well on any front. The life of a rep is difficult and it often leaves them on the go. This is why the internet has been such an amazing invention when it comes to talking to your rep.

A rep these days is always available. With the explosion of email and the local websites, getting in touch with your rep is easy as can be. All it takes is one simple email and it can reach the right party in a matter of minutes. Often reps are quicker to respond to you because it’s through a medium that they have on their phones, but they don’t have to call. It’s personal but still very formal.

If you are interested in contacting your own local rep you should do so by searching for their website on the Internet. There you will find all the information you need to get in touch. The Internet is making the people who affect your life more accessible. Take advantage of this option.

Filed Under: Computers, Democracy, Internet Tagged With: , , ,

Winning Elections Online

December 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Image via CrunchBase

If you are thinking about running for your local office then congrats are in order. Being a part of the political process is a big honor and one that you shouldn’t take lightly. No matter if you are running for local office, such as a library board member, or if you are setting your sights on a higher office, you should be proud of the honor you have to shape the lives of many people.

Still running for office isn’t always a cake walk. There are a lot of things you need to do if you are planning on winning. You can’t expect to put your name on the ballot and come up a winner. There are too many variable in place that you must be aware of if you are going to come away with the votes you need to take office. Here are a few things that you can do to get yourself elected, and they all take place on line.

The first thing you should do is become a part of the social media. Get pages for your political aspirations. Get a Facebook and a Twitter account. Make sure that you do whatever you have to do to make yourself a presence on the site. If you have to enlist the help of family and friends to work for you and get you a bigger cyber presence than do so.

Once you have established yourself there, make sure you are active on these accounts. Just being liked and doing nothing with it is not a way to get noticed. You have to make constant updates and posts. The more you post, the more people will get a chance to remember you. In these sorts of smaller races it’s about being seen more than it is anything else. Make sure you have your name out there and you should be ready to have the presence needed to win the office.

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