The Internet as a New Forum For Democracy….I Think Not!

            When the Internet first appeared on the scene, it was promised to bring with it a more equal society by helping to create a new forum for democracy. This new forum for democracy was believed to come about because the Internet allowed for global communities as well as social movements and not for profit organizations to send their messages to large groups of people.

           

 

             This is all very true, however what about the people who do not have access to the Internet? They do not have equal opportunities as those who do. This is a problem as it creates inequality between the people who have access to the Internet and those who do not.

            Those who have access to the Internet have great advantages over those who do not. For example they have quick and easy access to information, entertainment and research tools. They also have the capability to put their ideas and opinions online for a large audience therefore making themselves heard. People who don’t have access to the Internet do not have the same forum to make themselves heard and therefore do not have the same opportunity to get their opinion out there.

 

 

            The Internet also provides hate groups and terrorists with the opportunity to spread their message among the millions of Internet users. This is not acceptable as they are using the Internet to spread messages of hate and instill fear in the group that their hate is directed towards.

They also use the Internet to spread black propaganda and recruit new members to their group. This should not be allowed as these groups do nothing to benefit society, they just divide it by putting people against each other.

            Although freedom of speech and opinion are part of democracy, it is not right that people who want to use the Internet in a more productive manner than the one mentioned above, do not have the opportunity, but those who want to spread messages of hate have the opportunity.

 

 

            Until everyone has equal access to the Internet it cannot be known as a tool used to make things equal because if anything it has created more inequalities.