Intro and Internet Safety
Using the web and social media is something that is very prevalent in today’s society. Growing up, I feel like we were there to see the epidemic of social media and how it has taken over almost everything we do. A few years ago, you had to carry all of your personal information on you along with the physical credit cards and so much more. We are currently in the start of 2020 and basically your whole life is embedded into one mobile device that needs facial recognition to access. Some may thing it is absolutely insane to put your whole world into one small device while others think that this is the world we live in and it just simply makes life easier. Personally, I put everything into my phone because that is what everyone else around me does. I can pull up my passport for a flight with a click of a button, use any credit card I have, or autofill my information into any website. Taking a step back to think if this is dangerous is an argument, I have with myself everything, but I never think to take away my digital footprint. I know there are people out there who can hack into systems and always strip me of my identity but for some reason, that thought doesn’t scare me. There are so many ongoing arguments when it comes to the web and the security that goes behind it but yet there has never been a moment in time where anyone was able to come to a happy medium.
Below is an article from the New York Times explaining how one can create a safer digital presence:
What is Net Neutrality?
Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon should treat all content flowing through their cables and cell towers equally. That means they shouldn’t be able to slide some data into “fast lanes” while blocking or otherwise discriminating against other material.
The WIRED Guide to Net Neutrality [1]
Net neutrality is something that enables there to be an open playing field. Without the concept of net neutrality, there would essentially be a monopoly in the broadband provider industry. It allows for there to be new technologies and companies to come in and provide their own services without being blocked or discriminated but the other providers. I widely used example is the one was starting to get explained in the quote above. A service like Verizon can not block one of their customers from using a service such as Netflix or Hulu to sway one towards using the other more often than not [1].
Why We Need It
There is a very noticeable alignment between net neutrality and free speech. According to the article, An Attack on Net Neutrality Is an Attack on Free Speech, it is explained that “Mass consumption of entertainment products may be big business and may even help drive adoption, but it’s not new and empowering like the opportunity to participate in speech on an infinite variety of topics” [2]. Without net neutrality being present, the concept of free speech online could be taken away.
Without net neutrality, having fast speed access to sites is taken away. This is an ongoing problem in Portugal, where they are experiencing no net neutrality. The article, Without net neutrality in Portugal, mobile internet is bundled like a cable package, explains how the internet works without net neutrality [3]. Content is not being treated equally and that is resulting in out of pocket expenses to access websites that should be free. The photo below is represents the current situation in Portugal and as you can see, there is unfair pricing present due to the lack of net neutrality.
Personally, I have never felt personally affected by net neutrality. Truthfully, before this I have never even heard of net neutrality but now I know that it is a right everyone should be granted. It is our generation that needs to start to take initiative in ensuring everyone across the globe has equal rights on the internet.
Net Neutrality on Social Media
Citations
Citation 1: Finley, Klint. “Net Neutrality: Here’s Everything You Need To Know.” Wired, Conde Nast, 30 Oct. 2018, http://www.wired.com/story/guide-net-neutrality/.
Citation 2: McSherry, Corynne. “An Attack on Net Neutrality Is an Attack on Free Speech.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, 5 July 2017, http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/06/attack-net-neutrality-attack-free-speech.
Citation 3: Coren, Michael J. “Without Net Neutrality in Portugal, Mobile Internet Is Bundled like a Cable Package.” Quartz, Quartz, 14 Dec. 2017, qz.com/1114690/why-is-net-neutrality-important-look-to-portugal-and-spain-to-understand/.
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