Reflections and Thoughts about the Future of the Internet

Through this module, I have learnt that the internet is a double-edged sword. There are abundant advantages that the internet has brought about. These include greater freedom of speech, the ability to use the internet as a multipurpose tool for learning, conducting business transactions, gaming, and many more.

However I have also learnt that the ubiquitous nature of the internet has inadvertently created more opportunities for crimes to take place online. Due to the openness and accessibility of the internet, cybercrimes such as cyber bullying, phishing and online pornography are able to take place at rapid rates, as cybercrimes can happen anytime and anywhere. Since the internet has made it possible for users to keep their identity anonymous of they choose to, it becomes even more challenging to identify and arrest cyber criminals. To make things worse, as cybercrimes are relatively new in comparison to crimes committed victims of cyber-attacks often do not know that they are being targeted. Furthermore, it is highly likely that victims of cyber-crimes do not know how to deal with the issue due to limited help and expertise available. 

With better improvements in technology, I believe that the future of the internet will continue to shape the way we think and behave in the future. I am certain that the world will continue to converge as the internet will supply us with even more opportunities to interact and connect with people living in remote regions of the world. There would be greater efficiency and learning benefits that the internet will bring about. However, I also believe that the future internet will introduce us to a much more complex virtual ecosystem than the present. Online criminal activities would continue to surge and it remains as a challenge for users to keep their online information private and personal.

As a result, I believe that as media literate students, we ought to have the responsibility and accountability whenever we participate in online activities. We should always check on our privacy settings and ensure that our computer software is constantly up-to-date. This would prevent our computers from being corrupted and prohibit information from being stolen by unauthorized personnel. Ultimately, it is users have to take full responsibility in ensuring that the internet is not taken for granted and put to good use.