3.5 IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON SOCIETY

Question 1

WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF LESS RESTRICTED ACCESS TO NETWORKS?

Answer 1

• Social media and video streaming services have enabled people to broadcast their messages and interact with global audience
• User generated websites have challenged society’s ideas of expertise. (Wikipedia) Knowledge, truth, accuracy are no longer checked by experts, ordinary people can put true/false information.
• Internet has created billionares
• Internet provides volunteers to work for free and a good cause
• Internet has impacted law and enforcement - rioters can organise riots. Police use CCTV to record their actions.
• Digital humanitarian movement.

Question 2

WHAT IS THE DIGITAL HUMANITARIAN MOVEMENT?

Answer 2

• 2007 - Civil unrest and tribal violence in Kenya.
• Blogger called ORY OKOLLON co-founded website called USHAHIDI
• Website provided people the ability to record and map inscidents of attacks.
• Ushahidi put pressure on kenyan authorities to act to reduce attacks.

Question 3

IN WHAT WAYS CAN PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO ICT BE AFFECTED?

Answer 3

• Economy and infrastructure
• Location
• Politics
• Religion

Question 4

HOW CAN ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AFFECT PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO ICT?

Answer 4

Countries with advanced economies can invest in infrastructure required to provide access to internet.

Question 5

HOW CAN LOCATION AFFECT PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO ICT?

Answer 5

In remote locations people may not be able to access online systems (heavily forested, mountainous).

Question 6

HOW CAN POLITICS AFFECT PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO ICT?

Answer 6

Governments can control access to information by blocking certain websites. By blocking satellite receivers means no access to TV/radio broadcasts with cultural disagreements.

Question 7

EXAMPLE OF RELIGION AFFECTING ACCESS TO ICT?

Answer 7

Amish people don’t use TV, radio, internet.