Internet Experiences

Victor Perez

Dr. Katherine Robinson

Section: 0801

The Many Facets of the Internet

The Internet’s capabilities are constantly being improved upon. We ask ourselves what can’t we do with the Internet? By the time we think of an answer it has already been accommodated to perform that task as well. As we are enveloped by the flourishing technology that occurs at the very edge of our typing and clicking fingertips, we cannot possibly be blind to all the appealing attributes the Internet exhibits, all that it allows us to do, all that it has to offer. It serves its purpose so effectively in a variety of departments such as entertainment, communication, information, and so on.

The biggest social network to hit today’s stage is the famous, or infamous depending on the perspective, Facebook. I have to admit I am an avid user and find myself signing on every day religiously. Although, I do not over dramatize my presence as many users these days do, constantly changing my status, commenting on this picture and that wall post, friend requesting at a whim or sifting through pages and pages of photo albums. In all honesty, Facebook’s appeal simply lies in my ability to stay in contact with friends and family. Yes, it sounds lazy, but there is no denying the fact that Facebook allows you to communicate with multiple people and see where they have been lately, what they have been doing, and how they are. In today’s fast paced world it is important to be able to reach someone. Your phone breaks (happened to me numerous times), it is dead, lost, it does not matter. We all know we have that Facebook security net to fall into. If we can’t call or text someone we’re only clicks away and sure enough they are on Facebook or will be momentarily. It is argued that Facebook is a distraction, another device along with video games and iPods that prevent people, specifically students from getting their work done. Facebook’s usage rule is just like that of any other thing that is good, only in moderation.

While it is convenient to be able to talk to a lot of your friends all at once, there are those special times or rather those “special someone’s” that demand a more personal touch. Something that Facebook has yet to offer its clients is the ability to see the person your talking to. A phone call is nice. Being able to hear the voice of the person you wish to talk to, hear them laugh, here the vibrancy of their happiness or the gloominess of their sadness. However nothing beats actually seeing them and if you can’t see them in person than seeing them through video chatting is the next best thing. My girlfriend and I are going to school an hour apart. We went to High School together and live about a three-minute walk apart. We got accustomed to seeing each other every day if not every other. Video chatting allows us to continue that contact. We try to video chat every other day and I think it’s really helpful. There is a huge difference between hearing a “hahah. . . snort. . haha” then just reading a “lol.” Just like there is a difference between seeing the crack of a smile than a yellow smiley face. Video chatting provides a more intimate and meaningful social interaction. Of course it is not only helpful for long distance relationships, it allows you to see old friends see their reactions to stories and memories “face to face”.

Although its popularity has died down with the creation of Myspace and Facebook, AIM was the biggest host for instant messaging. Every day kids would sign on. I have mentioned the benefits of close interaction, however I recognize that there exist some pros to only seeing a text box with a message. A few years ago my best friend and I got into a fight. We exchanged some grueling insults and made some definite points about the friendship in general. A lot of the things we said would not have been exchanged had we been in person. Without the opportunity to look at each other we would have been to hesitant to say the things we did and probably would not have resolved the problem. Thanks to only being able to see our words and not hear each others’s voices or see each other’s reaction we were able to open up and unravel some of the kinks we had. Eventually it led to things being a lot better and we gradually were able to talk our problems without the help of a messenger program.

The Internet is only going to keep getting better and better and expand its vastness of abilities. As long as we continue to request for it too absorb a new capability we will find a way to develop it and make it happen.