Saturday, December 24, 2022

My vision of what the Internet should have become

In the 1990s, the internet was still in its infancy and was primarily used for communication and information sharing. Many people saw the potential for the internet to become a vast, decentralized library of knowledge, similar to the ancient Library of Alexandria, which was one of the most comprehensive libraries of the ancient world. The hope was that the internet would allow people from all over the world to access and share information in a way that had never been possible before. With the ability to connect to the internet from anywhere, people could access a wide range of information on any topic, from scholarly research papers to historical documents to current news. 

There were also hopes that the internet would democratize access to information and make it more evenly distributed among different groups of people. In the past, access to knowledge was often limited to those who had the resources and privilege to afford books or attend educational institutions. The internet offered the potential for anyone to have access to a wealth of information, regardless of their socio-economic status or location. However, as the internet has evolved, it has become clear that it is not a perfect realization of this vision. While there is a vast amount of information available online, it is not always easy to find or verify the accuracy of what is being shared. 

Additionally, the internet has also become a platform for the spread of misinformation and propaganda, which can undermine the credibility of the information being shared. Despite these challenges, the internet remains a valuable resource for information and knowledge, and it continues to play a vital role in how we access and share information with each other. As we move into the future, it will be important to find ways to ensure that the internet continues to be a place where people can access accurate and reliable information and work together to create a more informed and educated society.