Analysis of Internet within Dystopian/Utopian Framework

Digital technologies, and the Internet in particular, have not escaped the scrutiny and criticism of such experts. There are futurists such as Alvin Toffler, author of ‘The Third Wave’, who believe in the power of digital technologies to fundamentally change our lives. Equally, there exist critics such as Neil Postman, author of ‘Amusing Ourselves To Death’, who claims that ‘the computer and its information cannot answer any of the fundamental questions we need to address to make our lives more meaningful and humane’. (http://world.std.com/~jimf/informing.html) For every Toffler there is a Postman. There is a third band of critics who call themselves ‘technorealists’. This group suggests a more cautious approach to emerging technologies. They ‘anticipate mixed blessings from today's emerging technol

For many champions of the freedom of speech the Internet was a godsend, a borderless, uncensored medium. John Naughton is such a champion. He cherishes the range of voices that can be heard on the Internet.

The art of teaching cannot be replicated by computers, the Net, or by "distance learning." These tools can, of course, augment an already high-quality educational experience. But to rely on them as any sort of panacea would be a costly mistake. (www.technorealism.org)

However, absolute freedom of speech brings with it its own set of problems. The presence of child pornography on the ‘net has caused controversy in this corner of the globe. Internet users in France were incensed when they came across auction sites offering Nazi memorabilia for sale. Technologies were demanded both by the public and by the law to facilitate some form of censorship. These technologies needed to be culture-specific for ‘what is perfectly acceptable to one culture can be a red flag to another’(ISP’s Content Across Continents). It is an unfortunate fact that these very technologies, created in the public interest, are being used in certain states to protect the interests of the status quo by censoring ‘subversive’ material.

Techno-utopians have been quite vocal about the potential of the Internet to help eradicate the social gap by providing a level educational playing field. George Gilder enthused that ‘the most deprived ghetto child in the most blighted project will gain educational opportunities exceeding those of today's suburban preppie’. But, according to Kline and Burstein, he was ignoring the fact that ‘new technological possibilities must contend with existing social and economic realities’. (www.wired.com) The mere existence of such a capable communications system as the Internet does not guarantee its unqualified success. The price of a computer is a formidable enough barrier for many families. The price of Internet access is another. I certainly can’t imagine many Irish children learning online, while their mothers are yelling about the phone bill and their sisters screaming that they’re expecting a call. Technorealism is critical of the suggestion that a virtual learning experience can replace the reality of the classroom:

Some topics in this essay:
Rupert Murdoch, Toffler Postman, Wide Web, Kline Burstein, Louis Althusser, Singapore Vietnam, World’ Orwell, George Orwell’s, HM Enzensberger, , traditional media, digital technologies, mass media, educational playing field, distribution costs, power beyond, online presence, neil postman, educational playing, ourselves death’, ‘amusing ourselves death’, level educational playing, ‘amusing ourselves,