Internet is like an open window to the world

Have you ever thought about how difficult it was not so long ago to know stuff from other places, recieve information...? Well now you just type, for example, Japan in Google and there you you can find all kind of stuff, information about the country its traditions and even pictures of it.

We, Internet users and that have been able to use it for not all our life but a really big part of it, are so lucky and should be so thankful for it. I mean, just think about it, apart from the fact that in Spain in the 40's there was a huge part of the population that weren't even able to read or write, no one would have imagined not even in science fiction books something like the Internet would ever exist.

You have the power to publish something and for someone else to read at the other part of the world, or even speak with them and see them, isn't that kind of crazy? Think about it. Of course in the past 2 centuries we have advanced a lot, thats for sure but how the Internet has progress is unthinkable. I remember when I first has a computer I was 8 (that's like 10 years ago) but of course I didn't have Internet, I never thought such a thing existed. I wasn't until 2 years later I discovered Internet and finally had it at home. Now that I think about it I don't remember such a big impression about it and I now wonder why, I guess I was just a child and could not think what taht really meant even if at that time I was living outside my native country and I could comunicate with my firends back in Spain life. I wonder if older peolple who discovered Internet in a more grown up time of there life were shocked as I am now that I think about it.

The incorporation of computers and Internet to our lifes was kind of easy and so we might not think of it as the huge advance it is. We should take some time to think how thanks to the Internet the world is more connected, more in touch.

What is the Digital Divide people is talking about?

Well the Digital Divide is know as the gap existing between those who have access to digital information and technology, and those who don't. Experts talk about different reasons why this happens has racial differences, gender, "economic level", education level...

This gap is a problem as we are now living at what is know as the "Digital Era" and in an information society, in developed countries specially, this is very important. Digital technology and more over the Internet means a lot of things, not just access to lots of information but also it is a democratic tool. With a blog for example you can comunicate and share your thinking with the WHOLE WORLD. That, means a lot of people and in most of cases with out censure.

Of course, you might think that in Africa perhaps they have a lot of things to worry about such as eating or survive. But in countries such as USA this is a very important issue. There is actually a very interesting article that you can read at the following link:

The Digital Divide: Were We Are

The most curious thing about this article, if you haven't notice, is the fact that it was written in the year 2002. This was eight years ago an the americans were already concerned about this issue, the debate was if it was so necessary to put money into subsidies to end with the digital divide or if that money would be better used or more important in other stuff.

From my own point of view we should try to end with this digital gap as it is very important but, maybe there are other more important things in life to put your time or money into, or maybe not, you choose.

Social Networks have turned our life upside down

Social networks are now an important part of our lifes, or at least to the ones who have a profile on one of them. Well... actually to that people too if they want to be informed and in touch with their friends because they won't be able to be so. Social networks grab you as if gravity made you check you're profile EVERYDAY.

Of course there are several things you have to think about when you first create a profile in a social network. First of all you have to decide if you are up to having the need of checking on it almost everyday(believe me, it will happen, but don't worry you get over it). And second and most important of all, privacy. You have to know how much you want to share with the world, and we say it right, anything you upload to the internet is capable of been seen by almost anyone with some interest of it. Me for example, when I first joined the "world of social networks" I didn't mind and said lots of things about myself, nowadays I'm much more careful in that field. It seem like when you "get older" you become more picky about you pivate and personal stuff. There is actually an article at The Washington Post talking about how young adults care about their privacy much more than teenagers, and it is quite interesting. You can read this article at the link that goes with this post, but I'm not sure if you have to register to be able to read it.

Social networks it's a whole new world I sometimes wish had never entered, but if you are careful and use them consciously you can get a lot of good things from them and they sure are a huge progress in the times to come.

Link: Washington Post