Assignment 4: Thoughts on Network Neutrality

1. One of the pros of net neutrality is that it allows everyone to have equal access to the web, hence the phrase "neutrality". One of the alleged cons of this is that apparently the data streaming could theoretically collapse due to too much traffic. Some companies oppose neutrality because they think it is in everyone's best interest if they decide what deserves precedence. Net neutrality is supported by others because it is an integral aspect of keeping the web fair.

2. The Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said that net neutrality must be defended and strengthened. In fact, he even went so far as to call out Comcast and Verizon for trying to work their way around net neutrality. He believes that a strong sense of net neutrality is needed to protect the open, competitive internet we have today.

3. The reason that this ties into freedom of speech is because without net neutrality, we don't all get the same voice. If a poor start-up company can't afford to have its company put in the upper echelon of companies, it won't have the same opportunities to grow as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube did. Also, when I have to pay a subscription to get the quality I need, it infringes upon my rights to what I want on the internet.

4. Well, I'm sure that if companies like Netflix weren't standing up to Comcast and Verizon, net neutrality might not still exist. Without net neutrality, I no longer have the same access to information as everyone else. As someone from the lower end of the social-economic scale, that would put me and my family at a severe disadvantage.

5. Net neutrality must be protected and respected. Without net neutrality, we rob the internet of one of the things that makes it so precious: how easily accessible it is. A poor man and a rich man have the same access to data streaming and knowledge, which is an amazing thing. When we ignore that, we simply turn the internet into a library where the bigger your paycheck, the more information you get.

6.The first resource I used was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUg5A-ZAw0 I liked this source because it delved into why net neutrality was so critical. The second resource I used was http://gigaom.com/2011/10/03/net-neutrality-and-the-value-of-the-internet/ I liked this article as a resource because of how in depth it goes into the value of the internet.

Social Media and Privacy

The issue with social media is that it is slowly but surely destroying the idea of privacy. Social media has made it almost a prerequisite of everyday life to tell everyone everything you're doing all the time. Because of this, we realize that people are becoming accustomed to a life rooted in having your private business in public. While this might seem at best, a great thing and at worst a non-important issue, it is anything but. The value of privacy is anonymity; being able to move on from your mistakes and slowly forget them. Now, with the internet and the lack of privacy, your mistakes are slowly becoming eternal.

I Have Nothing to Hide

I think that this idea is foolish by nature because it ignores the one thing we should all give ourselves: forgiveness. Now, it may be true that, right now a person has nothing to hide. However, it is pretty obvious that we, as human beings, make plenty of mistakes. By saying that you have nothing to hide, you are exposing yourself to a world of analysis and criticism that could have been avoided had you been given a little leeway in life.

Welcome to the networked world

Well, this is it. The beginning of my blog for living in a networked world. The class has been pretty interesting, up to this point. I can't wait to learn more about the world we live in.