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The Internet Age

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Since the birth of the internet many different aspects of our lives have been affected, as a result of this, two large parts of our society have aligned themselves on contrasting sides. One side wishes to see the end of this virtual age and hopes for the return of more traditional media. The other encourages the abandonment of the real world for a virtual one. Both extremes are problematic; a middle ground must be found.Through wires and radio-waves, the Internet has become a literal web that binds all of humanity together. It is in our best interest to use this connection to improve the physical world, because when it is used wisely it becomes a powerful medium for education, socialization, and global communication.
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These databases can easily be accessed by typing in a few key phrases. Steven Pinker, a Harvard College professor, believes that the Internet allows us to “search and retrieve our collective intellectual output” (221). This factor becomes very useful in our academic lives. Without the Internet, academic papers are limited to the information contained in the district libraries and the information spread by the local newspapers. With the Internet, they are filled with a variety of data, statistics, and opinions posted online by people from all differing countries and continents. The web allows us to read about and understand the contrasting viewpoints that exist on our planet. The virtual world is a great way for people to share their thoughts and opinions with other like-minded individuals. Although it is a fact that socialization is an important part of our mental health, using the web as our sole means of social interaction is detrimental to our physical health. Yet a huge portion of our global society has been spending an increasing amount of time living within a virtual reality. This phenomenon is best explained by Jane McGonigal, director of Games Research and Development at Institute for the Future, who reveals that people are beginning to realize that virtual simulations can be used “to distract themselves from their hunger: a hunger for more satisfying work, for a stronger sense of community, and for a more engaging and meaningful life” (226). Even

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