The power of the Internet

IT WAS the Internet which helped me in my investigative journalism class way back 2001. It was the Internet which provided me job advertisements and vacancies and eventually led me to land in some of my previous jobs.

It was through the Internet that communication was made easier when my ex-boyfriend (who is now my husband) was assigned in far provinces. Thanks to Friendster. You were my best friend for three years.

And now that I’m already married, it is still the Internet which gave my kids pure fun and enjoyment whenever my Thea plays The New York Hunt or when my Zachy simply listens to the ABC song.

Just how powerful the Internet can be?

So powerful that my Facebook account was filled with posts and shout-outs announcing the Aug. 31 earthquake that kept my head dizzy. For a while I thought it was just a product of my imagination but when I saw our stand fan swaying, reality struck that indeed, there was an earthquake.

In just six minutes, I was able to know that the earthquake originated in Samar with a magnitude of 7.9 and that it did not only hit Cagayan de Oro City but also Cebu, Masbate, Camarines Sur, Ozamiz and even Dipolog.

If there’s one invention that I truly appreciate, it is the Internet. The biggest benefit that I can think of that is offered by the Internet is the vast information it provided. I could still remember my college days when I had to spend most of my time in the library just to search for sources such as books, magazines, newspapers and other publications to support my thesis. But look at the students now. They are so fortunate that with just a click away, the information they need is now right before their eyes.

Indeed, Google, Yahoo and other search engines are making their waves even in the fields of education and in the academe. But sad to say, this too, has led some people to plagiarize.

When I was teaching last year, I always reminded my students that I would prefer to have a technical report or book report written in the simplest way but original. Some of them submitted reports that you think were flawless but obviously just showing off to me their “copy and paste skills.”

My practice was to call their attention since I cared a lot for my students. I cannot afford to see my former students ending up like that famous politician who is branded for being a plagiarist.

The second benefit given by the Internet is communication. With just a fraction of seconds, one can send emails right away and you can even attach documents or pictures.

Sending emails has been very useful especially if you have loved ones who are far away. Very much applicable for a typical country like the Philippines whose number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is in millions.

Oh, I how used to remember writing long love letters and sending it to the local post office. And since it took the letters to arrive longer, I decided to become a fan for LBC. Not yet satisfied, I switched to using cell phones and spent sleepless nights texting to my knight in shining armour until my thumb gets calloused. No wonder, my colleagues before would scold me for using up my P300 load in less than three days. Take note, there was no e-load during that time, only cell cards. Sorry for being so defensive but I was still deprived with the unlimited text and call and all the other combos you can imagine.

Lastly, I view entertainment as another gift endowed by the Internet. I cannot count anymore the thousands of online games available, the endless movies we can see online and even the amateur and not-so amateur uploaded videos which made us ooohed and aaahed. Before, kids were just so contented in playing jackstones or Chinese garter. But today, it’s not surprising when I see some kids very much engrossed in their monitors. Mind you, my four-year old kid even knows how to type Youtube and click her favourite Barbie episodes.

Truly, the advent of Internet and communication technology has brought a lot of changes and effects in the society.

People might perceive Internet as a boon or a detriment but one thing is for sure, this doesn’t even affect two-thirds of the people of the world who continue to battle poverty.

The effect of Internet towards Juan dela Cruz, a simple farmer who walks three kilometers daily, is surely different with that of John Smith, who sits on his swivel chair, owns a flashy car and with nothing to do but to wait for his 15-30 salary.

The answer is really uncertain unless you become one.