What do you think is the most important function of the Internet?

The Internet, I feel, is essentially one of the biggest thing that has happened to mankind in general. It is one of the many faces of the media, and its use is ubiquitous for various reasons. Essentially, it is a link between any two people who have computers and Internet access, a link between nations and a link between minds all over the world. This extensive connection between people all around the world also make the Internet an expansive database for knowledge and information, contributed by people of different situations, upbringing and mindsets. As a result, the information available on the Internet is both numerous and diverse.

The beauty of the Internet is that the information on it is also being constantly updated so that everything remains current and the outdated informations either becomes forgotten or deleted altogether. For example, when Pluto was denied the privilege of being included as a planet, websites responded accordingly. Protests were started, petitions cropped up and science websites updated the information on the nine planets accordingly. In contrast, the world's most extensive encyclopedia, the Britannica, could not update itself so quickly. In fact, the only time the information can be corrected will be when the entire series is reviewed and published again. So there is no issue about the availability of information on the Internet, nor is there a problem with its being relevant and current.

Hence, I feel that the most vital function of the Internet is to provide information to people all around the world. Of course, the Internet is able to do numerous other things. With it, we have MSN and VOIP phones which allow us to communicate with people all over the world. We can book flight and movie tickets with the click of the mouse. However, does this advance society as a whole? Is this truly as important as information? After all, knowledge is power.

Said knowledge and information is easily available to everyone who has a computer and Internet access. Increasingly, the Internet is also becoming a tool that people of all age groups around the world can also make use of. Information can be spread more quickly across the board. But why is this provision of information important? For one thing, ignorance is costly in our world.

You need information in order to make informed decisions. When the US economy is going into recession, you will want to know when it will happen because being the largest economy in the world, it will be sure to affect you. You will want to be able to react accordingly when it happens. When an incident happens, it is important to know what is truly going on. To be at the mercy of one-sided views all around you is a terrible thing. Just like a judge has to hear both sides of the argument must we also be exposed to various points of views from various sources on the Internet in order for us to pass judgement properly.

Ignorance about others is an even graver thing. Recently, there has been an increased spotlight on establishing diplomatic ties with other nations and religions all over the world. However, to do so, we need to know who and what they are in the first place, what they stand for and believe in. One cannot make a friend and then expect that tie to last while both parties remain ignorant of each other. This is where information from the Internet will come in useful. With it, it would be a simple matter to find out about another culture, to be exposed to other points of views and to be opened up to new perspectives. In this way, understanding and tolerance will be established, we will no longer think our own way is superior to all. Instead, we will be open-minded and give way to newer things, for others who are different and who think differently. This can only contribute to the advancement of society, to the reduction of clashes across the board which is something every country in the world would like to have now.

And lastly, new inventions are constantly being introduced to the world. Techniques are being improved and innovative ideas are always cropping up, both in the world of science and the arts. This will be a great benefit to society, but only if people know what is going on, and only when people are aware of the advancements can society move forward together as a whole.

So information has been established as something that is highly important to people all over the world, regardless of where they come from and such, and such a valuable gem can only be assimilated effectively with the use of the Internet, and this makes the function of it the most vital.