Fantastic four :

Impermanence

First of all, the Internet changes our perception of time and space. Besides, the information is not material anymore. In other words you can’t touch it anymore. You can save e-mails  but unless you print them, you cannot get them in your hands like a letter for instance. Nowadays, you just have to click to get what you want. This blog is a perfect example of impermanence on the Internet : what I’m writing right now isn’t grave into stone and I can rewrite it or delete it at anytime and instantaneously.

Moreover, the new technologies increase innovation and development of new models of communication. Thus, if writing a blog used to be exclusive, it has become a common practice. Social networks are also a new way of communicating and a good example of impermanence on the Internet. While it’s easier to create links with people, relationships can be more superficial which is a little bit paradoxical. In addition to this, there are so many web sites and competition on the Internet that it’s harder to create a model of communication or a web site that last.

 

 

The European library 2.0 Europeana is a good example of impermanence with around 2 millions of digitized cultural objects classified on the Internet to compete with Google’s project online library. Indeed, people are starting to question impermanence since on the one hand it allows progress and change but on the other hand it increases the risk of  losing data. The online European library highlights impermanence on the Internet given that it’s a new practice but it’s also a will to introduce permanence on the web because the aim is to save European cultural patrimony for the next generations.

Breaking habits

I really think that the Internet brings new habits into our lives. For instance, I watch movies and television series online , I read the newspapers online,or  if I want to collect a piece of information about something I don’t know, I do research on Google. Moreover, when I was younger I used to spend much more time on TV whereas now, I spend more time on the Internet than watching TV. In the first place, I didn’t want to create a Facebook account since I thought it was a unappropriate way to intrude in my private life ; but then I realized that  I had to if I wanted to keep communicating with my friends.

Because impermanence is one of the main characteristics of the Internet, it is all the more difficult to implement long- term behaviors. As a matter of fact, some websites succeed in appealing the users of the Internet without problems like You Tube , Facebook or DailyMotion but this requires a whole strategy.

Transparency

Transparency is both a drawback and an advantage of the Internet. As a matter of fact,  the protection of private life is a main concern, that’s the reason why many groups are created on Facebook in this way. Indeed, despite the existence of some controls like tools to keep something private or to hide things from some people,  you can never be totally protected. The hackers will always find a way to break into your account for example.

For politics, transparency is very relevant since it’s a huge opportunity for them to broadcast their campaigns and ideas but it can also really hurt their public image.

Last year in the Lebanon, for the elections in june 2009, the Free Patriotic Movement broadcasted a campaign untitled “Be beautiful and vote”. But instead of inciting people to vote, it launched a controversy especially because of the online networks and forums which broadcasted everywhere.

 

 

Precious opportunity

The Internet is a real opportunity since it has created a real community in which everybody can play a part. Thus, equality and freedom seem to be the main points for the Internet surfers.

Besides, you have access to all kind of information you want and you can discover the whole word and new cultural aspects thanks to the Internet.

Moreover, you get precious professional opportunitues since you can apply for a job or an internship and send your CV easily and quickly.

To put in a nutshell, the Internet is a medium which encourages multiculturalism and diversity through a huge community in which people are equals.