Assignment 4: Thoughts on Network Neutrality

The topic of net neutrality comes with several pros as well as cons. Those who support net neutrality enjoy the equality as well as its equal playing field. Companies with fewer funds can compete with larger corporations. People also benefit from the no censorship that comes with net neutrality because they can download what they please.  Those against net neutrality are mainly large companies. These larger businesses have to pay extra because since so many people access their websites, it is very slow.

On Jan. 14, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order, essentially abolishing net neutrality. This decision is very controversial because it gives a lot of power to the large phone and cable companies, such as Verizon and Comcast. They now have control of our overall Internet experience.

This outcome disturbs me. I am strongly for net neutrality because I would like to be able to view, download, and surf anything on the web that I please. This decision to cancel net neutrality just gave a solution for a non-existing problem.

 Net neutrality directly relates to freedom of speech. People should be able to post or view anything they want on the web. Putting these heavy restrictions on that goes against the concept of freedom of speech, and should be considered unconstitutional.

Both websites listed below deal with the topic of net neutrality. They discuss the issue as a whole, as well as what is currently going on in the news about net neutrality. They both seem to be on the side that is for net neutrality.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality

https://www.eff.org/issues/net-neutrality

Social Media and Privacy

It blows my mind to think of how much social media plays into our lives. It has come so far that now it even involves sexual assault and rape. It give people the ability to simply post pictures and statuses of vulgar images that happened of sexual assault crimes. Although it does allow authorities to take action and easier find the perpetrators involved, it also opens several doors to harm the victims. Now people can post rude and outrageous comments bashing the victims of these sexual assault crimes. So not only could you have been taken advantage of, but also be made fun of and taunted for being a victim. The article When Rape Goes Viral gives the stories of a few women who similar situations have happened to. I feel awful for all the victims mention in the article. Social media destroyed those innocent girls lives, some of them killing themselves because of it.    

I Have Nothing To Hide

     Privacy is a dying factor in todays day in age. There isn't really anything that one could consider to be private anymore. This is due to the vastly improved technology, especially the internet.  The several new forms of social media which include, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and many more, distort any chance someone has at privacy. These sites make it easier then the snap of a finger for job employers, schools, and even parents to find out every little bit of information about anyone. This actually frightens and disturbs me. I have been trying to cut down my social media use for just these reason. Even if you think you have nothing to hide, the internet may in fact change that opinion.

     My name is Jarrett Neckameyer, and I’m a freshman at the University of New Hampshire. I have created this blog as an assignment for the class, Living In a Networked World. This class teaches you about one of the most genius inventions ever, the Internet.  The Internet has been a very important part of my life for as long as I could remember. From downloading songs, movies and games to completing homework assignment and registering for classes, the Internet truly does it all. Nothing do this day allows you to do as many different things and expand your mind in numerous different ways, as the Internet does. It would be funny to think of where the world would be today with out it.