There are many problems when it comes to the internet. To begin, one problem is being able to access the internet. People who are in lower classes or less financially stable have difficulties finding a way to use the internet because they cannot afford it. The internet is becoming so popular and used so much that everything is shifting over slowly to being online. Those that cannot afford to own a computer or have fast running internet will not be allowed to access some of the important or interesting options online. Studies have found that some factors such as race, class, and where someone lives plays a role in internet access. Those who do not have access lose out on information and advancements in technology that other people have access to. This can be trouble for those that cannot afford internet because soon everything will be on the internet. As stated in the article "The New Digital Divide," many job applications, teachers giving lessons through videos, and even video chatting with doctors will all be on the internet. In my Chemistry lecture class, my teacher records her lectures and puts them on the internet for those who choose not to or cannot make class to watch in order for them to learn. It includes the slides that she talks about in order for her to explain. If I did not have a computer, I would not be able to access the lectures online. I think that the expenses of the internet are getting crazy and we should find ways for everyone to be able to access the internet so no one is left behind.
Another problem with communicating on the internet is that once something is posted, people can see it. Sometimes the things that someone posts gets into the wrong hands. Like in the article "Minnesota Girl Alleges School Privacy Invasion," a young girl posted something on Facebook and someone screen shot what she said and turned it into the school on multiple occasions. After people in charge of her school saw these posts, they punished her. Sometimes people have to be careful what they post online because sometimes you cannot trust those you think you can. I think that schools shouldn't be able to punish a kid for what is being said outside of school but should talk to them about what the problem is if it concerns the school. I feel like people should be able to express what they want, but yet should also be careful because sometimes what they say could get into the wrong hands.
Another problem similar to the case of the girl in Minnesota is for some job interviews. During some job interviews, like in the article "Job Interviewers Seeks Applicants 'Facebook Password,'" the people actually ask for your Facebook username and password. They want to look at your profile and activity to make sure that you can be a good representation of their company. With this being done, people can see this as an invasion of privacy because what they might do on Facebook does not always mean that is how they act. I think that is an invasion of privacy because someone cannot tell what type of person you are based on the internet and what you post. I think that there is more to someone than what they post online. I think that it is all about how the person acts on the job and during the interview, not on the internet.
Social media sites can be very public and people can take things that are posted the wrong way. In the article, "Parents of Expelled Student Say Guns Weren't Real," brings up the problem of how pictures can be misunderstood. The parents and students that were involved explained what they said was going on, while the school assumed these students were involved in a gang and using drugs. This might be the case, but sometimes a picture or a post can be misinterpreted by someone that does not get someone else. I think that people really do misunderstand posts that are on the internet because you do not know in what kind of context someone is speaking.
One big problem with social media sites is cyber-bullying. The article, "As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch Up," talks about cyber bullying. I think that cyber bullying is a big issue because it causes many people to have problems with their self confidence. I think that parents watching over their kids on the internet can have pros and cons. I think that kids should be punished for cyber bullying because they can take it too far and make other kids hurt themselves.
