It has always been the case that we do not live in a perfect world. Times have not changed much in the sense that on the whole, we are not worse off than our ancestors were. However, something that has the power to change the world, be it for better or worse, has emerged rather abruptly in recent times, and the world seems to have been turned on its head since. This "thing" is none other than the Internet.
The Internet is a common information platform which allows anybody to further develop various more specialized platforms according to their needs and even to invent applications—this is how the Internet has given rise to such a vast and robust information system. At the same time, this information system has also served as an expedient means of communication for many people, and such interconnectedness has in turn given rise to a virtual community that is like nothing we have seen before. Nevertheless, this virtual community is still exceedingly fragile, as evidenced that how swiftly governments in the Arab world were able to shut it down even without sophisticated technology, but people are still fawning over it as if they have discovered a new toy and are continuing to develop complex service systems upon it. Even government control systems have now been integrated into this virtual world without consideration of the dangers of doing so.
Just like how there is a dark side to everything good, the Internet too, despite all the wonderful advancements it has bestowed upon us, has its evils. Admittedly, information has always been indispensable to humankind. Even in ancient times, when Genghis Khan's army swept across the world, the effective transfer of information played a crucial role. Messages were passed on very different back then, nonetheless, for a while we rely on a virtual system of information transfer, the Mongolian army relied on a system of songs to relay information. All sorts of information, including, crucially, the orders of Genghis Khan himself, were relayed through songs. So effective was this system that both the Europeans and the Arabs shuddered at his thought. The transmission of information has always been a top priority in China throughout the generations. Over the ages, we have come up with various methods of information transfer, from smoke signal chains that were thousands of miles long, to forts dedicated to the relaying of messages, to urgent delivery systems. Information personnel of erstwhile generations tied bells around their waists so that they could be heard by the next "runner" who was to pass the message on. When one messenger heard another is approaching, the former would rush up to the latter to receive the message and be immediately on his way to the next messenger. This was how information was relayed all the way back to the capital.
As the times have progressed, the tools for the transmission of information have also advanced. From the transfer of light, sound and physical objects, to the transfer of pictures and words, to the invention of radio waves, and finally the Internet, these advances have brought about an immeasurable increase in efficiency, but various challenges have also arisen. While the Internet has brought much good to us, it is also evident that it has posed many challenges for humanity to overcome.
First of all, it is a place where people vent out their most despicable desires and emotions. These desires and emotions are actually normal, after all, but so far as they remain private. Now, the Internet has allowed these emotions to be vented unscrupulously and publicly. Second, the Internet has been appropriated as a tool for terrorism; there is much danger brewing within. Third, it facilitates the illegal trade of goods such as drugs, guns, and other kinds of raw materials. Fourth, it also facilitates the proliferation of rumors. While rumors will always exist in society, the Internet has created channels for rumors to spread like wildfire. Moreover, it is now easier than ever before for people to be a part of the "game" of spreading rumors. Fifth, the Internet has amplified various negative social issues in both Eastern and Western countries alike. It has made it easier for certain issues to come under unnecessary scrutiny and be blown out of proportion. Sixth, it has fostered extremism by allowing extremists to come together and spread their views that further widen the chasm within society. Seventh, no one is safe from privacy leaks. Eighth, it can be exploited for political ends and used to pitch people against other countries or societies based on their personal biases. Ninth, it does not conform to social order, for fundamentally, the Internet is characterized by its subversive and anarchistic nature. Of course, there are others who will call this "revolutionary" instead.
It is thus evident that the Internet is a threat to society. Initially, it was both normal and sufficient for countries around the world to use the Internet and open source information to sustain their social development needs. Now, however, public relation companies are using the Internet to provide information support to the business community. Is it really necessary for everyone to establish their own systems of information? Unfortunately, there is as yet no clear answer to this question.
The meaningful use of information requires specialized training; it is impossible for ordinary people to master these skills, nor to acquire the required knowledge to utilize and analyze the information at hand truly. This is why most people will not be able to use the information effectively and might even turn out to be the ones being manipulated. Furthermore, it is an established fact that regulation of the Internet will never be comprehensive. For one, new ways of utilizing information will always be one step ahead of how information can be regulated. After all, something can only be regulated after it has been discovered.
In our world today, it can perhaps be said that only the leaders of China and Russia have paid a lot of attention to the Internet and have often employed various non-professional methods to invest in the Internet at all levels. However, such an excessive "emphasis" on the Internet is not ideal because it will encourage people to get more involved with the Internet to compete between themselves.
Final Analysis and Conclusion:
Perhaps, the best way to curb the evils of the Internet is to let the internet return to the calm it used to be before. The formation of an orderly society must be based on the orderly use of the existing social system, rather than the disorderly use of the Internet in the name of innovation.
