As the World Wide Web is not owned by a single organization, it is quite difficult to answer the simple question: 'how many websites are there’? After a number of calculations, Boutell.com states, that as of February 2007, there were 29.7 billion pages on the World Wide Web. Netcraft believes that '46 million websites were added to the Internet between January and April 2009'. These staggering figures show that more and more individuals are keen to generate and distribute information.
In the technologically advancing 21st Century, an abundance of this information is being distributed via social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. This, once unconventional way of news reporting, has now become a nifty tool which in many cases has outdone the mainstream news outlets. For instance, The Age (2009) reported that social networking sites were used during the Victorian Bushfires in 2008 as an ‘innovative online mapping tool to assess the risk of fires reaching peoples homes’. This notion comes to show that the World Wide Web is a fantastic way to share information.
So if the internet is such a resourceful tool, why is the Rudd government attempting to censor unlawful words, images, videos or even music? While trying to protect children from sexual predators, as it has been said that parents fear that predators pose as minors on social networking sites, an article in The Boston Globe (2008) states that ‘it is not the Governments job to determine which ideas are harmful’. In defense, I totally agree! As an adolescent, in all honesty I can see eye to eye with many other individuals my age- ‘rules are meant to be broken’. Censor these particular websites and we will find ways around things! Furthermore, by censoring specific pages, does Rudd not see that billions of other pages could be destroyed, pages with content that can be ‘deemed as non-harmful?’
What happened to Australia- the democratic nation? Has it not occurred to the Australian government that they are rebuffing their citizens of basic fundamental human rights?
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
If the Australian government feels that it’s ok to use social networking sights in time of disaster (such as the Bush Fires noted above), why censor the internet- declining its citizens of ‘receiving and imparting information and ideas through any media!’
Do you feel that the Australia is becoming a totalitarian state- one where government has complete control?
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Okay so i understand that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and that this right includes freedom". But if the term "freedom" is critically analysed it can be concluded that freedom too needs a certain limit. I for one beleive that too much freedom can do deep damage. Therefore certain restrictions do need to be put into place in order to allow the general public to enjoy freedom in the world wide web. In the 21st century, we are accustomed to using the web on a very regular basis but need less to say, so are the very young generations in our society. So instead of being selfish, i beleive that we should look out for the young people and their innocent minds and thus save them from the corruption that the web has the power to do. Afterall they are Australia's future.
ReplyDeleteGo Ruddy!
When analysing the concept of freedom afi, I would agree that there needs to be some sort of limit HOWEVER, I firmly believe that it should not be the GOVERNMENT who impose these restrictions. Yes, children do have innocent minds, and we should protect them however, the internet is not the only media outlet that is capable in 'poisoning' young minds. If we censor the internet, then maybe we should also stop television shows, magazines and newspapers! Shouldn’t it be the PARENTS responsibility to place a block on certain pages if they are not comfortable with there children freely surfing the internet? Yes think of the children, but by placing a block on the freedom of INFORMATION your not only restricting children but adults too!
ReplyDeleteIm sorry diim but do u really think the parents of todays society are interested in sitting around in a "internet censorship society" to discuss what is good, or what is bad for their children aka. THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW!
ReplyDeleteFor one, parents nowadays hardly have time to take their children to the local library to research school assignments...instead they tell their children to hop onto the internet and that is their solution to a problem that remains unsolved (not to mention their excuse in getting out of another chore).
So wait, do u plan to pay these parents in order to join the "internet censorship society"?...BECAUSE that would be a totally different story.
Im not saying that all parents are too busy to look out for their childrens future, its just that even if some parents did want to take up a incentive such as joining a so-called "internet censorship society" they certainly would not have time on their hands to dedicate to internet censorship.
And even if they did, the government would have to obviously check through the final proposal anyway in order to prevent the censorship of government related websites, such as in the case of China where they have censored all websites relating to the disagreement with government incentives.
If this was the case, i can be sure that your blogspot would ceratinly be censored too.
However, it is with great pleasure that i can say that our Australian government is not as biased as other countries (aka. China), so we as the public can be sure that only harmful and inappropiate websites will be censored.
In my beleif the government is the only member of society that has the time and power to conduct such an effective initiative that will be benefiial to all members of society.
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ReplyDeleteWell firstly Afi, I’m not sure if you are aware of how to actually use a computer, or if you know how to read correctly.
ReplyDeleteIn my previous response, I don’t recall stating anything about an 'internet censorship society'- I'm not trying to create a cult Afi. Quite simply you or even a computer illiterate individual can easily access the options of your internet filtering and block certain websites.
I've included THE DUMMIES GUIDE to manually blocking websites just incase you were interested:
http://www.wikihow.com/Block-a-Website-in-Internet-Explorer-7.
If a parent is 'so concerned' about what their children are viewing on the internet, they will set aside 5 MINUTES to fix their internet settings. It's not that hard! My mother who is computer illiterate has done so for my younger brothers' computer.
Therefore 'your belief' of the government being the only member of society that has the time and power is obviously ruled out.
Afi- the government have more important things to take care of such as the transport and environment sector.