The growing trend in today’s society shows that the Web is rapidly fading into the memories of people, due in large part to the rapidly growing use of the Internet. It’s first important to understand the difference between the two terms, since most people think they mean the same and can be used interchangeably… The Web is basically a browser, we use it to look up and search things online, whereas the Internet is more of a pipe line which moves and drives things online. To understand it more so, the Internet is allowing things to come to us instead of having to search online for it! A great example would be Facebook: most that have one, log into their profile while online, and find that they don’t stray onto other sites while signed on Facebook. Additionally, advances in technology in general are rapidly excelling to the demise of the Web: with smart phones and apps in today’s society, people can get things quickly without having to rely on the Web and search for it.
Going back to the point on Facebook, it is the inarguable ruler of the Internet as of now. As mentioned previously, most people who log into Facebook are so content for being on the site for those hours that they don’t even bother to go to any other sites. This is because of all the features Facebook has to offer: its main purpose, being a social network in which people can communicate with one another, sending and receiving messages, uploading and viewing photos, etc… In addition to these uses, Facebook now brings many things TO the people: With the advertisements at the margins, people can now go DIRECTLY to their interests without searching for it, and it’s all based upon the information the profile holds. If someone lists themselves as a New York Yankees fan, Yankee apparel and tickets might come as an ad, for instance. This demonstrates how things are done faster and more efficient through the Internet, rather than the Web.
Google, in contrast is the supreme king of the Web. Its purpose IS to conduct searches on the online, displaying many results for whatever a user’s inquiry might be. Asides from this, they also have a unique position in advertising: Google manages both traffic and advertising (sales) that appear on their site, which in turn means that Google has made it impossible for any other business to even compete against it through means of the Web.
Apple is another heavy hitter in the ‘Web vs Internet’ battle. Apple, of course, is an innovative company that seems to have an endless list of creative and new technological ideas. They, like Facebook, tie more towards the Internet through perhaps the greatest innovation yet: Apps. It is perhaps the rise of Apps that has truly sped up the demise of the Web…Take into consideration their motto: There’s an App for that. Whatever people may need or want, they can simply go to the App and immediately attain it: The weather, the current news, a new pair of shoes, just about anything imaginable can be had!
There are a few key issues which New Media is facing today… While it certainly is making things, ‘Better, cheaper, faster’, people have to stop and wonder exactly at what cost is this being achieved. It used to be about getting one’s voice heard, their thoughts and views addressed to the masses and spreading ideas. Under new models being seen, it is moving more and more towards a stressed focus on money rather than ‘the voice of the people.’ Going further with the point, it’s key to realize that media can be both good and bad, depending on if it supports itself or not. But perhaps the biggest issue would be about censorship in New Media. Since it is more open to people, anyone can say anything they’d like via the Internet, messages, etc… Should some things be censored or regulated, based upon sensitivity to an issue or topic, or would it be an out-right violation of Freedom of Speech? It’s a very tough topic to ponder given the views of both sides to the argument, but it’s one that should be bared in mind given the enhanced access of media to people.
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