Merits and Demerits of the Internet

Is the Internet a sea of information or a source of human catastrophe or a forum for democracy or a source of rumors? President Lee Myung-bak, speaking at the June 17 ministerial meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which discussed the future of the Internet economy, said that the Internet without trust can be “a poison instead of medicine.” He expressed concerns about spam mails hiding under anonymity and the spread of lies and incorrect information that threaten rationality and confidence. He mentioned damage from viruses, hacking, cyber terrorism and personal information leaks. It should be noted that the progress of software technology for the Internet lags behind that of hardware technology. We call this imbalance “cultural lag.” It means that technology is well ahead of us but that the level of consciousness, value judgment, education and ethics of people who use it is far behind the technological advancement. The Internet allows exchanges of information between individuals and between individuals and groups. It is generating the second citizens’ revolution. It has been long since Internet newspapers and portals started exerting enormous influence. It was the print media that wiped out the absolute monarchies and opened a new civil society in the West. If modern newspapers played a leading role in raising the awareness of human rights and promoting equality, the Internet media of the 21st century has changed the world completely. One of the outstanding phenomena in the Internet media is the emergence of Internet newspapers, also called “online newspapers” or “electronic newspapers.” The news sites operated by media companies are similar to the Internet newspapers. Portals such as Daum and Naver are no longer mere alternative journalism outlets but they are taking a central role in “citizen journalism.” Blogging and UCC (user created content) are also altering the media landscape. They take advantage of the strengths of the Internet, such as freedom from time and space limitations, free flow and exchange of information, simplification and unlimited access. Time magazine selected YouTube as the invention of the year for 2006. It recognized that it opened a new era for Internet journalism by providing information recycling, forum for debates, links for replies and live broadcasts. Sometimes, the Internet is irresponsible. It is partly because the news posted on the Internet offers vivid images and instantaneous access, making people feel as if they are on the scene. That makes them emotional. Live reports often obstruct Internet users’ rational judgment. In some respects, the Internet lacks order and rules. It is double-faced with participation and anonymity. While the Internet is fulfilling its mission as a democratic forum, it also can provide unwholesome information, infringe upon human rights and spread incorrect and distorted information. Rumors circulating on the Internet sometimes resulted in a social anomie. Candlelit vigils against imports of U.S. beef are continuing every day. Instigating illegal activities and spreading false information damage public order. The Internet’s anonymity can breed violent language and mean behavior and violate intellectual property rights and legal interests. Negative effects from these dysfunctions of the Internet are enormous. We have to guard against letting the Internet create anomie in society.