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The impact of the internet surely has to feature in a measure of its greatness, since it has been adopted and embraced by the world which clearly indicates that there is something good about it. The success of the internet basically relies upon its adoption by as many people as possible, because it is centred on communication and the sharing of information, and so would be useless if so many people had not seen the benefits.

What are the benefits of the internet? The internet has helped create a more joined-up world, where everybody can access everybody else, and see world events from different perspectives. The internet has a sense of immediacy anybody can add their comments to a forum at any time and see what others have to say, without the inconvenience of having to write into a magazine or newspaper to express their opinion.

Events are transmitted within seconds, and people are able to upload their own images and video footage so that the rest of the world can see exactly what is going on. It provides the ultimate venue for free speech, and though there are many restrictions in totalitarian regimes across the world, ultimately it is very hard to regulate the information available. Although this can have drawbacks, such as in the case of child pornography, it has proved largely beneficial as it becomes harder for mainstream media outlets to dominate the news agenda. People can always go to the internet to see different perspectives on an issue affecting them, their country, or the world.

Because it is cheap and relatively easy to produce websites, people who want to draw attention to a certain cause are able to do so online, helping raise money for good causes and raising awareness of abuses of power. Even in remote, poverty-stricken areas there always seems to be someone with access to the internet so that a microscope is cast over areas which may previously have been neglected. It makes it difficult for the international community to deny any knowledge of events and mistreatment in other countries, and so places more pressure on them to intervene.

The internet also has more trivial benefits such as online gaming; cheaper, more convenient ways to shop; chatrooms and forums; the ability to download music and films; social networking. Ultimately, though, it is the access to knowledge which makes the internet such a great success.

As well as enabling people to put their own views across, books can be accessed online for free; there are also many news sites based in different countries representing various perspectives on world events; even newspapers now have their own websites, as they have been forced to compete with online sources of news which are better able to handle rapidly unfolding events. This sense of openness and transparency is essentially what makes the internet so great.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
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