COUNTER ARGUMENT:

Despite the fact that the internet spreads misinformation.

AUTHOR’S OPINION:

The internet is excellent for democracy.

REASON 1                                                 

The internet permits us to exercise freedom of speech.

REASON 2                                                                         

The internet gives us a variety of opinions we can choose from for exercising our own critical thinking through education.

Despite the fact that the internet spreads misinformation, the internet is excellent for democracy. The internet permits us to exert freedom of speech, and also gives us a variety of opinions we can choose from for using our own critical thinking through education.

Internet brings a lot of misinformation, Fitzgerald (1997) stated that “No one knows how much misinformation occurs on the internet, but identified types include incomplete information, pranks, contradictions, out-of-date information, improperly translated data, software incompatibilities, unauthorized revisions, factual errors, biased information and scholarly misconduct” (p. 9), and people have to weigh the information for finding out about credibility or not. But, even though the internet brings much misleading information, it is also good for students and different kinds of people who use it as a great tool for studying, working, housekeeping, medicine, and many other jobs around the globe. In Sweden for instance, they are running a study every year (“The swedes and the internet,” 2014) in which they mention it as “Internet is the most important source of information” (para. 2). In this study they are analyzing and showing how internet usage is important for people in the country. For example, they are using the internet in fields from looking up words or searching for facts, school and education, culture science and literature, health and medical information. The internet is now used by many people, but there are some who think that the internet is not good for students since it does not give the students the opportunity of thinking and solving problems more objectively. Some claim that internet is not good due to misinformation given to the whole world; they say it is based on fake news and false information, and also on violence found in the internet.

The internet begins with the development of electronic computers in the 1950s. However, the internet appeared in the 1980s as the World Wide Web, but it continued developing through the time and in the mid-1990s it made a great impact on technology, commerce and culture. It also has had impact on near-instant communication by emails, messaging, telephone calls, video calls, forums, blogs, social networking, and online shopping. Even though the prior mentioned benefits of the internet, there are some people who say that the internet is negative because of bad usage exerted by certain people through Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google +, You Tube, and Pintrest for example. The hegemony of these social media is influencing humanity. There are many people who are using them to do bullying or attacking others showing even violence in certain ways.

As more people around the world gain access ..., the internet will play a greater role in everyday life. And so far, people in emerging and developing nations say ... use of the internet has been a good influence in the realms of education, personal relationships and the economy. But despite all the benefits of these new technologies, on balance people are more likely to say that the internet is a negative rather than a positive influence on morality, and they are divided about its effect on politics. (“Internet seen as positive…….negative on morality in…….developing nations,” 2015) (para. 1)

Internet is excellent for democracy since it permits us to exercise freedom of speech. The internet is a great tool for democracy because it serves for many things in different matters. For example, this aid empowers people and helps them to raise their voices. Those activists can use this gadget to protest against those who are doing things they think are not fair. Corruption and anything which is against the law can be showed through this instrument in order to alert others about bad things done by incorrect individuals. The internet was not used as much as it is used today; years ago the percentage of users were low, but nowadays it has increased exponentially since today it is 40 times higher than at the beginning. These days many changes have occurred in terms of ICT which have revolutionized the world. Many countries that are democratic and even those which are not also have taken some jumps into technology. Countries such as England, China, Russia and some others have dabbled in the ICT.

THE INTERNET AND DEMOCRACY

Thus one kind of innovation that the Internet might bring to politics has been managerial. It has been linked ..., even in established democracies, is too dominated by outdated and out-of-touch bureaucracies. This viewpoint is expressed both by individuals and by companies ... of contact with government agencies...

Those who argue along these lines believe that the new technology will also open up... administration will become more transparent, and more amenable to democratic pressures. This will lead to a virtuous circle of increasing transparency leading to greater efficiency and then to greater democracy... for reform at both the national and local levels, namely simply bringing administration closer to the people.

Others wishing to apply benefits to government ... The Internet offered an opportunity for improving local government services, and also possibly a new way for ordinary citizens to participate more directly in the decisions that will affect their immediate living conditions. (Ferdinand, 2013, p. 5)

The E-democracy has come to stay and to help people to have freedom of speech. At this moment one can say that e-democracy is getting into society through all Social media sites and people are taking advantage of it by giving opinions, informing and getting information about democratic issues and a so forth quantity of beneficial items pro democracy. However, the opposing side also exists and is present in the form of anti-democratic participation which argues that e-democracy takes people to opinion polarization, demagoguery and populism. Democracy has been exercised in different ways since Romans and Greeks; even though it has had many changes or transformations throughout different regions of the globe. For instance, there exist many kinds of democracies beginning with the Anticipatory democracy to Workplace democracy which means a number of more or less than 48 different ones.

ABOUT THIS BOOK
The internet opens up new opportunities for citizens ... that established political,                     social and economic interests can use to extend their powers. Will the internet                       revolutionize  politics? The Prospect of Internet Democracy is a rich and detailed                   exploration  of ... and communication technologies (ICTs) for democratic theory.                     Focusing in particular on ... among citizens, interest groups and political institutions,             the authors examine whether the internet's impact on democratic politics is destined             to repeat the ... history of other innovative ICTs. The volume explores the likely long-             term effects of such uses on the conduct of politics in the USA and other nations that             declare themselves modern democracies and assesses the extent to which they                   help  or hinder viable democratic governance. (Margolis and Moreno-Riaño, 2009)                 (para. 1)   

          The internet gives us a variety of opinions we can choose from for exercising our own  critical thinking and all of this through education. When someone gets into the World Wide Web (www.) needs to have a very deep critical thinking due to misinformation and fake news given through this medium. But, besides those perturbations and distractions found into the web, there are also many things the internet is useful for. As a matter of fact, internet is a great source of not only information, but also a fountain of knowledge. It serves to investigate, do research, learn, and get all kinds of literacy for people’s development and growth. It is said in the abstract of a study done;  

Abstract

The growth of the Internet in the world provides many opportunities to many people around the world in many different ways. When students are considered, the use of the Internet is mainly for social and entertainment purposes. However, it is very obvious that the Internet provides not only social connection and entertainment, but also academic and scientific information as well. Additionally, the Internet can be used as a tool to learn the latest news ... such as learning more information about a hobby or health. Therefore, it can be said ..., it is vitally important to encourage students to use this invaluable source to get any kind of information they need in their academic studies. For the reasons mentioned above, the aim of this study is look at the students‟ use of Internet in their academic studies. (Nazan Dogruer, Ramadan Eyyam, Ipek Menevis, 2011, p. 606)

So, one could say that the internet has many applications in everyday people’s lives. Besides some claims from certain people against internet usage especially by youngsters, it can be said that the internet brings a lot of benefits.

            As a conclusion I can say that even though internet spreads misinformation, it is excellent for exerting democracy. It permits us to exert freedom of speech, and also gives us a variety of opinions we can choose from for using our own critical thinking through education.

REFERENCES:

          Dogruer, N., Eyyam, R., and Menevis, I. (2011). The use of the internet for

educational purposes. Retrieved from

https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1877042811025547/1-s2.0-S1877042811025547-main.pdf?_tid=9f9966ad-d487-4e6b-92c0-108207d95af0&acdnat=1542041410_1b17cd7eebe8a4b48644e5e4f9157246

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811025547

          Ferdinand, P. (2013). The Internet, democracy and democratization. Reprinted

2004 By Routledge. 2 Park Square, Milton Park Abingdon, Oxon,

OX14 4RN2000. Frank Cass Publishers. Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=es&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=articles+about+internet+good+for+democracy&oq=

           Findahl, O. (2014). The Swedes and the internet: An annual study of the                               Swedish people's internet habits. Retrieved from

https://2014en.svenskarnaochinternet.se/information-and-facts/internet-is-the-most-important-source-of-information/

          Fitzgerald, M. A. (1997). Misinformation on the Internet: Applying evaluation                skills to online information. Emergency Librarian; Seattle Tomo 24, No. 3.   

          Retrieved from 

https://search.proquest.com/openview/7e79afbc6d89c33838cc4e9eff647625/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38018

          Margolis, M. and Moreno-Riaño, G. (1 September 2009). The prospect of                    internet democracy (1^st Ed.). London. Routledge. Retrieved from                                  https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781317018827

          Pew Research Center Global Attitudes & Trends (2015, MARCH                       19). Internet Seen as Positive Influence on Education but Negative on Morality           in Emerging and Developing Nations; Internet Usage More Common Among               the Young, Well-Educated and English Speakers. Retrieved from                                  
       http://www.pewglobal.org/2015/03/19/internet-seen-as-  positive-influence-on-education-but-negative-influence-on-morality-in-emerging-and-developing-nations/