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25 October 2021

International Internet Day

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Suzanne Cray | Educational Consultant

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History

The internet is defined as a remote connection between two computers. The first internet connection was made on October 29th 1969, just two months after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. At that time, the Internet was known as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).  The first ever electronic message sent between two computers in separate locations was a very understated “lo”. (It was meant to be login, but the connection between the terminals crashed before the whole word was sent).  The terminals were based in UCLA and Stanford, part of a US Defence Department-funded network.  This signalled the beginning of a revolution in telecommunications and technology. To commemorate the event, International Internet Day was celebrated for the first time on October 29th 2005.

Nowadays it’s hard to imagine a world without the Internet. It provides us with the ability to share and access a vast array of information and an endless supply of entertainment. Search engines make this information easy to attain.  It has transformed the way we live, from banking and shopping to education and work, with the internet being at the heart of our communications.

Did you know…?

  • There are now 4.66 billion active internet users in the world*
  • 92.6% of users access the internet via a mobile device*
  • 59.5% percent of the global population uses the internet*
  • There are almost one million new internet users every day
  • On average, internet users spend 6 hours and 54 minutes a day online (all devices)*
  • On average, internet users spend 2 hours and 25 minutes a day on social media*
  • Google is the world’s most visited website on the internet
  • YouTube and Facebook rank 2nd and 3rd for the most visited sites

(*Source: DataReportal)

Some countries do not allow their citizens to use the internet. The government in some countries like China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria either ban their citizens or limit their freedom when using the internet.

One of the reasons the internet is so widely used is because of the World Wide Web (WWW). The WWW became publicly available in 1991 and has given us access via browsers to the Internet.  The availability of information has exploded to the point that we are shocked when what we are looking for isn’t available on the web!  As a global resource the internet is largely unregulated, leading to concerns about how we use the WWW and the Internet and its effect on us all.

The World Wide Web Foundation, established by Tim Berners-Lee and Rosemary Leith, is working to ‘advance the open web as a public good and a basic right’. They describe the foundation as an ‘independent, international organisation fighting for a world where everyone has affordable, meaningful access to a web that improves their lives and where their rights are protected.’  Current projects include:

o   The world’s broadest technology sector coalition from private, public, and not-for profit sectors are working to reduce the cost of internet access to enable everyone, everywhere to afford to go online. A4AI is aiming to develop and implement the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to enable universal, affordable access for all.

o   The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Everyone has a role to play to ensure the web serves the public good. This project brings together governments, companies and citizens to negotiate and build a Contract for the Web that outlines the rights and responsibilities we all have.

o   Women and girls disproportionately face violence and abuse online. This initiative brings together tech companies and women to gather evidence of online abuse and work collaboratively to create concrete policy and product solutions to address online gender-based violence. 

o   As the digital revolution steams ahead, women and girls are being left behind — poor urban women in the developing world are 50% less likely than men to access the internet. The Women’s Rights Online network works to reform policy and regulation to close the digital gender gap.

The Foundation is generating evidence using research and data to understand the issues around digital inequalities; developing solutions collaboratively to address the tech challenges facing societies; and working constructively with governments and industry decision makers to shape policies and practices; so that the internet is more affordable, inclusive, fair and protects us all from online violence and abuse.

How can we observe #InternationalInternetDay?

We can use this day to reflect on how this powerful tool is used and think about how we would like it to benefit us in the future.  Here’s some ideas to start a discussion with colleagues or inspire activities in your classroom:

  • Think about how different your life would be without the internet
  • Share on social media how the internet makes your life easier
  • Research the history of the Internet
  • Unplug! Just for the day to help us appreciate the offline world too.
  • Devise a charter for internet access and use
  • Watch movies about the internet like The Social Network (12A), We Live in Public (15), You’ve Got Mail (PG)
  • Discuss the challenges some people face because they can’t access the internet
  • Share this day on social media with #InternationalInternetDay

When asked if the web is a good or bad idea, Tim Berners-Lee said:

“Some people point out that the Web can be used for all the wrong things. For downloading pictures of horrible, gruesome, violent or obscene things, or ways of making bombs which terrorists could use.

Other people say how their lives have been saved because they found out about the disease they had on the Web, and figured out how to cure it.

I think the main thing to remember is that any really powerful thing can be used for good or evil. Dynamite can be used to build tunnels or to make missiles. Engines can be put in ambulances or tanks. Nuclear power can be used for bombs or for electrical power.

So what is made of the Web is up to us. You, me, and everyone else.

Here is my hope.

The Web is a tool for communicating.

With the Web, you can find out what other people mean. You can find out where they are coming from.

The Web can help people understand each other.

Think about most of the bad things that have happened between people in your life. Maybe most of them come down to one person not understanding another. Even wars.

Let's use the web to create neat new exciting things.

Let's use the Web to help people understand each other.”

Further information:

Web Foundation

Science and Media Museum

Science Museum

Tim Berners-Lee Biography