Imagine this scenario: you are speaking with a friend on the phone. Your friend mentions someone you don’t really know. What are you most likely to ask your friend? It’s probably ‘What’s that person like on social media?’ This instinctual question shows that we live in a world where the Internet has become essential. As for whether such a tendency is right – we don’t think it’s clear-cut.
On the one hand, it might be useful for getting conversation starters. But isn’t it more natural to discover those conversation subjects in face-to-face communication? It might also become easier to give others labels based on the bite-sized info they share across social platforms. And tags are subject to interpretation themselves! Bottom line: it depends a lot on your own standing when it comes to the Internet – your mileage may vary.
The Internet has become synonymous to change. There’s no way around it: what seemed a fad twenty years ago has grown to a point where one might not be able to imagine life without it. The example we gave above represents merely a surface approach. The World Wide Web has shaped up the reality we live in on much deeper and subtler levels, too. Let’s take a look at all the discrete ways that reveal we live in the era of the Internet and, in fact, the Internet lives within us.
A Shift in Entertainment: Physical vs. Online Gambling
When we think of gambling, we might still imagine someone sitting at a table and getting dealt a hand. The truth is, this image strays further and further from the way things are. Players are most likely to sit at a virtual table nowadays, with a live dealer, indeed, but one who is most likely miles away from them. Online casinos represent a booming industry, which is why there are numerous regulatory authorities dedicated to them. Moreover, there are teams of experts that focus on these websites’ features and publish reviews for the customer’s guidance. The following page, https://casinobonusca.com/top-online-casinos/, is one example of online casino analysts taking the Canadian iGaming scene by storm; they list hundreds licensed gambling operators, considering every situation that a player may come across.
Research has turned into Google (News - Alert) search
We don’t think that researching at the library is entirely obsolete, but the Internet nowadays powers even this traditional means of studying. Have you ever checked online whether your local library or bookstore has that one book you desperately need for your paper? Have you realized that there are no more physical volumes of an academic paper, so you searched for its e-book iteration? Most studying venues have websites, both for advertising and for making browsing easier for students, scholars, and those interested in finding out more on a subject.
Furthermore, information can come in all shapes and sizes. You could download 12-hour long audiobooks whenever you desire or watch a YouTube (News - Alert) video summarizing the topic that has been piquing your interest for a while. You could go for a jog and plug your ears with a podcast describing the Roman Empire's history in one hour or less.
The web has adapted to the modern human needs, which is why it allows the fast-paced, tireless person of today to multitask. A sound mind in a sound body, sure, but what about getting both at the same time?
A new Renaissance?
Given that information is accessible and oftentimes quick, it feels like the Internet allows us to go universal. It’s easier to pick up hobbies these days, both Internet-centric and online. Many origami lovers, for instance, have learned the craft from video tutorials. As for purely digital subjects like graphic design and coding, the step-by-step online guides are already famous. We have reached a point where informal education has become the primary supplement of formal lessons and courses; moreover, formal education has mostly shifted towards the Internet. Long-distance classes are more than feasible, and numerous teachers and professors load studies on dedicated platforms.
In Closing
Going online has profoundly reshaped the world. Apart from the most visible changes, we wanted to bring to your attention how it revolutionized the acquiring of new skills. The entertainment sector isn’t exempt from digitalization, either; in the case of gambling, at least, the online casino is likely to spread more than its land-based counterpart. Moreover, we saw fit to mention people’s reliance on social media; right now, it’s possible to get a brief overview of someone before they enter your life officially.
