freepb.org - The Internet and its Profound Impact on Communities, Involvement, and Activism

The Internet has hit our society and the world we live in faster than any other communications technology ever has, and it brought with it changes to virtually every aspect of our lives. The way we work, the way we spend our money, the way we plan our days, and the way we communicate have been forever changed and continue to morph according to the new technologies and possibilities that pop up every day. Businesses have also been affected and have begun to use the Internet for everything from direct sales to corporate internet branding to lead generation. Today it is clear that virtually everyone is getting on board.

As an example of technology adoption, take the radio. When radio was first introduced, it took almost 40 years before there were 50 million users around the world, and this was an incredible technology! Television was introduced in the early 1950's and it took about 13 years to reach 50 million users. Once cable was introduced, it was being used by 50 million people just 10 years later. Now, let's look at the Internet…ready? It took just 5 years to reach 50 million people, and today its growth has only increased.

So now that everyone is on the internet, what are we using it for? According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, we're using it for our email more than anything else. We use it for news, weather, research, and commerce. But we also use it for social interaction and to connect with people and causes. The same online marketing tactics that have been effectively employed in the corporate landscape have also proven effective in the area of community involvement and social action.

The sheer numbers of people that can be reached with information pertaining to a specific cause has exploded with the adoption of email as a communication method. Without even buying a stamp, any individual, group, or organization can get their message in front of hundreds of thousands of email recipients. Mailing lists can help keep members or interested parties up to date on new projects, upcoming events, or important actions to be taken.

Websites themselves can be used to both facilitate information dissemination as well as be used to take specific actions: think of a letter writing campaign of the past. The days of pencil and paper or digging out a typewriter are long gone. Now you can just log into a website and a letter to your government representative can be pre-written, automatically customized, and sent within a few seconds. The ever coveted top 10 search engine ranking has leveled the playing field and allowed grass roots organizations to compete for traffic with even the biggest of corporations.

Increased blog traffic has been another powerful force, giving power to those who have something to say. Web logs, or Blogs, have become a great forum in which virtually everyone with access to the Internet can speak up and make themselves heard.

The number of opportunities for community involvement and social action has never been higher, and the Internet has had a profound impact on our abilities, as members of a global community, to speak up, be heard, and make a positive difference in the world around us.


"Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty." -- Wendell Phillips Join freepb.org Join your Town Council Beach Alcohol Task Force News Mission Statement Letters & Articles Contact Us Links & Local Contacts Partners/Sponsors Volunteer Opportunities		How the Internet has Impacted Community Involvement and Activism The Internet has hit our society and the world we live in faster than any other communications technology ever has, and it brought with it changes to virtually every aspect of our lives. The way we work, the way we spend our money, the way we plan our days, and the way we communicate have been forever changed and continue to morph according to the new technologies and possibilities that pop up every day. Businesses have also been affected and have begun to use the Internet for everything from direct sales to corporate internet branding to lead generation. Today it is clear that virtually everyone is getting on board. As an example of technology adoption, take the radio. When radio was first introduced, it took almost 40 years before there were 50 million users around the world, and this was an incredible technology! Television was introduced in the early 1950's and it took about 13 years to reach 50 million users. Once cable was introduced, it was being used by 50 million people just 10 years later. Now, let's look at the Internet…ready? It took just 5 years to reach 50 million people, and today its growth has only increased. So now that everyone is on the internet, what are we using it for? According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, we're using it for our email more than anything else. We use it for news, weather, research, and commerce. But we also use it for social interaction and to connect with people and causes. The same online marketing tactics that have been effectively employed in the corporate landscape have also proven effective in the area of community involvement and social action. The sheer numbers of people that can be reached with information pertaining to a specific cause has exploded with the adoption of email as a communication method. Without even buying a stamp, any individual, group, or organization can get their message in front of hundreds of thousands of email recipients. Mailing lists can help keep members or interested parties up to date on new projects, upcoming events, or important actions to be taken. Websites themselves can be used to both facilitate information dissemination as well as be used to take specific actions: think of a letter writing campaign of the past. The days of pencil and paper or digging out a typewriter are long gone. Now you can just log into a website and a letter to your government representative can be pre-written, automatically customized, and sent within a few seconds. The ever coveted top 10 search engine ranking has leveled the playing field and allowed grass roots organizations to compete for traffic with even the biggest of corporations. Increased blog traffic has been another powerful force, giving power to those who have something to say. Web logs, or Blogs, have become a great forum in which virtually everyone with access to the Internet can speak up and make themselves heard. The number of opportunities for community involvement and social action has never been higher, and the Internet has had a profound impact on our abilities, as members of a global community, to speak up, be heard, and make a positive difference in the world around us.

How the Internet has Impacted Community Involvement and Activism