We Need the Internet
I live without Internet… sort of. This isn’t one of those cord cutting ploys and I’m not one of those people who woke up to realize the Internet had taken over their life and are drastically scaling back. Simply put, where I live no one will string high-speed Internet out.
Of course, you say, surely there are other options. Sure there are ways to get online, but none of them are perfect. I’m not wiling to do dial-up and satellite would work except for data caps and the fact that it’s spotty with clouds and I live in the Pacific North West. Of course there’s data on my phone. But it’s not unlimited and a phone isn’t exactly a power computing device. Same goes for my Karma Hotspot: a brilliant device but pay as you go data isn’t exactly affordable all the time forever. Then there’s Starbucks with their newfangled Google Wifi. Fast, but requires a drive and a purchase. Then there’s the public library, but there’s limited free parking and yet another drive.
I’ll be frank, not having Internet is terrible. And no, not in the “my life is over” kind of way. More like wow this is really more annoying than I expected. The Internet is everywhere. We use it for everything, but you knew that already. I’ve known that others have the situation I’m in, but it’s way more frustrating than I ever expected. Accessing the Internet requires resources: time, money, data.
The job hunt? It’s been more annoying and expensive. None of my options allowed me to hunt all day like I wanted/needed. Getting online required shelling out for data, or driving and possibly buying coffee. None of these are extremely difficult in and of themselves. But do it day after day and the extra effort and resources are wearying. Especially when you’ve made a drive and bought coffee only to find out the internet at Starbucks is down.
YouTube videos at home to research how to learn something, cook something, or fix something are off the table. Xbox Live as a way to keep up with friends around the country is not an option. Shoot, you can’t even scroll through Instagram without worrying if you’ll have enough data for the month. iOS or OSX updates can’t be done at home. Things that were previously thoughtless and automatic (literally had iOS apps update automatically over Wifi) aren’t even options any more.
I can’t even imagine what it’s like for kids still in school to live in communities where the Internet is just as elusive but they don’t have even a little money or a car especially since it’s such a huge part of schoolwork.
Simply put, the world is wired in, and if you’re not on board you’re missing out whether that’s work, school, socializing, research, reading, or the myriad of things we do online. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not like life stops, but the disparity of having so many people online and so many off is insane. If you don’t have affordable, always-on Internet available you’re at a severe disadvantage.
Developers don’t code for data caps. Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, Google Docs, and many others operate under the simple premise that Internet is prevalent. The Web has irrevocably changed so many areas of our life. Take a look at bands shattering the process of getting discovered like Pentatonix, or the way that iTunes, Spotify, and Netflix are changing the way we discover and consume music, television, and movies. Or the way that we communicate with friends and family online.
I’ve done a lot of studying Economics and if one thing is pretty clear, it’s that infrastructure and education are drivers of top performers in the world economy. A big piece of infrastructure in the modern age is the Internet. Yet the USA is falling behind steadily and companies Comcast want the Internet to be entertainment, not a utility.
I knew people lived having to jump these hurdles to get online, I just didn’t realize how profound the impact was until I was in that position. We — all of us — need the Internet.
