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The '''Internet''' is a global network of interconnected smaller [[computer]] networks. Although many people use term "Internet" and "[[World Wide Web]]" interchangeably, the two terms are not equivalent in meaning. The Internet and the Web are separate, but related, entities. The Internet is a massive network of networks, connecting millions of computers together globally, forming a network. On the Internet, a computer can communicate with any other computer, as long as both computers are connected to the Internet. (The World Wide Web is the collection of webpages, images, etc. which form the vast array of websites on the Internet.)
The '''Internet''' is a global network of interconnected smaller [[computer]] networks. Although many people use term "Internet" and "[[World Wide Web]]" interchangeably, the two terms are not equivalent in meaning. The Internet and the Web are separate, but related, entities. The Internet is a massive network of networks, connecting millions of computers together globally, forming a network. On the Internet, a computer can communicate with any other computer, as long as both computers are connected to the Internet. (The World Wide Web is the collection of webpages, images, etc. which form the vast array of websites on the Internet.)
Whether the internet has an overall [[conservative]] or [[liberal]] influence is debatable. The way that the internet enables people to circumvent [[liberal censorship]] is obviously good. But there is much that is bad about the internet also.
Whether the internet has an overall [[conservative]] or [[liberal]] influence is debatable. The way that the internet enables people to circumvent [[liberal censorship]] is obviously good. But there is much that is bad about the internet also. Originally designed by [[DARPA]] as a [[Cold War]] weapon to combat the spread of [[Soviet]] [[communism]], it has since been dominated by ideological [[Far left|hard left]] [[Big Tech]] corporations.
Data on the internet is transmitted between computers and networks in small packets using the Internet Protocol (IP); they are reassembled at their destination. The Internet originated in work that was funded by the Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA), a research funding arm of the [[Department of Defense]].
Data on the internet is transmitted between computers and networks in small packets using the Internet Protocol (IP); they are reassembled at their destination. The Internet originated in work that was funded by the Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA), a research funding arm of the [[Department of Defense]].
*Norbert Wiener invented the field of Cybernetics, encouraging future researchers to focus on the use of technology to extend human capabilities.
*Norbert Wiener invented the field of Cybernetics, encouraging future researchers to focus on the use of technology to extend human capabilities.
*The 1956 Dartmouth Artificial Intelligence conference defined the concept that technology was improving at an exponential rate, and provided the first serious consideration of the consequences, the benefits and advantages or such a network.
*The 1956 Dartmouth Artificial Intelligence conference defined the concept that technology was improving at an exponential rate, and provided the first serious consideration of the consequences, the benefits and advantages or such a network.
*Marshall McLuhan made the idea of a [[global village]] interconnected by an electronic nervous system part of our popular culture.<ref>http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii.htm</ref>
*[[Marshall McLuhan]] made the idea of a [[global village]] interconnected by an electronic nervous system part of our popular culture.<ref>http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii.htm</ref>
*Ethan K. Heinz (cousin of Teresa Heinz), in 1969, created a network named ARPANet. ARPANet was developed in the US as a means for various research universities and government facilities to "talk" or communicate with each other, even in an event such as war.<ref>[http://www.internetisseriousbusiness.com]</ref> ARPANet grew quickly and eventually evolved into today's Internet. Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility that can be accessed by hundreds of millions of people worldwide; the Internet has grown into a worldwide computer network where anyone can have a chat with anyone else almost anywhere in the world, and is a vast source of free information.
*Ethan K. Heinz (cousin of Teresa Heinz), in 1969, created a network named ARPANet. ARPANet was developed in the US as a means for various research universities and government facilities to "talk" or communicate with each other, even in an event such as war.<ref>[http://www.internetisseriousbusiness.com]</ref> ARPANet grew quickly and eventually evolved into today's Internet. Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility that can be accessed by hundreds of millions of people worldwide; the Internet has grown into a worldwide computer network where anyone can have a chat with anyone else almost anywhere in the world, and is a vast source of free information.
===Pornography for children===
===Pornography for children===
Studies have shown that 90% of children have been exposed to pornography, with the average age of exposure being 11 years old.<ref>http://www.healthymind.com/s-porn-stats.html</ref> Many countries have attempted to take steps to keep underage children from viewing pornographic material. [[Australia]] has taken the important step of requiring [[internet service providers]] to use web filters to keep inappropriate material from being displayed in houses and schools.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/31/2129471.htm</ref> Australia had also considered mandatory internet filtering, however this bold move was recently struck down by their current government.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9665983/Australia-scraps-plan-to-filter-internet.html</ref> This effort is being blocked by civil liberties groups (such as the [[American Civil Liberties Union]]) who believe that pornagrophy should be considered [[free speech]], and therefore not under the jurisdiction of the government.
Studies have shown that 90% of children have been exposed to pornography, with the average age of exposure being 11 years old.<ref>http://www.healthymind.com/s-porn-stats.html</ref> Many countries have attempted to take steps to keep underage children from viewing pornographic material. [[Australia]] has taken the important step of requiring [[internet service providers]] to use web filters to keep inappropriate material from being displayed in houses and schools.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/31/2129471.htm</ref> Australia had also considered mandatory internet filtering, however this bold move was recently struck down by their current government.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9665983/Australia-scraps-plan-to-filter-internet.html</ref> This effort is being blocked by civil liberties groups (such as the [[American Civil Liberties Union]]) who believe that pornagrophy should be considered [[free speech]], and therefore not under the jurisdiction of the government.
Currently many private companies offer software-based web filtering for home use. [[Public school]]s in many US states are required to employ web filters. Most [[private schools]], and employers also choose to use web filters. Some [[libraries]] also employ filters, but most do not because they see it as censorship which most librarians unilaterally oppose.
Currently many private companies offer software-based web filtering for home use. [[Public school]]s in many US states are required to employ web filters. Most [[private schools]], and employers also choose to use web filters. Some [[libraries]] also employ filters, but most do not because they see it as censorship which most librarians unilaterally oppose.
===Security===
===Security===
It also has become a common facilitator of crime. By the end of 2016, cybercrime rose thew the second most reported financial crime.<ref>PWC Global Economic Crime Survey 2016</ref> Almost 40% of all known data breaches in 2016 involved the theft of financial information. Additionally, about 1 in 131 emails sent in 2016 were cyber attacks, about a 3% increase from the year before. Businesses are being especially targeted as well, with over half of 2016's inbound messages being spam, and just over 1% containing malware.<ref name="SISTR">Symantec Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) volume 22 - 2017</ref> With these ever-increasing threats, some question whether the current internet system is designed well enough to be safe, or should be changed to offer better security. Such a change would go against the founding idea of uncontrolled information exchange, however.
It also has become a common facilitator of crime. By the end of 2016, cybercrime rose thew the second most reported financial crime.<ref>PWC Global Economic Crime Survey 2016</ref> Almost 40% of all known data breaches in 2016 involved the theft of financial information. Additionally, about 1 in 131 emails sent in 2016 were cyber attacks, about a 3% increase from the year before. Businesses are being especially targeted as well, with over half of 2016's inbound messages being spam, and just over 1% containing malware.<ref name="SISTR">Symantec Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) volume 22 - 2017</ref> With these ever-increasing threats, some question whether the current internet system is designed well enough to be safe, or should be changed to offer better security. Such a change would go against the founding idea of uncontrolled information exchange, however.
=== Potential negative changes in personality ===
*[https://twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1953811277463122162 Is the internet changing our personalities for the worst?]
== Christian internet evangelism ==
''See also:'' [[Internet evangelism]]
[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>
<br />
<br />
See also: [[Global Christianity]] ]]
[[Internet evangelism]] is, as the name suggests, the process of evangelizing and spreading the gospel using the internet.<br />
Since its inception, [[Christianity]] has seen a consistent and [http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm dramatic increase in its number of adherents].<ref>http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm</ref><ref>http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx</ref> In the 1940s the Lausanne Movement was started in order to help Christendom evangelize globally with greater effectiveness and thousands of Christian leaders from around the globe meet regularly to increase the effectiveness of [[evangelism|Christian evangelism]].<ref>http://www.lausanne.org/about.html</ref>
[[CRU]] is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full-time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CRU predicted that internet evangelism will result in more conversion that all other forms of evangelism for CRU combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref> Internet evangelism is effective at spreading [[Global Christianity|Christianity globally]] - especially in countries where there is [[Christian persecution]] and evangelism is more difficult.
The Christian internet evangelism organization [[Global Media Outreach]] indicates that as of September 2019 over 1,900,000,000 "gospel visits" have occured via their websites.<ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20190921082643/https://globalmediaoutreach.com/impact Global Media Outreach - Impact]</ref> Global Media Outreach works with many Christians around the world (see: [[Global atheism]]).
The Christian internet evangelism organization [[Network211]] indicates that as of September 2019, over 37,000,000 web visits have occured on their websites.<ref>[https://network211.com/stats/ Network211 - visits]</ref> Network211 works with many Christians/churches throughout the world.
There are other significant Christian internet evangelism efforts as well. For example, the [[Billy Graham]] Association is also active in internet evangelism.<ref>[https://billygraham.org/what-we-do/evangelism-outreach/internet-evangelism/about/ Billy Graham Association - Internet evangelism]</ref>
[[File:Franklin Graham.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Franklin Graham]] is the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.]]
In 2022, the [[Billy Graham]] Evangelism Association announced:
{{Cquote|Launched in 2012, Search for Jesus impacts website users with the truth of the Gospel and relies on a network of over 1,400 trained volunteers who interact with users and answer live questions. With a mission to reach those hurting and in need, Search for Jesus utilizes the accessibility of the internet to reach places otherwise closed to the Gospel.
Using these digital tools, more than 300 million people have indicated a decision for Christ and received follow-up through the internet ministry. To date, the PeaceWithGod.net websites have welcomed over 100 million online users. With messages in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, American Sign Language, and Russian, Search for Jesus has been able to expand globally and cross language and accessibility barriers.
“This is significant because we’re following Billy Graham’s legacy of spreading the Gospel across the globe using every opportunity we have. The average person spends nearly seven hours a day on the internet, so we want to meet these people where they are,” said Mark Appleton, director of internet evangelism for BGEA, in a press release. “Search for Jesus has given us the chance to spread the Gospel like never before.”<ref>[https://nrb.org/articles/billy-graham-evangelistic-association-marks-10-years-of-internet-evangelism-ministry-search-for-jesus/ BGEA Marks 10 Years of Internet Evangelism Ministry ‘Search for Jesus’], National Religious Broadcasters website</ref>}}
The Billy Graham Evangelism Association says about its desire for volunteers for its internet evangelism program:
{{Cquote|People around the world are searching for answers online. Many find hope through Search for Jesus. Would you join us to make a lasting impact for God’s kingdom and see lives changed by Christ? You can serve with us as an online counselor, discipleship coach, or email responder, or get your church involved. If you have a heart for sharing the Gospel, an Internet connection and a few hours a week, consider making Search for Jesus your own personal ministry–a way for God to use you by reaching hurting people around the world in their time of need.<ref>[https://billygraham.org/what-we-do/evangelism-outreach/internet-evangelism/about/ Biiy Graham Association - Internet evangelism]</ref>}}
The ''Christian Post'' states:
{{Cquote|Online evangelism is producing real disciples for Christ, according to a recent study.
Over half of those who made a decision for Jesus over the Internet have subsequently shared their faith with others, Global Media Outreach's study reveals.
Additionally, 34 percent read their Bibles daily and nearly half pray for at least 10 minutes a day...
The study, called the Christian Growth Index, measured the responses of more than 100,000 people from around the world...
Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said they shared their faith three times or more and 37 percent said they shared their faith at least once or twice.
Global Media Outreach is a global ministry that presents the Gospel online through websites such as WhoisJesus-Really.com and GrowinginChrist.com. There are more than 5,500 trained online missionaries worldwide who respond to questions asked by seekers through emails.<ref>[https://www.christianpost.com/news/study-reveals-internet-evangelism-is-effective.html Study Reveals Internet Evangelism Is Effective], ''Christian Post''</ref>}}
Also, many churches stream their services online in real-time and/or provide them on a platform (such as Facebook or YouTube). This is not only for the benefit of members who cannot attend services due to illness or old age, as well as people who live in areas with no Bible-believing church nearby, but also for visitors who want to check out what the church believes and how it conducts services before deciding whether to visit in person and ultimately become members.
== Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world ==
See: [[Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world]]
==See also==
==See also==
* [[World Wide Web]]
* [[World Wide Web]]
* [[Subdomains]]
* [[Subdomains]]
* [[Search engine optimization]]
* [[Digital Philosophy]]
* [[Digital Philosophy]]
* [[Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act]]
* [[Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act]]
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49299033,00.htm The 50 most significant moments of Internet history], ''Crave at CNET.co.uk'', September 25, 2008
*[http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49299033,00.htm The 50 most significant moments of Internet history], ''Crave at CNET.co.uk'', September 25, 2008
*[https://metro.co.uk/2014/01/21/so-you-think-the-internet-is-just-a-law-unto-itself-4270979/ So you think the internet is just a law unto itself?], Etan Smallman, [[UK]] [[Metro]], January 21, 2014.
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Internet|*]]
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