Wikipedia Blackout - The Right Thing To Do?
Yesterday we saw a website that we have all come to use on a regular basis, disappear. Instead, when you tapped a simple or complicated fact into your search engine, you received no results. Instead you got this page:
But why are Wikipedia protesting so much about the bill that the US are trying to pass? It’s because if the bill IS passed it will mean the end of all free information on the internet and without realising we have become extremely dependant on the internet, and especially Wikipedia, for so many things. It may be something as simple as a song release date, but in other cases it could be for something more important like a reference for a University student (not that we are endorsing this as Universities frown upon it).
Today there was a different message left on Wikipedia’s homepage to thank everyone for their support on the issue. I think that what Wikipedia did was amazing – they highlighted a case that they felt strongly about in the most peaceful protest since Gandhi’s time.
It made me think, what if there was a world without the internet? What would we do if the net no longer existed?
Yesterday, BBC news reported that “the site had been viewed 162 million times, with eight million people following instructions to contact politicians”.
The media interest was also phenomenal, the topic was trending on twitter, and Wikipedia’s viewers shut down Congress’ switchboards and servers. Mark Zuckerberg tweeted for the first time in 3 years and posted a note on Facebook which directed users to another fan page outlining the finer details of the bill, Facebook’s opinion, and how you can get involved.
The internet is the biggest influence and revolution to be known since the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th Centuries (and yes I did use Wikipedia to make sure those dates were correct), and with the biggest social influences hitting back against such a destructive bill, I cannot see how Congress will be able to pass it. This bill is something that will not only affect the US but the world in general, and in my opinion it shouldn’t be just US citizens that are opposing this bill.
Earlier I asked the question ‘what would you do without the internet?’, well how about this for another question: ‘what would you do without Facebook for the day?’ I am sure that if Mark Zuckerberg chose to make a stand and follow in the footsteps of Wikipedia, there will be a lot more objection worldwide to really drive the point home.
