Internet culture is a relatively new idea, but as it increasingly permeates all of human activity, it

has recently gained popularity and become easier to understand. An Internet connection is
needed for both business and leisure. The ability to use the Internet to expand your personal
knowledge through the use of shared knowledge which can be easily accessed by a click of a
button is one of the most captivating parts of the internet. It appears that the Internet is the ideal
resource for gathering the required data (Shapiro, 1999). lamentably, it is far from that because
any user can upload any information they want while governments can suppress information to
hide the truth from its people. However, it is the user’s responsibility to be careful when using it.

Internet censorship may be applied for legitimate or unlawful purposes. When used for good, it
can filter offensive or sensitive content, block access to information protected by copyright, and
do a lot more. Unfortunately, when applied improperly, it has the potential to stifle protests, free
speech, and public opinion. An example would be China, as the Chinese government viewed
the internet as a platform for fresh ideas or at the very least, increased openness where
Chinese individuals might use the internet to expose political wrongdoing and criticize
authorities (King, Pan, & Roberts, 2013). Therefore, the government's messaging has gotten
more nationalistic, and there has been a rapid change in that over the past few years as a result
of a more thorough and sophisticated crackdowns on the internet and civil society within China
(Barenberg, 2019). While internet censorship is used for valid reasons, in this case, the bad
simply outweighs the good as the government has removed information from the internet so its
people do not find out about the truth. To the contrary, the government may exert some control
over the Internet, such as by eliminating malicious websites and inaccurate material that could
harm users. To stop dangerous individuals from committing a crime or harming others, the
government can keep tabs on them. Government intervention is necessary as these criminals
become more sophisticated since they have greater authority to take action and safeguard the
populace.For example, in the US where there is very little internet filtering. This is due to the
First Amendment of the US Constitution's protection of free speech, which extends to criticism
of the government (Schroeder, 2018). Though there are rules to prohibit copyright, harassment,
and other undesirable behaviors, this does not imply that the Internet is unregulated in the US.
This is an illustration of how censorship can be applied constructively to help motivate the
population to express themselves freely. (Schroeder, 2018)

Another view of internet culture is the correct use and responsibility of the user when browsing
the internet. Going online without having a fundamental understanding of how the internet
functions is similar to driving without knowing the rules of the road; while they may still get
where they're going, they may endanger both themselves and people around them. Most people
now use the internet on a daily basis (Cohen & Raphael, 2011). However, there aren't many
people who fully comprehend how the internet works. Although the government and educational
institutions are making an effort to spread the word about cyber security and cybersafety, little
progress has been made. Furthermore, it is our shared responsibility as a society to spread
awareness and call out fake news so that people are not harmed and miss informed especially
when it can be a matter of life and death. Additionally, user’s must check different sources
regarding the information they are looking for to be able to verify said information. However, it is
also the responsibility of big companies like Google and Meta to check the information that is
posted on their platforms to decrease the spread of false information and to crack down on
those who are spreading it. (Cohen & Raphael, 2011)

In conclusion, The Internet is a boundless sea of information, beliefs and ideas. It is interactive,
quick, widespread, and decentralized. The world wide web's transnational nature, its anonymity
that individuals and groups may enjoy, the simplicity of access it offers, and its low cost and
speed give all different types of people and organizations a simple and effective platform to
further their political goals. It includes both the best and the worst of humankind's creations.
Both the good and bad aspects of society benefit from it. Furthermore, the Internet is a
tremendously big space, and each country has a different culture regarding its use. It is
employed to spread a variety of ideas and knowledge whether it is for people to spread hate or
for people to express love. In the end, I believe that more campaigns made by our society and
companies about the proper use of the internet and how to not fall for scammers on the internet.
 References

BARENBERG, O. (2019). IN THE SHADOW OF THE GREAT FIREWALL: ART AND

INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA. Harvard International
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KING, G., PAN, J., & ROBERTS, M. E. (2013). How Censorship in China Allows Government
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