Until recently, most computers were found in institutions and large corporations. The Internet was originally developed as a network of military computers that were decentralized to allow communication to continue despite enemy attack. Personal computers made the Internet available to non-institutional users. The most common uses of the Internet are accessing World Wide Web files, sending e-mail messages, and participating in mailing lists and USENET groups.
It is difficult to estimate the number of Internet users. Usage continues to increase with women now the fastest growing group of users. Online commerce has been slowed by fears about security, dislike for intrusive advertising, and other factors, although advances in encryption are improving the safety of online transactions. Another advance is MP3, audio file compression software. This form of convergence is changing the distribution of music dramatically.
The unique nature of the Internet has raised First Amendment issues related to children’s access to inappropriate content, online pornography, and copyright protection. Media literacy skills are also affected by the nature of the Internet because it allows people to be both sender and audience, requiring that literacy skills be used both in constructing and receiving content.
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