World Internet Day is celebrated on 17 May. The aim of the day is to reflect on the potential and challenges of new technologies in people’s lives. The date was established by the United Nations (UN) in January 2006 and is also known as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
The Origins of the Internet
The internet originated during the Second World War, in the late 1960s, with the aim of creating a dedicated communication channel for the US military.
The advent of the internet has brought about a major change in people’s daily lives, in the way they communicate with one another, how they seek and receive information, and how they purchase goods and services, amongst many other everyday activities.
Challenges of the Internet
The internet often gives rise to various types of public debate, stemming from the fact that much of the content available online is not accurate or does not properly attribute authorship to a particular piece of content – for example, the use of images and text. Sharing content without the authors’ permission is another issue that causes controversy on the internet.