Tech

To What Extent Does the World Rely on the Internet?

Wesley Conroy

To What Extent Does the World Rely on the Internet?

The advent of the internet dates back to as far as the 1960’s when ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) of the United States, formulated something along the lines of what we know today as the internet. In 1995, the internet was released to the general public and though people had very limited access to it at first, we can see how much the internet has progressed to become what it is today.

The question one may ask is, how much do we have to rely on the internet in today’s world? Does the internet mean that social interactions have been cut down to zero?

A possible answer would be yes, people today do have huge reliability on the internet since it makes things so much easier, even for day-to-day activities. There are robust companies such as Xfinity itself, which provide customers with top-notch internet services. Xfinity package deals make things a lot easier for people as it makes access to the internet very smooth and easily accessible, something that would have seemed impossible back in the 80s and the early 90s.

The Significance of Social Media

What is the first thought you might register as soon as you take a picture of yourself, be it from a professional camera or even your smartphone? You would want to “put it on the ‘gram” or in simpler terms, you would want to upload it on Instagram. This goes on to show how we, every day, seek validation from people on the internet, and honestly, that is not a bad thing as long as it boosts your self-esteem.

Similarly, there are a significant fraction of people that find it hard to socialize with people in person, that is when the internet comes in handy as it serves as a safe space for them to socialize. These people get a chance at interacting with people without needing to meet in person and this helps them increase their confidence as a whole.

Not only is the internet used for validation and for socializing with people, but there are also times when people feel blue or they might feel under the weather and that is when they turn to the internet as well. In times like these, people tend to find themselves on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max.

Not only have people been binge-watching TV shows and movies while in times of solitude as a source of entertainment, but people have also been using these platforms while the world was taken by storm by the COVID-19 pandemic. The world was forced into a lockdown and people did not have much of a choice but to use the internet as much as they could. While the need for the internet increased, so did the demand for packages and bundles, and the business for internet service providers sky-rocketed, even Xfinity came up with package deals that made things even simpler for their customers.

The Business Industries and the Internet

A couple of years ago, no one would have thought that their business would depend entirely on the internet. As the world plummeted during the COVID pandemic, business owners had no other choice than to move their businesses online to increase their sales and save their businesses. Most of the industries that did so were the textile and apparel industries. As social interactions had become non-existent, it became very difficult for businesses to conduct their transactions in person and therefore increased their use of the internet and technology.

Similarly, while companies could not market and advertise their products in person, the only way they could do so was with the help of the internet and social media. A general increase was observed in online ads on websites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Even communication between businesses and customers was made easier through the use of the internet. In January 2018, WhatsApp made a very smart decision of launching WhatsApp Web which made it easier for businesses to stay in touch with their clients. This was mainly done keeping in view the small-scale business owners so that it would help them improve their business substantially.

What could the future of the internet be like?

Over the years, the internet has developed quite drastically. It has become much faster and safer than how it used to be. The security of the internet has improved ever since the trial against Mark Zuckerberg and how people’s data was sold to third parties. Since then, the safety of data became quite the issue and people began taking it very seriously. Internet companies have worked hard to ensure that they provide flawless internet services to their customers with high data speeds.

Not only is there reliability on the internet but people have been inclined towards other packages as well which include TV packages and mobile packages. The internet is not just limited to your computer at home but it is also used on your TV to stream movies and shows. It is also used in smartphones with either the use of Wi-Fi or through the use of 5G.

What do other packages include?

While we’re on the topic of the internet and the companies that provide the service, it should also be known that these companies provide other telecommunication services as well. Normally their services include TV and DVR packages depending on the resolution that you select and how many hours of DVR service you can afford.

These companies also provide services that relate to the mobile network and 5G to ensure that you have flawless internet browsing at an affordable rate. Other packages include phone packages that are not specific to smartphones but rather to landlines and cordless phones, which ensure that you can make calls not just within the United States but all over the world.