The Internet and more specifically Web 2.0 has altered the communication between friends, co-workers, family, and even enemies in a drastic way. It is easier to get in contact with anybody from around the world in a few clicks. Skype allows users to search for anybody with a Skype username and have a voice or video chat with any users from any part of the world. As a child, I can remember the days of "talking on the phone and being able to see the other person will be something of the future," and it's absolutely amazing the Internet has given the world that capability. A website that has taken off over the past months, Chatroulette, has very similar functions to Skype, except with Chatroulette you use an internet browser, log onto a site, and the server will pair you up with a random person with a video camera. The internet has allowed us to communicate and see others from anywhere in the world in a few minutes, something that would have easily taken days to do before the internet.
Social networks, especially Facebook and Twitter have taken communication to another level. Not only can you be completely up to date with your friends locations, activities, friends, and latest pictures without ever needing to ask them a single question, but also up to date with trending topics around the world. These sites allow their users to gain different views and opinions of almost anything. For example, in 2010 after Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awatds, I can remember logging onto Facebook and Twitter and being able to see opinions from those all around the world just by clicking on Kanye West's name, and this was before I even saw it happen.
The internet has taken contemporary forms of communication and altered them so there is almost barely a need to actually interact with peers. In fact, the contemporary method of interacting could even be considered simply checking somebody's status or by having a conversation with someone over a webcam, without ever meeting that person.
Derek Applegate
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