Changes to the Internet by Shelby Linker, 8th period

On January 1st, 2016, anyone with a phone that is older than five years old [the phone] will not be able to access certain parts of the internet, more specifically, the encrypted web. Encryption is the conversion of electronic data into another form, also known as cipher text, which cannot be easily understood by anyone except authorized parties, it's basically the most effective way to achieve data security. Although this won't directly affect most of the people reading this, it will affect many people worldwide. In other countries it could affect up to 7% of current internet users.

I truthfully don't understand the whole encrypted web part but the text that I read said that it included not being able to safely access Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These, especially Google, are large portals to accessing information on the internet and other people around the world. Most of the U.S. population has become heavily dependent on the internet so the chances of not being able to safely use websites, or the internet at all, is a huge problem. Firefox has already switched over and immediately saw a decrease in downloads, Facebook and others are trying to fight the plan or at least delay the date that the plan is supposed to be enforced. Let's try and put this in perspective for those who might still think this isn't a serious problem or that it doesn't concern them. Imagine the whole population of Booker T, then, suddenly, a portion of the students weren't able to access the Internet. Imagine how distraught we would be, not only do we heavily depend on the Internet to keep up with others that are far away and for entertainment but many of us have homework that can only be completed over the Internet (for example, this blog post). Having the ability to access knowledge being ripped away from you suddenly just because you aren't able to upgrade your phone is completely unfair. Someone might say, "Well I can just go home and use the desktop or got to a library," as great as that is for you to have these resources, the countries that would be most affected by this change are developing countries and don't have access to the resources that we are so privileged to have. I don't understand why we even feel the need to mess with the internet, it's perfectly fine and weird how it is, there's no need to try and "fix" it. In a way this reminds me of segregation, specifically segregation in schools. Young African American's were denied the ability to learn the same materials as the Whites because of circumstances which they couldn't control, the same goes for those being affected by this huge, unnecessary, change.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Sources

Buzzfeed