This house believes the internet encourages education
The internet allows anyone with access to view, create, and spread information. However, people and governments can use that information either for ‘good’ or ‘not so good’ purposes. The spread of information and growing communication over the internet can promote education, but it can also be used for repression
For
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Against
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Yes, the free flow of information is vital to democracy I think that the Internet does in fact encourage democracy, because the free flow of information helps people communicate, organize and disseminate a wide range of information. The Internet, primarily social media websites, were instrumental in recent pushes around the world to overthrow oppressive governments in favor of democracies, such as in Syria and Egypt. Side: For
First of all Republics are not the opposite of democracies. A Republic is a nation which has no king. A democracy is something that is decided majorly by the people, with elected representatives representing the masses. The Internet actually does represent both a republic and democracy. Internet has no "Ruler" (no one Invented the Internet), and its content is determined by the masses. Democracy is shown obviously through the Internet by giving people a voice and the ability to vote (this site is a perfect example). The Internet, at least as it is used in American, reflects our affinity for democracy and the ideals of our Republic Side: For
Internet encourages democracy Yes, the internet definitely encourages democracy. The internet is a place where people can express themselves as individuals without the threat of being judged. It is also a place where they can find like-minded individuals. With that being said, the internet can help people find their voice as it has in other countries that are not democratic. I believe that is why certain countries ban the internet or websites outside their countries so that citizens do not cling on to those ideas and try to change other citizen's ways of thinking against their current government. Side: For
It is a catalyst and tool to be used however a particular government want it to be used. In our case, democratically. In North Korea, every time Kim jong un's name appears on the internet, it appears in bold and a font size bigger. There is also very strict ad heavy filtration in places like North Korea which gets rid of websites (even the BBC) that could 'conflict'against the State Side: For
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No the internet does not encourage democracy....... What it encourages is a republic. A democracy means the majority can rule over the minority, a republic is the antithesis of such a thing and exists to protect the rights of the minority. This is what the internet encourages.....a freedom of expression, of thought and of acts that a democracy does not allow for, and consequently why the majority wants to control it unable to rule over us in that realm as they can everywhere else. So no I do not believe the internet encourages democracy at all, it encourages the absolute opposite, and what America SHOULD be Side: Against
With the exceptions of government access filtering, I'd say it encourage direct democracy more than anything. On the Internet, there's so much opportunity to lead democracy as an individual. You don't have to wait for the government to debate something in Parliament. You don't have to rely on your MP being effective in their representative democratic duties. You can start a petition, form a collective through a Facebook Page or Group, or you can lead the debate on a Twitter hashtag. Political FB Groups have tens and hundreds of thousands of members; you can't physically bring these people together and structure a debate like this in real life. Side: Against
With the exceptions of government access filtering, I'd say it encourage direct democracy more than anything. On the Internet, there's so much opportunity to lead democracy as an individual. You don't have to wait for the government to debate something in Parliament. You don't have to rely on your MP being effective in their representative democratic duties. You can start a petition, form a collective through a Facebook Page or Group, or you can lead the debate on a Twitter hashtag. Political FB Groups have tens and hundreds of thousands of members; you can't physically bring these people together and structure a debate like this in real life. Side: Against
Thoughts? I honestly think it doesn't, but that's because I know so much about internet censorship in China and how repressive it is, which actually does the opposite of encouraging democracy and freedom and all it stands for. When considering the internet, you have to consider all of it I think! Im really interested in this now :) Side: Against
The internet isn't that different from the telegraph, television, telephone (except that it's not called the 'telenet')... it just brings more and more people together but I don't think it encourages democracy any more than it encourages white power... it all depends what you're into and what you're searching for. Side: Against
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