The internet is relatively new, but it's safe to say that it is one of the most important inventions in the history of mankind. Initially used by governments, universities and large corporations, the World Wide Web has become an integral part of our lives and forever changed the way we live, communicate and conduct business. It has, without a doubt, changed the world.
The internet vs real life
Where does the internet end and Real Life begin? At this point, it's safe to say that the two have merged, almost completely. Since the internet has changed the way we share and consumer information, it has also changed the way we interact with each other.
There is an online community dedicated to the most obscure interest you can possibly think of. This is why this invention has allowed us to regroup and find like minded individuals.
A natural consequence of this are all these communities and micro-communities evolving into internet subcultures and these internet subcultures evolving into real life subcultures. For instance, if we take a look at Reddit, one of the most popular community-based websites on the world wide web, the rise and fall of trends and cultural subgroups is evident.
Members of /r/The_Donald (a subreddit dedicated to the current President of The United States) for example, are at least partially responsible for his success.
They have trolled the web mercilessly, spreading Trump-related propaganda, changing narratives, and moving a large part of an entire generation to the right.
The future of internet
It's impossible not to wonder what the future of internet looks like and what will the possible repercussions be. The Internet of Things will most probably become mainstream in a few years time.
Virtual reality sets might also play a significant role in how we access and use the web. Our culture will inevitably change and dozens of movements and subcultures, some of them perhaps history-defining, might emerge on the internet and pour into real life, reshaping and re-difining our reality like they are doing now.
Earth might not be the only planet with internet access.
Elon Musk plans on colonizing Mars by the year 2030, so we might regularly use the internet to communicate with our relatives who have decided to move there. What will our world look like in 10, 20 or 30 years time? It's impossible to tell, but it's safe to assume that the internet will just keep growing and advancing.
