The Internet: A Modern Day Human Right

A new survey by the BBC has revealed as many as four out five people around the world believe that the internet access is a fundamental human right. Governments in countries like Finland and Estonia have already decided that access to the internet is a basic right for their citizens.
The importance of the internet cannot be denied but in what does access to the world wide web benefit us as well as supporting our basic human rights?

A crucial tool for modern day communication, the internet allows users to connect with friends and family write across the globe at the click of a button. In recent years, the internet has seen an explosion in the number of ways in which people can communicate aside from traditional email methods. VOIP or voice of internet protocol has allowed people to make calls via the internet using a regular phone handset. The popularity of instant messaging such as MSN messenger and web cam friendly services such as Skype have also grown considerably over the past few years and make communication via the internet increasingly multifaceted.

Dubbed the 'information highway', the internet is an invaluable tool when considering the right to learn. A seemingly never ending stream of information, the internet is not only a great learning resource but also allows people to study remotely for degrees and modules. News websites play an integral role in the production of up to date information online. A recent survey in America revealed that - for the first time ever - people were more likely to get their news online as opposed to traditional printed newspapers. The internet is now hot on the heels of television as the world's main news source.

Aside from elements that support basic human rights, there are also plenty of benefits from using the internet as well. The first of which is the ability to save money and compare prices; something that is extremely difficult today when shopping on the high street. The boom in price comparison websites that allow you to compare life insurance, health cover, car hire and everything in between has seen consumers collectively save millions of pounds over the past few years. The success of sites such as Ebay have also encouraged consumers to get a good deal as well as provided a platform for users to sell their own things in a controlled and safe environment.

Finally if it weren't for the internet, thousands - if not millions - of people and their businesses would see a massive dent in profits and possibly be out of work altogether. Professions such as web developers, SEO experts and online marketers have all been forged around the growing need for the internet and allow a plethora of people worldwide to make a living within a sector that is fast becoming a modern day human right.