20th anniversary of the internet

August 6 marked the 20th anniversary of the internet. Twenty years ago last Saturday the first browser page became publically available for users. A poll from Genesreunited.com heralds the wonder of the web, stating that most adults believe its conception to be top of the list in significant events of the last one hundred years, (more so than the Holocaust, the Atomic bomb and 9/11. Alarming?)

On this day of reflection and celebration, we also recognise the contrary view that the web has hindered us, stunted and stripped us by what it has become; the inherent nature of re-using information. We’ve become a nation, group, circle of people addicted to sharing and linking and passing back and forth data through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ etc.

“Despite the millions of opportunities and industries it has spawned, the www for all its good has made the average distinctly average. The internet is an open door into innovation and creativity, but this onslaught of content is making us numb and less tolerant to anything less than instant gratification,” Patrick Danaher, marketing director of Gyro, told UTalkMarketing.

Not to mention falling into the reductive cycle of using the internet to reinforce information that already confirms our original thought schemas. This ethos based on recycling and flooding and reinforcing leaves little room for re-development and expansion.

“The www indeed gives every idea and thought 15 minutes of fame, but catapults the truly great humanly relevant ideas and experiences to iconic status. In these post-privacy times, only humanly relevant ideas will be remembered,” continued Danaher.

There is hope for expansion and development in forcing ourselves to be more creative. The innumerable bonuses of the web are the platforms it has created for peoples’ voices. It is hardly surprising that the internet campaigns we find compelling today are more individual, personable – sometimes simple – as if we’re now imposing a humanity to align with the innovative creativity that we value.