a for and against essay about the internet

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Essay on Internet

• Updated on  
• Oct 1, 2021

With throat-cutting competition, the difficulty level of various competitive exams has increased. Apart from domain-specific knowledge, questions framed in various exams evaluate critical thinking and decision-making ability, reading and writing skills, and  Logical and Analytical Reasoning . It thus has become important to focus on all the components equally. Just like the aforementioned topics, Essay writing is another crucial element of a wide range of entrance tests like IELTS , TOEFL , UPSC exams , etc. The topics for essays can range from Digital India and Economic issues to the role of Education and Women Empowerment . In this blog, we will share some samples of essays on the internet with you!

Uses of Internet Essay

Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet

Tips to Write an Essay on the Internet 

Here are some of the tips which you can follow in order to write an impressive essay on the internet. 

• Your essay on the internet should be clear and concise with appropriate information. 
• Research meticulously before you start writing an essay on the internet.
• Add both, advantages and disadvantages of using it.  
• Write the content in paragraphs. 
• Avoid the use of jargons and slangs. 
• Keep the tone formal. 
• You can also add statistical data.

The internet is a worldwide network of computer networks that connects millions of people in over 150 countries. Using the internet, you can send emails, chat with people, and obtain information on different variety of subjects. 

Internet can be used for multiple purposes including finding information, communicate with people, shop online, manage your finances, etc.

The first workable prototype of internet came in the late 1960s with creation of ARPANET or the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. ARPANET used packet switching to allow multiple computers to communicate on a single network.

In order to complete your application process for studying abroad, apart from the basic documents, you also need to submit a personal essay / statement of purpose as it elucidates your motive to take admission in a particular course and university and also shed light on your career goals. It thus needs to be impressive! Take the assistance from the experts at Leverage Edu who will help you write an SOP that will highlight your achievements, purpose and future goals in a very lucid yet impeccable way!

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A for and against essay about the internet. Is the internet bad for young people?

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Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ » — a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

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• Advantages And Disadvantages Of Internet Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Essay

500+ words advantages and disadvantages of internet essay.

The internet plays a significant role in the lives of people today. It is a valuable source of information that helps people share information and communicate with anyone sitting in any corner of the country with an internet connection. But, with many advantages, there are also disadvantages to the internet. With the help of ‘Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet’ essay, we will throw light on both these aspects. We have also compiled a list of CBSE Essays for students to boost their essay-writing skills. It contains sample essays on several topics, which will give ideas to students and help them write effective essays.

Advantages of the Internet

The role of the internet in the modern world cannot be understated. Nowadays, every person uses the internet to do their daily tasks. People in different fields like offices, schools, colleges, hospitals etc., use their electronic devices like laptops, computers, tablets, cell phones etc., to make their work simple and fast. The internet has also made access to information easier. We can learn about the whole universe with just a single click by using the internet. We can easily communicate and share information with other people around the world with the help of email, instant messaging, video calls etc.

The internet delivers a wide variety of advantages. It not only enables people to share information but also serves as a place to store information and media digitally. This feature has benefitted the fields of education and research the most. We have seen a boom in the e-commerce business as they have used the internet and provided a seamless experience of buying and selling products online. It has created a large market for online retailers and integrated different business fields. Due to this facility, people can now purchase almost everything they need and get it delivered right to their doorstep in a few days. Many services are now provided on the internet, such as online booking, banking, hotel reservations etc.

The internet has made everything a lot more accessible and quick. Most organisations around the world advertise their vacancies on the internet. So, people can search for different types of jobs around the world. The internet provides different types of entertainment to people; be it music, movies, theatre, entertainment, live matches, or live broadcasts. It also helps students to continue their learning through online education.

It is difficult to name all of the benefits and advantages of the internet. This is because the internet has become so entangled and integrated into our daily lives that it has an influence on everything we experience around us.

Disadvantages of the Internet

Although the internet has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages. In the next section of the advantages and disadvantages of the internet essay, let us discuss the disadvantages and the possible risks associated with the modern-day applications of the internet.

While the internet provides us with all tools, products and services we need right at our doorstep, at the same time, it isolates us from the world outside. As we get more accustomed to ordering everything online, be it clothes, food, drinks, grocery, commodities, or even paying bills, getting out of the house has become less frequent. This has caused health issues and various mental health issues such as social anxiety, insomnia and even depression. Teenagers and kids are the most influenced by the internet as they are the generation which has seen the immense use of the internet. They are moulded to a life dependent on the internet. This hinders their learning capabilities and real-life problem-solving skills because they are accustomed to using their mobile for every task.

Today, the internet is the most popular source of viruses in electronic gadgets. As we perform various activities on the internet, we are exposing ourselves to various threats such as malicious software and viruses. Due to these viruses, confidential data may be accessed by unauthorised people or hackers. Some websites contain immoral materials in the form of text, pictures or movies. These websites damage the character of the new generation, especially kids and teenagers. A lot of time is wasted collecting information on the internet. Many people become addicted to spending time on the internet, like chatting with friends or playing games. A lot of information about a particular topic is stored on websites. Some information may be incorrect or not authentic. So, it becomes difficult to select the correct information.

From the information covered in this advantages and disadvantages essay, it can be said that the benefits of the internet outweigh the disadvantages and threats it brings. The responsibility to be safe falls on the users themselves. One needs to stay vigilant and perform regular security checks on their network and computing devices to ensure they are secure from any online attacks. Provided that all government regulations for safe internet browsing are followed and appropriate measures are taken.

Students must have found the ‘Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet’ essay useful for improving their essay writing skills. Visit BYJU’S website to get the latest updates and study materials for CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams.

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• Elementary School
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An Argumentative essay: The Internet

Wrting an argumentative essay

Write an argumentative essay for or against the following statement: The Internet has improved our life.

The internet has improved our life. But is this really an improvement?

There are some arguments both for and against.

One positive aspect of the internet is convenience.

Firstly, you can communicate with people all over the world.

Secondly, you can find any information in the web.

Thirdly, it’s easier to do shopping online because it saves your time, money and energy.

Furthermore, you can watch TV, listen to radio, watch films online.

In addition, you may have fun in social networking.

On the other hand, there are lot’s of people who spend an enormous amount of time in front of their computers and laptops. Doctors and psychologists say it’s a big problem that does harm to people’s health. Internet addiction syndrome is recognized as a new illness.

Moreover, people who spend too much time in virtual reality stop hanging out with their friends.

What is more, being online can be dangerous sometimes. Parents and teachers must warn their children about the dangers of the internet.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that we can’t live without the internet but we have to use the World Wide Web sensibly. 

As far as I am concerned,  I spend much time online surfing the net because it helps me to do my homework. I often download the music I like and play computer games online.  I often e-mail and post my English essays on the website to improve my writing skills.   

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Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet in Education

One comment.

Thank you very much. With this information, I prepared for the lesson and got a good mark.

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Short Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In this lesson, you will learn how you can write short essays on the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. I will write three sets of sample essays here in very simple words for a better understanding of all kinds of students. 

Table of Contents

Short essay on advantages and disadvantages of the internet in 100 words, short essay on advantages and disadvantages of the internet in 200 words, short essay on advantages and disadvantages of the internet in 400 words.

Today any mode of communication happens through the use of the internet. The internet is a gigantic network that connects the entire world and brings the world into our grip. We are aware of everything because of the internet. It has its own merits and demerits. If we think of the advantages of the internet then there are many.

It helps us to connect, learn, contact, and also send messages to the farthest places. Without it, we are simply blind. Again excessive use of the internet is dangerous. It creates an addiction in users and pulls them towards harmful circles. Their lives are destroyed. Too much internet can create mental disorders. So we must be careful in using this useful product and maintain our own safety.

Today modern systems are controlled by the Internet. Without it, we can’t even lead our basic needs. The Internet is a huge global network system that has the following advantages and disadvantages.

The Internet provides us with faster communication to connect with anyone using different calling modes. Businesses are getting benefited because of the communication facility provided by the internet. The internet is now helping in online education as well. Students can now access many books online without spending a penny. Trade and commerce are easier now. Also, we are receiving information every day through online news. Online banking, ordering foods, clothes, medicines, and groceries, all have become easier due to the internet facility.

However, every boon has its own disadvantages as well. Due to excess use of the internet people are becoming lazy and homebound. The greatest problem with the internet is the lack of privacy. At any moment private information can be leaked and exploited to harm others. Youngsters are getting into unnecessary addiction to online games and dangers. Frauds and online looting are daily incidents. Bank details are often getting destroyed and misused. 

Hence we must remember science is supposed to be a boon and not a curse. Humans are given the power to control the world of the Internet and save others from its exploitation. The internet must be used for overall well-being without any harm

The Internet is one of the most useful and important communication setups in our lives. By the internet, we mean a huge global connecting system or a network that joins everyone together in one string. The Internet has lots of facilities as well as disadvantages. Like any scientific invention, it helps in several ways and also destroys our lives. The following advantages and disadvantages are described. 

The greatest gift that the internet has given us is the facility to communicate easily with anyone around the world. Earlier it was impossible to even think about this. But now with the help of the internet, we can chat, make video calls, send voice messages, and also entertain ourselves with different sorts of communication applications. Huge business organisations and other setups are getting lots of facilities due to the internet.

The internet again is used for education. Today online education is a way of learning. Due to the internet, one can surf through Wikipedia and different documents available online and get knowledge of several things in the world. Lots of expensive books can be accessed online through the internet. So it enables many poor children to learn better.

Banking is one of the significant aspects of the internet. Earlier people has to stand in long queues and wait for banking work to be done. But now just sitting at home, one can do any bank work through the internet. Receiving groceries and medicine of any kind online is more accessible due to internet availability. 

However, the internet has several disadvantages and dangerous consequences. The world is extremely open through the internet and so anything can happen at any time. Youngsters get addicted to online games which harms them mentally and physically. They forget their studies and get involved completely in the world of the internet and suffer from severe depression and their future is destroyed. 

Online theft and fraud cases are quite common on the internet. Nowadays all official documents are available online and hence due to online fraud, many people lose their hard-earned money. Banking frauds can also create dangerous results. 

The Internet is also a place with no privacy. So people are criticized often and as a result many commit suicide for trolling. People become extremely harsh on the Internet and this lack of care for the other person pulls them away from nature. 

So it is always advisable to use the internet with caution. Anything that is good can create a disaster at any moment. So a humble use of the internet is the best choice.

Hopefully, after going through this lesson, you have a holistic idea of this topic. If you still have any doubts regarding this context, kindly keep me posted through some quick comments below.

Thank you. 

Essay On Internet for Students and Children

500+ words essay on internet.

We live in the age of the internet. Also, it has become an important part of our life that we can’t live without it. Besides, the internet is an invention of high-end science and modern technology . Apart from that, we are connected to internet 24×7. Also, we can send big and small messages and information faster than ever. In this essay on the Internet, we are going to discuss various things related to the internet.

Reach of Internet

It is very difficult to estimate the area that the internet cover. Also, every second million people remain connected to it with any problem or issue. Apart from that, just like all the things the internet also has some good and bad effect on the life of people. So the first thing which we have to do is learn about the good and bad effect of the internet.

Good effects of the internet mean all those things that the internet make possible. Also, these things make our life easier and safer.

Bad effects of the internet mean all those things that we can no longer do because of the internet. Also, these things cause trouble for oneself and others too.

You can access in any corner of the world. Also, it is very easy to use and manage. In today’s world, we cannot imagine our life without it.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Uses Of Internet

From the time it first came into existence until now the internet has completed a long journey. Also, during this journey, the internet has adopted many things and became more user-friendly and interactive. Besides, every big and small things are available on internet and article or material that you require can be obtainable from internet.

Tim Berners-Lee can be called one of the main father of internet as he invented/discovered the WWW (World Wide Web) which is used on every website. Also, there are millions of pages and website on the internet that it will take you years to go through all of them.

The Internet can be used to do different things like you can learn, teach, research, write, share, receive, e-mail , explore, and surf the internet.

Read Essay on Technology here

Convenience Due To Internet

Because of internet, our lives have become more convenient as compared to the times when we don’t have internet. Earlier, we have to stand in queues to send mails (letters), for withdrawing or depositing money, to book tickets, etc. but after the dawn of the internet, all these things become quite easy. Also, we do not have to waste our precious time standing in queues.

Also, the internet has contributed a lot to the environment as much of the offices (government and private), school and colleges have become digital that saves countless paper.

Although, there is no doubt that the internet had made our life easier and convenient but we can’t leave the fact that it has caused many bigger problems in the past. And with the speed, we are becoming addict to it a day in will come when it will become our basic necessity.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What are the limitation of internet?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Although internet can help you with anything but there are certain limitation to it. First of it does not have a physical appearance. Secondly, it does not have emotions and thirdly, it can’t send you to a place where you can’t go (physically).” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is the ideal age for using internet?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Nowadays everybody from small kids to adult is internet addicts. So it is difficult to decide an ideal age for using internet. However, according to researches using internet from an early age can cause problems in the child so internet usage of small children should be controlled or banned.” } } ] }

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The Internet: Arguments Against and for It Essay

1. introduction.

The internet, a complex and controversial tool not too long ago, has recently become one of the most powerful tools we as a society can use. Because of it, the world has become a smaller place, as people are able to communicate with others from all over no matter the distance between them. In addition to the accessibility of information, the internet has also made entertainment more accessible to consumers. Which of these effects is a valid argument as to whether the internet is beneficial or harmful to society. This will be the basis of our essay. The debate on whether or not the internet is beneficial or harmful is a common one, with both sides having their own valid arguments. With the abundance of information, one can easily see that the internet is a gold mine of information for anyone who needs it. Teachers, for example, can find much useful information and teaching aids online. This is also the case in many other professions. In addition to the information aspect, the internet moves commerce in today's society in that many transactions can be completed over the internet, saving both time and resources for the companies involved. The internet has made it easier for people to communicate with one another, which can be seen as breaking sociological barriers which we may have not been able to break previously. In today's society it is a common thing to have friends and acquaintances from other countries and/or cultures. The internet's way of breaking these barriers down is not confined to communication between those who already know each other, during times of international crisis it is a valuable tool for people of different nations to discuss while it is at times inconvenient or impossible for them to meet in person. However, the internet is not without its negative effects on society. Information is a valuable commodity, but one must be careful with the information which they choose to use. All too often, there is too much information on a given topic, making it hard to discern what is and what is not valuable. This can be seen especially with students doing research, as it is a common occurrence for a teacher to ask the student not to use internet sources for their work. This comes to the reliability of the sources of information. Any person can put anything on the internet, meaning that it is possible for someone to come across false information. Searching for information can also lead to many distractions, as there are many forms of entertainment available on the internet and one thing can often lead to another. In effect, one can waste much time trying to find information.

1.1 Background

It has been said that the internet is a great equalizer. Age, race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, and political orientation are irrelevant. Societal status is unimportant. Economic level is not a factor. If this were true, leveling the field of opportunity was probably the principal perceived no contention to and for the internet. The internet has the potential to improve the lives of a great number of people. It has already proven to be an incomparable force for increasing the collective knowledge of humanity. Its capacity for data storage is virtually limitless. The sheer volume of information that is available to a person at the touch of a button is astounding. This, in and of itself, makes the internet an invaluable asset. For researchers in academic, medical, and scientific fields the internet's value as a tool cannot be overstated. Because of the internet, doctors in India have instant access to the latest medical information from Johns Hopkins University. A physicist in South Africa can be involved in a real-time discussion of his work with a colleague at MIT. Setting aside for a moment the questionable reliability of the sources the doctors in the first example and the physicist in the second could not have had these experiences were it not for the internet. The exchange of information between people is most commonly done by the written or spoken word. The internet caters to the former method and its capacity for communication is unsurpassed. Never before has an individual been able to access information and communicate with such ease; hence the leveling of opportunity mentioned earlier. This is another perceived no contention for the internet.

1.2 Purpose of the Essay

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the negative and positive aspects of the internet. From both viewpoints, it shows the varying effects the internet has had on education, online learning, and knowledge on the topic of studying. Discussed in Anathasoula Sarafoglou's text "Education and the Internet: A Critical Review of the Literature," there have been many negative implications that the internet has had on education. One of the most common ones is that instead of students focusing on learning information on a particular subject, they end up looking up a broad-based search of the topic because it is easier to do and they are likely to come across pornographic material that could pop up in a hyperlink. This leads students to become distracted and over the years as society is becoming desensitized to what is deemed explicit, the issue could progressively get worse. Further negative effects of the internet on education are that students have easier access to plagiarism with the "cut and paste" function. It has been said that this may lead to difficulty in determining what is the student's work and what has been acquired from a web source. To strengthen mastery and comprehension of a subject, it is often found that students are more likely to remember information acquired from library books rather than information they printed off the internet. Information from printed internet material is often less durable as URLs are likely to become dead links with time and information will become harder to relocate. In contrast, book material is more permanent and a library is a more condensed and specific source of information on a topic compared to a broad internet search with superfluous information.

2. Arguments Against the Internet

There are a number of arguments that have been raised against the internet. One of the foremost is that the internet brings a loss of privacy. The argument is that all data that is passed over the internet can be intercepted and misused. Callers using internet telephones can be listened to by means of special eavesdropping software and hardware, without their knowledge. The personal and business data of users can be stored after they have left the internet, with the result that a detailed personal profile can be built up. This can lead to a variety of harmful consequences. An article in Scientific American on this topic concluded "If we are not already living in the 'surveillance society' described in science fiction, it is not for a lack of technology that makes it possible." The argument is often made that the use of internet can lead to addiction and that various psychological problems may develop as a result. Internet addiction has even been proposed as a psychiatric disorder. As an example of this, a case study was reported in the Lancet of a man who developed a psychotic illness after an increased use of internet chat as a means of relieving his social isolation. This addiction is said to be facilitated by the fact that the internet is relatively cheap, readily available and that it offers immediate gratification. The addict can surf from page to page in an aimless manner, finding whatever interests him, or he can explore the various multi-user environments where he can meet and converse with many people. The possibility of using pseudonyms can be particularly attractive to individuals who are shy in off-line situations.

2.1 Privacy Concerns

Privacy concerns on the internet come in many forms. The internet is a very open community and there are a lot of websites that are not regulated. Many people can enter these sites and download information that can be harmful to a company or individual. People can obtain proprietary information, copy and distribute it, or even destroy information. Another way that privacy is affected is through the use of 'cookies'. A cookie is a small file, which a server places on a user's PC when they visit it. Its purpose is to collect data on the user, which can then be used to help companies track repeat customers, estimate audience size, viewing patterns and habits etc. Essentially the cookie is a method of non-violent hacking. It poses a potential threat to personal privacy. Cookies are a way of obtaining information without the user's consent. Whether the information gathered is completely harmless or not, the user can be unaware of it happening and therefore cannot prevent it. Users are also unaware of the extent and seriousness of the information collected about them. Another way privacy can be invaded is through the use of internet surveillance. In 1994, 43.2% of companies engaged in surveillance of their employees, using methods such as monitoring the number of emails sent by employees, monitoring the URLs visited and actually reading the emails. At least 68% of the employees being monitored were not aware of it. Reading someone's email is no different to opening a letter and reading it, however it gives the employer much easier access to personal information. Any information that is written and stored on a computer whether it is at home or at work, is susceptible to being accessed and changed by someone else. This could be anything from educational or financial data, to information written in a chat room. Although there are many ways that privacy can be tampered with, it is the simple fact that it is very easy for any information to be obtained by someone who shouldn't have it.

2.2 Cybersecurity Risks

One of the reasons that the internet offers a mixed blessing is because it is such a powerful tool. It is guaranteed that the internet will make many jobs more efficient, but it will also change many jobs. Who can be sure whether these changes will be satisfactory? Indeed, many valuable jobs involving face-to-face human interaction, such as social workers, may be less in demand as electronic communication continues to improve. Moreover, there are many more people employed to enforce the law and to break it. As society becomes more and more wired, that is computer literate, it will become easier for both rogue states and private hackers to indulge in terrorism against other states and against corporations. A cyber-terrorist can hold a company to ransom by means of a computer virus and he will be very difficult to apprehend. All these factors can lead one to the conclusion that the internet is an unsafe environment and that participating in it is taking a risk.

2.3 Negative Impact on Social Interactions

"The internet has had an overall positive effect on the way in which we can communicate," claims Martin Yate in his article "How the Internet Has Changed Job Searching." Yate explains that the internet has expanded the scope of communication in terms of how easily and frequently we are able to contact individuals. All of this is true. The internet has greatly affected the way in which the human race communicates, in numerous positive ways, and one negative way. The internet has changed our social capabilities in that it has allowed us to communicate more easily, has facilitated an increase in friends and a decrease in loneliness, and has changed the way in which introverts or people socially awkward can interact with others. However, this is in the short term and the negative way in which the internet has affected our social interactions has not been positive, particularly in the areas of friendship quality or civic engagement. It is easy to see how with the ability to communicate via email, IM or posting on social networks, that the internet has allowed us to communicate with others more easily. An experiment conducted by Guttenberg University professor BJ Fogg showed that students who were asked to attempt to make friends and maintain contact with individuals they had met online had increased on-campus social activities and increased levels of loneliness. In a survey of over 1800 parents, 55% claimed that their children had about the same number of close friends as they did at the same age, and 30% said that their children had more friends. However, when children were asked the same question about their friendships, only 23% reported having the same number of friends, while 61% said they had more friends. Evidently, parents assume their children's friendships mirrored their own youth, while their children are actually less social. Evidently, the increase in availability to communicate does not foster an increase in quality of friendships. This is supported by data citing the internet as the common means by which people are more likely to engage in "passive" social activity, social activity not involving others. The survey linked this kind of activity to communicative tools used online. Lastly, the internet has caused an increase between weak tie relationships and a decrease in strong tie relationships. Evidenced by changes in the information society, one study showed that frequency of communication online and internet sharing positively correlated with weak-tie relationships. Adversely, the study showed that telephone communication positively correlated with strong-tie relationships (Fu, Chiu & Liu 656). The effects of these changes are a cause for concern, as the only relationships to not suffer in quality due to increasing internet use were strong tie marriage relationships. This information supports the fears Yate explains in that with this information society, it is increasingly harder for people to keep in touch and form strong lasting relationships.

2.4 Spread of Misinformation

Potentially the most complicated argument against the internet is the spread of misinformation. This is complex as, whilst an argument can be made for the fact that the internet instigates the spread of misinformation, it is human error and is not the fault of the internet itself. Misinformation is defined as 'an understanding of factually incorrect information that is intended to deceive' (Merriam-Webster, Anon). With this definition in mind, it is hard to argue that the internet does not indeed spread misinformation. The simplicity of posting information on the internet in the form of articles, videos and blogs had resulted in a tidal wave of information being generated every second. The sheer volume of this information means that moderating it to ensure it is all correct is impossible. This will inevitably result in some incorrect information slipping through the net and being believed by people. An example of this was misinformation spread following the attacks of September 11th 2001. Information was quick to be posted on the internet, and since this was a live event, much of it was incorrect. Videos showing a supposed missile being fired at the pentagon and news reports of bombs going off in various places were all incorrect yet were believed by many due to lack of further information and the fact that it was from 'an official looking source'. This initial spread of misinformation has a long lasting effect. Despite the common conspiracy theories having been proved wrong many still believe today that these events happened due to the wide variety of misinformation still available on the internet.

3. Arguments for the Internet

With the widespread growth of the internet, the access to information is becoming an essential part of everyday life. The information superhighway can be a great resource when it comes to searching for information. For students and professionals, the internet provides fast, convenient, and effective ways to access needed information. The ability for a user to gain access to a piece of information that may be located halfway around the world is possible with the click of a few keys. This can be crucial in a society where information can quickly become outdated. A news site on the internet can display new information minutes after it has occurred, whereas a newspaper may take a day to show the same information. Libraries are another example in which the internet is making access to information more convenient. With online catalogs and stored digital archives of scholarly work, a trip to the library may be unnecessary. This allows people to browse materials from the comfort of their own home, thus reducing the time and effort put into obtaining information. An additional example of information access through the internet is the online course. The internet allows students to take or teach a course from any location in the world with an internet connection. The course material is easily distributed to each student, and communication can be done through email and message boards. This can be a great solution for the student or teacher who may have a busy schedule and cannot afford the time to commute to a classroom. There are countless other ways that the internet is improving access to information and knowledge, and it is a trend that will most likely continue to flourish.

3.1 Access to Information and Knowledge

The internet has become the world's biggest source of information and has replaced the outdated ideologies of the library and encyclopedia by providing the world with uninterrupted knowledge. The internet has an unfathomable amount of information on it, just a few clicks away, and this idea of available knowledge is a great notion. The information age is taking over, and the internet is the key that is driving us into this ideology. A great thought is that anyone, when it is convenient for them, can access specific information in their own home. The easiest way for one to access information is Google, which has become a lifeline for many people. It is just a matter of typing in a search. For example, a student can type in their assignment topic and gather an endless supply of information. It is easier for them to obtain this information at home, where one can freely write, in comparison to having to get changed, leave their house, go to the bus stop, catch a bus to the library, and find parking there. The internet has thousands of articles and written papers on almost every topic known to man. Many scientific journals have gone online, and you can possibly find every issue on a certain topic of a journal from any time period. The internet is also used for education, where teachers can get access to worldwide information and keep it fresh and interesting for the students. Such ways are visiting museum websites, web quest activities, and building simple PowerPoint presentations. The internet has resources for all types of learners, where one can watch, listen, and interact with things. An example is someone learning to play a song or a certain music piece; they can find a video on how it is played and pause and copy it, note for note. A person wanting to learn another language can interact with a Spanish or French website, and when the person needs help, there are available forums for one to ask questions and have them answered in seconds. This form of knowledge is an inexpensive alternative to private tutoring, which may not always have effective results.

3.2 Communication and Connectivity

The creation of the internet led to greater ease of communication between people, from access to email to social media. Newsgroups have a variety of topics, discussions, and shared ideas. It is providing a wealth of information, resources, and opinions which can connect people across the world and of the same interests. It is also a useful way of providing information with people who are disabled or have difficulties in expressing themselves verbally. They may find communication over the internet a lot easier than through other means with the use of VoIP and webcams. Both instant messaging and email are a paramount improvement on original means of communication such as handwritten letters. With much faster delivery, it is possible for people across the world to be in touch without the added expense of long-distance phone calls. It is also a good way to keep in touch with family members who are overseas. Social media has also benefited communication, enabling people to share ideas and keep in touch through various forms of multimedia. Video calling over the internet is also a cost-effective way of keeping in visual touch with people across the world, offering a more personal level of communication.

3.3 Economic Opportunities

Increased economic opportunity is also cited by many as a benefit of the internet. It has been argued that the internet promotes entrepreneurship, by making it easier to start and grow a business. The relative ease and low cost of starting a small online business, when compared to an offline business, is a clear advantage for would-be entrepreneurs, who would otherwise be put off by the risk and expense involved in setting up a conventional business. The growth of the web has also been credited with creating many new jobs, as a result of increased demand for IT professionals, web developers, and the like. This trend seems likely to continue in the future. The low cost of communication on the internet has also been cited as a major advantage to businesses. The ability to send and receive email means that a company can communicate with, for example, overseas clients at a fraction of the cost of a fax or phone call. This has the effect of making it easier for small companies to do business with customers worldwide, and can be seen as a step towards creating a more level playing field in international trade, between small business and their larger multinational counterparts. The biggest effect that the internet has had on global business is in the effect that it has had on global market transparency. This is mainly due to the creation of the World Wide Web, which in recent years has become an invaluable tool for anyone looking for information of any kind. An example of web-based market transparency can be seen by looking at online auction sites such as eBay. In the pre-internet days, buying and selling second-hand goods on a global basis was a relatively impractical and risky process. Buyers and sellers were forced to conduct business either by post or by phone, with no guarantee of the other party's reliability. Now, anyone can buy or sell almost anything, and the growth and popularity of eBay have given consumers an easy and safe way to do business on a global basis, with auction and feedback systems providing a good level of security for both parties. This kind of global trade would not be possible today without the internet. Market transparency has a downside for some, and the web has made it harder for companies to make big profits by using a lack of public information to their own advantage. An example of this would be the recent fall of many dot-com companies, who through lack of experience and a certain naivety, tried to run a business in a very volatile market and paid the price. Although some may view this as a negative effect, economic Darwinism is very much a part of today's fast-moving economy, and these dot-coms were to a large extent living in a fool's paradise.

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Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay

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Introduction

Impact of internet on society, a case for the internet, works cited.

The internet is arguably the most influential invention made in the last half a century. This creation has had immense impact on the world with person’s personal and professional lives being influenced by this innovation. The internet has invaded most aspects of human life with its use spanning from industries as diverse as health care provision to mining and manufacturing.

This wide application of the internet has made it hard for people to envision a world without the internet. For most people, it would be impossible to operate efficiently if the internet was not there to provide quick and effective communication. However, the internet has contributed to some negative outcomes in society due to its attributes of efficiency and ease of information provision. This paper will argue that the world would be a better place if the internet had not been invented.

The information available on the internet has contributed to the rise in violence in our society. The internet contains a wide array of information on all topics. Some of the information contained pertains to violence and how a person can engage in acts of violence. There are websites that offer in-depth information on how to create a homemade bomb or even how to convert a handgun into a semi-automatic weapon.

This information has been used by various individuals to carry out acts of violence against members of the society (Schmitt 1). In the recent Boston bomb attack, the perpetrators used the internet to gain information on how to turn pressure cookers into deadly bombs that were used to carry out the terror attacks. The Norwegian terrorist, Anders Breivik who killed 77 people and injured at least 110 more is reported to have used the internet in his preparation for the brutal attacks.

Proponents of the internet argue that individuals with violent tendencies will find a way to carry out attacks even without the help of the internet. They argue that a person who wants to commit a crime can get the information they need from books or use traditional weapons such as guns and knives. While this is true, the internet has made it easier for the violent people to access dangerous information with little effort. This has increased the danger that such individuals pose to our society.

The internet has contributed to making the world an unsafe place by making it easy for international terrorists to operate. The prevalence of global acts of terror in the last decade has made international terrorism the greatest danger to world security.

Terror attacks in major cities such as New York, London, and Madrid have caused world leaders to recognize the devastating effect of international terrorism. The internet has assisted in the growth and development of international terrorist organizations. Schmitt reveals that the internet plays a role in the recruitment and radicalization of terrorists in countries all over the world (1).

For example, radical clerics have been known to post radical sermons online and gain many followers all over the world. The radical messages have contributed to the prevalence of “home grown” terrorists who communicate hateful messages through the internet. In the Boston bombing incident, the two brothers are reported to have been influenced and radicalized by the Islamic Cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki whose sermons provided the motivation for their deadly attacks (Schmitt 1).

The al-Qaeda terror network is known to use the internet extensively to spread its hateful messages and inspire acts of terrorism against Western targets. Without the internet, terrorists would not have such an efficient medium through which to spread their messages. It is therefore conceivable that the world would be safer without the internet to facilitate the spread of international terrorism.

The internet has given governments the tools with which to engage in pervasive surveillance of their citizens. While we live in an open community where freedom is guaranteed, the government may want to keep track of its citizens. In the past, attempts by the governments to engage in surveillance have been met with resistance.

However, the internet has provided an efficient and cheap means for the governments to track people and keep records of their communication often without their consent. By gathering information from sources such as Internet Service Providers, search engines, and Social Networking Sites, the government can build profiles of individuals and invade privacy. A report by the CNN ominously warns that thanks to the internet, “our surveillance state is efficient beyond the wildest dreams of George Orwell” (Schneier 1).

The internet has made it possible for a person’s private information to be accessed and stored by third parties. The US government has engaged in spying activities on its own citizens without their consent or knowledge. The internet has therefore contributed to the dramatic infringement of personal privacy by the government and made our society less free.

The internet has played a part in the prevalence of moral decay by providing individuals with decadent material. The internet is the largest repository of information in the world. Among this information is material of a questionable moral caliber such as pornography. A report by the BBC states that four in every ten individuals who use the internet are subjected to pornographic material (1).

This report is corroborated by the fact that the pornography industry has grown into a multi-million dollar industry with many pornography websites appearing online. Pornography is damaging to the society since it leads to a pervasion of sexual acts and promotes acts of violence such as rape.

Reports indicate that many convicted rapists and child molesters cite pornography as a trigger to their damaging actions (BBC 1). Proponents of the internet argue that there was still decadent material in the society before the invention of the internet. They claim that photographic material could be obtained through magazines and even bootleg tapes. These claims are true since offensive material has been in the society since the invention of the printing press.

However, the spread of this material before the internet was restricted and it occurred in a regulated fashion. A report by the BBC reveals that since the arrival of the internet, “pornography is far more readily available and less regulated” (1). Without the internet, it would be harder for people to access pornographic material. The society would therefore be protected from the negative effects of this decadent material.

Advocates of the internet assert that is has contributed to the growth and development of society. Industries and Businesses have benefited from improved efficiency and effectiveness due to the internet. Increased productivity in organizations has resulted in economic growth, which is a desirable outcome for the society.

The internet has also enhanced scientific research and innovation by making it easy for various professionals to work collaboratively through the internet. It has increased the research abilities of various professionals therefore contributing to the development of our society. Knut asserts that the internet has served as an enabler for all forms of innovation in the society (1). This positive attributes of the internet are all true and the prevalence of the internet has greatly affected societies and the economy.

However, it should be noted that innovation and research would still have occurred even without the presence of the internet. Economic growth and prosperity was in action for decades before the advent of the internet. What the internet has done is increase the rate at which economic growth and technological advancement has taken place in society. It would therefore be wrong to assume that there would be no development if the internet was not invented.

While the internet has been hailed as the “most important technology” developed, it has led to much harm to society. This paper has argued that the world would be a better place if the internet had not been invented. To buttress this assertion, the paper has highlighted how the internet has contributed to the rising insecurity and violence in the world. The internet has made it easy for international terrorism organizations to expand their influence.

It has noted that governments can infringe upon the freedom of their citizens more efficiently because of the internet. The paper has also highlighted the contribution that the internet has played to moral decay. However, the paper has also acknowledged the positive contributions that the internet has played in society. Even so, the positive contributions are outweighed by the negative influences that the internet has had. It can therefore be declared that the society would be better off if the internet had never been invented.

BBC. The internet and Pornography . 2011. Web.

Knut, Blind. The Internet as Enabler for New Forms of Innovation: New Challenges for Research. 2011. Web.

Schmitt, Eric. Boston Plotters Said to Initially Target July 4 for Attack . 2013. Web.

Schneier, Bruce. The internet is a surveillance State . 2013. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, December 19). Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/has-the-internet-had-an-overall-positive-or-negative-effect-on-the-society/

"Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay." IvyPanda , 19 Dec. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/has-the-internet-had-an-overall-positive-or-negative-effect-on-the-society/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay'. 19 December.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/has-the-internet-had-an-overall-positive-or-negative-effect-on-the-society/.

1. IvyPanda . "Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/has-the-internet-had-an-overall-positive-or-negative-effect-on-the-society/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/has-the-internet-had-an-overall-positive-or-negative-effect-on-the-society/.

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Biden and Trump will debate on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know

Elena Moore

President Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off Thursday night in Atlanta. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Carlos Osorio/AP hide caption

President Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election on Thursday night in Atlanta.

It begins a new phase of the presidential race, less than five months out from Nov. 5, Election Day, as the matchup remains extremely tight. Biden and Trump stand virtually tied, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll , which echoes a months-long trend of recent national surveys.

The debate also breaks with campaign tradition, occurring months earlier than usual and with a new set of rules both candidates have agreed to, including no live audience. It’s also the first debate either candidate has participated in this campaign season. Biden largely ran unopposed, and Trump notably skipped the GOP primary debates.

Morning Edition

How biden is getting ready for his high-stakes debate with trump.

Here’s what you need to know about this first debate.

When and how to watch

The event starts at 9 p.m. ET and will run for 90 minutes. It will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and take place at the network’s studios in Atlanta.

The debate will be available on CNN and the streaming platform Max, formerly known as HBO. Viewers without a cable login can watch on CNN’s website .

You can follow NPR’s live blog for updates during the debate, as well as to watch the livestream CNN is making available to outside media organizations. That stream will include CNN's commercials and branding; NPR.org will carry that livestream as a public service.

Who will be there?

Biden and Trump are the only presidential candidates who qualified for the debate stage.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to meet the threshold , which required candidates to poll at 15% or higher in four national surveys and appear on enough state ballots that could theoretically push them past the needed 270 Electoral College votes to secure the presidency.

How is this debate different from those in the past?

Typically, presidential debates occur in front of a live audience, often in an event space on a college or university campus, and are coordinated by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).

But not this year. Both candidates have said they will not participate in the CPD’s previously scheduled and announced debates, lobbying for earlier matchups .

Instead, Biden and Trump will take part in Thursday’s debate on CNN and then a second in September hosted by ABC News.

Biden and Trump have agreed to the following rules :

• Microphones will be muted unless a candidate is directed to speak.
• Candidates are not allowed to bring prewritten notes or props. They will receive a pen and paper, as well as a bottle of water.
• A coin toss determined podium positions and the order of closing statements. According to CNN, Biden’s campaign won the coin toss and chose the podium to the viewers' right. As a result, the Trump team chose to deliver the final closing statement of the evening.

What to watch for

Candidates will likely speak to recent respective legal dramas. The debate comes about a month after Trump was found guilty of 34 criminal charges in New York. Biden’s son, Hunter, was convicted on felony gun charges in Delaware in mid-June and faces a second federal trial in September over failing to pay his taxes.

Biden will also likely address concerns over his age and ability to serve a second term. At 81, he is the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, and if elected for a second term, he would exit office at 86.

While the president has had public slipups throughout his first term, Trump, who is 78, has repeatedly criticized Biden’s mental ability , most recently speculating he should take a cognitive test. In that same speech, Trump incorrectly named the doctor who conducted his own cognitive exam while president.

On the issues, it’s expected the candidates will discuss the state of the economy and immigration policy, as both are consistently top issues for voters in national polling. It’s also possible the candidates will weigh in on international politics, given voters remain divided on whether the U.S. should be sending military aid to Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars.

The debate may also be an opportunity for Biden to address his decreasing support, when compared to 2020, among key parts of his base, notably Blacks and Latinos and young voters .

Trump is losing some ground among older voters, and the Biden campaign is trying to capitalize on that . Plus, the former president may still need to repair relations with Nikki Haley supporters who remain uncertain about backing him again.

What's next?

Trump will likely announce his pick for vice president in the coming weeks. There will also be a vice presidential debate this summer. The date has not been finalized, but Vice President Harris agreed to one held on either July 23 or Aug. 13.

On the legal front, Trump will appear for sentencing in his criminal trial on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 15 in Milwaukee. A month later, the Democratic National Convention will kick off on Aug. 19 in Chicago.

Trump and Biden will debate for a second time on Sept. 10.

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Crime and Public Safety | Judge presses prosecutor over special counsel’s…

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Crime and public safety | supreme court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors, crime and public safety, subscriber only, crime and public safety | judge presses prosecutor over special counsel’s ‘legitimacy’ in trump classified documents case, she also questions u.s. attorney general’s role in bringing indictment related to mar-a-lago.

A long-standing Trump motion questioning Smith’s appointment is among multiple efforts by the defense to dismiss an indictment brought in June 2023 that the ex-president left office in 2021 with large numbers of classified documents that did not belong to him. Along with two employee co-defendants, he is also charged with obstructing government efforts to retrieve the documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Neither Trump nor the co-defendants — personal valet Waltine Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira — appeared in court Friday. Their absence left the streets outside the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States Courthouse devoid of the dozens of supporters who normally rally on his behalf when Trump appears in court.

But there were newcomers who appeared in court Friday — namely third-party lawyers allowed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to present legal arguments over the special counsel issue on behalf of both Trump and the prosecution team. Attorneys from two conservative legal organizations, including one headed by former Attorney General Edwin Meese Jr., who served under President Ronald Reagan, argued for Trump. A single lawyer appeared on behalf of law professors, former attorneys general and governors supporting the government position.

The “shadow government” reference was made by Trump attorney Emil Bove, who has assisted New York attorney Todd Blanche in both the Florida documents case and the business records fraud case in New York where a jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts.

“That sounds very ominous,” Cannon told Bove. “But what do you really mean?”

Bove did not elaborate, but reiterated that Smith was improperly appointed and that there should be another hearing to include issues such as the relationship between U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Smith, and the independence of Smith.

Cannon noted Smith still must adhere to a set of Justice Department rules, but the defense lawyer insisted Smith lacks supervision,

Prosecutors countered there was nothing improper or out of the ordinary about Smith’s appointment, with government lawyer James Pearce defending the government’s conduct under sharp questioning from Cannon at the end of the day.

“We are following all of the rules of the Justice Department,” he said. “We have complied with all of the department’s policies.”

Hearings continuing

Cannon did not issue any ruling Friday. She is not expected to reach a decision until after a second segment of the special counsel arguments concerning financial appropriations are concluded on Monday. As the Friday hearing ended, she placed Pearce on the defensive with questions about what oversight role Garland — who appointed Smith — had in seeking the indictment against Trump.

She also wanted to know what consultations the attorney general might have participated in with the special counsel’s office before charges were brought.

Pearce said he was not in a position to answer. But he also replied: “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m hiding something.”

The discussion on Friday ranged from the question of who acts as Smith’s boss to decades-old precedents involving previous special prosecutors.

Smith’s team has insisted that Garland, as head of the U.S. Justice Department, was empowered to appoint Smith and to delegate prosecutorial decisions to him.

Lawyers noted that the history of using special counsels dates back to 1870 during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant, whose term was marred by the so-called Whiskey Ring scandal involving distillers, IRS agents and Treasury clerks.

Subsequent administrations used them to deal with other corruption cases including bribery and bid rigging at the U.S. Post Office in the 1880s, and the Teapot Dome oil scandal of the 1920s.

Lawyers arguing on behalf of Trump argued that throughout the years, regulatory language authorizing special counsels had been vague and imprecise, and that judges had given administrations a pass when appointments were challenged.

The Trump defense argues that Smith was illegally appointed in November 2022 by Garland because he was not confirmed by Congress and the special counsel office that he was assigned to lead was not created by Congress.

Prosecutors note a similar argument failed in a challenge to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, picked by the Trump administration Justice Department to probe possible links between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Developments in the case

The arguments before Cannon unfolded a day after the New York Times reported that the judge was reportedly asked by two other Southern District of Florida judges to step aside from the case in favor of a more experienced jurist. Cannon was said to have rejected the suggestions, according to anonymous attorneys quoted by newspaper.

On Tuesday, Cannon is scheduled to hear arguments on whether a federal judge in Washington, D.C. improperly allowed testimony from one-time Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran, under a crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege. Smith has alleged Trump misled the lawyer during his bid to obstruct the government’s  investigation.

Trump and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Critics of the judge assert that Cannon has effectively bought into a defense strategy of delaying a trial until after the November presidential election. She has conducted lengthy hearings on issues, they say, that most other judges would have quickly ruled upon after reviewing written motions filed with the court.

Instead, Cannon canceled a May 20 start date for a trial, declaring there is a myriad of pretrial issues to decide, including more than a half-dozen motions to dismiss, as well as a variety of disputes between Trump’s lawyers and the prosecutors over the handling of classified documents at trial.

Recently, the judge has rejected some dismissal motions, saying it is too early in the proceedings to consider them, or more appropriately presented as jury instructions.

The defense had challenged counts related to obstruction and false statements that they said were duplicative and prejudicial. But Cannon said in an order that “the identified deficiencies, even if generating some arguable confusion, are either permitted by law, raise evidentiary challenges not appropriate for disposition at this juncture, and/or do not require dismissal even if technically deficient, so long as the jury is instructed appropriately and presented with adequate verdict forms as to each Defendants’ alleged conduct.”

Previously the judge rejected other motions to dismiss, including one that suggested that Trump was authorized under the Presidential Records Act to keep the documents with him after he left the White House in 2021 and to designate them as his own.

More critics of gag order request

Still, there are more third parties headed for Fort Pierce to opine on other issues, the latest being the government’s motion to impose a gag order against  Trump from denouncing FBI agents in public over their search for documents at Mar-a-Lago.

Late Thursday, Cannon green-lighted a filing backing Trump by America First Legal, a Washington-based nonprofit foundation headed by former West Wing senior adviser Stephen Miller.

The foundation said in a filing with the court that it “has a special interest in protecting First Amendment liberties like those at issue in this case.”

“Most importantly,” the foundation added, it “writes to protect the freedom of a major party presidential candidate in the upcoming election to speak freely on matters affecting politics and government—core areas of First Amendment expression.”

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Ukraine needs to stop fighting the war Russia wants

• Ukraine is trapped in a strategy that favors Russia, a Ukrainian security expert argues.
• Without a grand strategy for victory, the most that Ukraine can do is try to hold on.
• "The lack of a strategy for victory will turn this war into a war of attrition," Oleksandr Danylyuk told BI.

Ukraine is caught in a strategic trap. It barely has the strength to keep Russia from making major advances, yet it is not strong enough to eject Russian forces from the territory it held prior to the 2022 invasion. The result is a war of attrition that Ukraine can't win.

The solution? Build up Ukrainian military power and compel Russia to agree to peace, argues a Ukrainian security expert. But that can't happen unless Ukraine devises a grand strategy that extends beyond mere survival that's characterized much of the war in 2024 as Russia exploited the long delay of US arms support.

"The lack of a strategy for victory will turn this war into a war of attrition for Ukraine, which completely coincides with Russian interests," Oleksandr Danylyuk told Business Insider.

Danylyuk dismisses the notion that even with Western aid, Ukraine can match Russia in the sheer numbers of military power like tanks, artillery and troops. "Trying to win a war with Russia at the expense of only a symmetrical mass increase is a flawed strategy, given that Russia has a larger number of [military-age] human reserves (about 30 million people in Russia, compared to about 8 million people in Ukraine), significant stockpiles of weapons and military equipment inherited from the USSR or built by 2022, as well as a developed defense-industrial complex and a powerful mining industry that satisfies its needs for a significant amount of strategic materials," he wrote in an essay for the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank.

That leaves improving the quality of Ukraine's military. But this involves more than better weapons and tactics. Danylyuk argues that political mobilization is just as important, a view that seems reminiscent of the 19th Century German military philosopher Carl von Clausewitz, who envisioned a nation's war effort as a trinity comprised of the people, government and military.

"The political effectiveness of a military organization consists of its ability to receive financial support, the provision of weapons and military equipment, and the replenishment of human forces in the volume and quality necessary to eliminate existing threats," Danylyuk wrote. However, "the political effectiveness of the [Armed Forces of Ukraine] remains insufficient, as Ukraine's defense needs are currently only partially met."

Danylyuk blames Western restrictions on the types of weapons being supplied, and how they can be used. The US and Europe have long imposed restraints on using long-range weapons, such as ATACMS long-range guided rockets , to hit targets deep inside Russia. Only recently has the Biden administration begun to relax that policy . Easy victories with Western weapons have failed to materialize as the war has dug in. It's also clear that even with robust EU and US support, Ukraine is still at a disadvantage against the Russian war machine in a years-long fight.

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Danylyuk also worries that political divergences between Ukraine and its allies are undermining Ukrainian military effectiveness. Ukraine's current government wants to liberate all occupied territory, which is "undeniably fair and rational, but it ignores the fact that the liberation of territory does not necessarily mean the end of the war," he wrote. On the other hand, US and European desires for a negotiated settlement "will be viewed by Russia as a tactical respite which can be used to restore and build capabilities and plan a new phase of aggression."

In other words, Russia could exploit a peace deal to rebuild its battered forces before launching another invasion of Ukrainian lands.

The result is that the Ukrainian military isn't sure what kind of war to prepare for. "The AFU are in an extremely difficult situation, as the political leaderships of both Ukraine and its partner countries see these goals in different ways, which negatively affects the ability of the AFU to develop and implement a military strategy aimed at achieving them," wrote Danylyuk.

Without a grand strategy for victory, the most that Ukraine can do is hold its own, Danylyuk told Business Insider. "The planning of individual operations, the assessment and provision of the needs of the AFU, the development of training programs and preparation, and the introduction of new tactical techniques can at best support Ukraine's ability to conduct the war, but not to win it."

There are too many competing visions of Ukrainian victory, he argues. These include retaking all lost Ukrainian territory, threatening Russia's hold on Crimea to force it into negotiations, punishing Russian industry and exports to try to force Russians to reconsider the war's costs, or exacting such a heavy toll that Russian leaders are compelled to withdraw similar to the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan.

Danylyuk does fault Ukraine for some military mistakes, such as failure to adequately prepare and train for the failed counteroffensive against well-entrenched Russian forces in summer 2023. But he considers tactical improvements to be at the bottom of Ukraine's to-do list.

The West can boost Ukrainian military power by focusing on weapons that have already proven devastating against Russian vulnerabilities, according to Danylyuk. This includes cheap naval drones that have sunk numerous Russian warships and driven Russia's Black Sea Fleet from the Ukrainian coast, as well as giving Ukraine more Western aircraft and air-to-air missiles to contest Russian airpower.

Interestingly, Danylyuk blames the West for failing to adapt its equipment to the lessons of the Ukraine war. "This concerns, first of all, their ability to quickly improve military equipment not only because Ukraine needs it, but also because the security of the partners themselves depends on its improvement. The current pace of this improvement is completely unsatisfactory, and the approaches to identifying and eliminating the shortcomings of such systems require a complete revision."

Danylyuk's analysis does leave some questions unanswered. For example, as the Germans discovered on the Eastern Front in World War II, quality doesn't always triumph over quantity. And as Ukraine's failed 2023 counteroffensive demonstrated, achieving decisive battlefield success is no easy matter . With Russian society mobilized for total war, and with Moscow able to procure resources from allies such as China, North Korea and Iran, Russia's ability to wage a long war is considerable.

Also, choosing a grand strategy is easier said than done. For example, the Ukrainian government vows to liberate all occupied territory, including the Crimean peninsula and eastern Ukraine which Russia has annexed. Some critics say this is unrealistic, and Ukraine will have to accept some loss of territory.

Whatever strategy Kyiv chooses, Danylyuk argues, it can't be the status quo.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn .

Watch: What's next for the war in Ukraine?

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Remembering Willie Mays as Both Untouchable and Human

Mays, who died on Tuesday at 93, had been perfect for so long that the shock of seeing baseball get the best of him was the shock of seeing a god become mortal.

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By Kurt Streeter

At the end, the Say Hey Kid looked nothing like the extraordinary force who had been at the center of the American imagination for much of the 20th century.

The Kid — Willie Mays — struggled at the plate and stumbled on the basepaths. A line drive arced his way, easily catchable for Mays during most of his career. But he fell. Another outfield mistake caused the game to be tied in the ninth inning.

He was a creaky-kneed 42 years old on that October afternoon, Game 2 of the 1973 World Series — Mays’s New York Mets in Oakland facing the A’s. On the grandest stage, the ravages of time had settled upon the game’s most gilded star.

That he would redeem himself at the plate three innings later is often forgotten. The unthinkable had happened. Mays had not only failed, he had appeared lost, clumsy and out of sorts.

The shock of seeing him that way would linger long past his playing days as a warning: Don’t be like Willie Mays, sticking around too long, stumbling in center field, a shadow of his former self. Such became the axiom, uttered in so many words by everyone from politicians to business leaders to commentators weighing in on great athletes who yearn to play into their twilight.

Quit before it is too late.

In retirement, Mays, who died on Tuesday at 93, did his best to ignore the game that would be his last. But there is another way to view its echoes.

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