“Land of the free…” right? That is one of the main principles our country was founded on. If you become a resident of this country, or if you are lucky enough to have been born here, this is what you’re taught. Right? You live in a democracy whose government promotes this freedom and gives everyone the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Right?

Then why is the United States government so concernced with what you are doing on the internet?

This idea, that the governments role in passing laws and legislation that affects the way the internet is handled by its users, has gained more momentum and more attention as we enter into a generation fueled by “the cloud.” The web is different, though, than anything we have dealt with in the past. In the book Blown to Bits by Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen, and Harry Lewis, they state, “The U.S. Constitution largely protects the freedom to speak and the right to hear. Over and over, society has struggled to find a metaphor for electronic communication that captures the ways in which it is the same as the media of the past and the ways in which it is different” on page 231.

So what are we to think as users, when we don’t even really know how laws should apply? The authors break down that idea in their text, helping readers to understand how the internet is perceived, but it still leaves the users of the internet at a loss for words and ideas.

The first problem, is too many people not caring. There are too many people disregarding the actual rules that outline how the internet is to be used. Maybe a supplement to the first problem is how there isn’t really a website that lists the rules and regulatins of the internet like a giant sign you might see at the pool. This all becomes a blur when the rules are broken and someone has to be held accountable. Now granted, most of this rule-breaking involves some sick people doing things illegally, but the bottom line is that things are all fine and dandy until a finger is pointed in your face. Whether it’s plagiarism, hacking, fradulent activitiy, misuse of social media, etc. the list goes on. There are so many rules!

How can we fix this? How can people know what rules to follow and know what is right and wrong? Especially when the government is adding rules on top of rules and regulations on top of regulations. In layman’s terms. Use common sense. Understand your usage, and proceed with caution. If you’re on a site that seems sketchy or you woulnd’t want your kids or mom to see, maybe get off the internet. If you find yourself using the web for something that you woulnd’t be happy sharing with your classmates or friends, maybe reconsider. Listen to what’s being said around you. Those movies and songs you downloaded from a google search? Someone got arrested in Texas for that? Maybe not such a good idea after all. Sometimes, the best way to follow rules that you don’t know about, is to follow the rules of your gut feeling.