I saw this video a few weeks ago asking people if they would give up the internet for the rest of their lives in exchange for a million dollars. You can check it out here. The results aren’t too surprising given the “rest of your life” condition.
Then I saw this report from Cisco that indicated 1 in 3 college students consider the internet to rank right up there with 
air, food, water and shelter. You can see the full report here. I wonder if this is because today’s students have grown up with access to the internet.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m old enough to remember life before Al Gore invented the internet. (LOL!) So you’d think I’d be okay going old school and giving it up. But I’m not. Like many people, I rely on the internet…a lot. And I admit that, like many people, I get really cranky when I go somewhere and they don’t have reliable internet access.
Does this mean the internet is changing? What once was a benefit is now an entitlement? Or maybe it’s like water and electricity – we all need it but have to pay for it.
Let me know your thoughts on this:
Would you give up the internet for a million dollars? What about 10 million dollars?
Is access to the internet a benefit or an entitlement?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Look forward to the discussion!
Image courtesy of codiceinternet
Umi says
I personally think its impossible since it’ll be incredibly difficult to track if the person has actually given up the internet – I mean even if i said i’ve given up the internet how do u ensure that i still dont use it from time to time especially when i’m in posession of a million dollars – I can always pay for a hack for whatever kind of tracking app they use to make sure i dont access the internet. Truly though the internet ranks up there with food and water
Patricia Lotich says
I don’t know, I think it might be easier for me to live without electricity than the internet. Unless of course there is a Starbucks close by!
But could I give it up for 10 million? Yup! I’d sit on a beach somewhere and probably not care about too much! :0
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Brendan – Yes, I can see how we might be in the middle of the shift from benefit to entitlement. Your point about business use making it a necessity is spot on. Thanks for the comment.
@Umi – Thanks for sharing!
@Patricia – Agreed, $10M and a nice quiet beach … I might join you! Ha.ha. Thanks for the comment.
Katherine Razzi says
Hi Sharon,
I don’t think I could live without the internet even though I’m always hard up for cash! Funny about the internet when you think about it. It’s turned into part of my brain…the lazy side. There are times I cannot recall a name, movie title, the answer to a puzzle I ‘m too lazy to work out myself, and the list goes on to infinity because as we all know, everything is on the internet!
The internet has always fascinated me, but the thought of it being a crutch for those of us who can’t think on our own without it really blows my mind! What’s happening to us?
Keep that brain exercised!
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks for the comment. Being able to find information on the internet is a skill unto itself. 😉