67.Information

Q1 Is it good if people could have more access to information in the future?

Ans- Well, on the one hand, I think more access to information would be a great thing. The more info people have, the better decisions they can make in their personal and professional lives. For example, being able to access medical studies or research data could help people make smarter health choices. It would also make education a lot more accessible, with online courses and resources available to everyone, no matter where they live or how much money they have. Plus, having more information about global issues, like the environment or politics, would help people understand the world better and take action. But, ON THE FLIP SIDE, it could be a problem if all information were made available. Some things shouldn't be freely accessible. For example, personal data could lead to privacy violations or identity theft. Sensitive government information, like military plans or intelligence data, could put national security at risk. And if personal health or financial information were shared too easily, it could lead to discrimination or exploitation. So, while having more information can be great, there are definitely some things that need to be kept secure to protect people and societies.

Q2 Does the development of the Internet have any impact on disadvantaged people?

Ans- It depends on whether or not these people have access to the Internet. Those who gained access to the Internet services benefit a lot 'cause the Internet helps them seek employment opportunities, conduct remote work, and participate in online educational activities. And when people obtain information and acquire skills, they become more competitive in the labor market and increase their income. So we can say that Internet access can help people escape poverty. But many poor people still remain offline. As far as I know, about four billion people don't have a connection to the internet. And most of these people are in developing countries. So it's obvious that the Internet doesn't have any impact on them.

Q3 What information can people get from television?

Ans- Well, I think that people can get absolutely any information from TV nowadays. For example, they can open up the world by learning about different people, places, cultures and even ideas they might never encounter in real life. Also, they can get updated information about what is going on in their country and in the world, which helps them stay informed 24 by 7. And of course, they can get instructions on how to cook a variety of dishes and even on how to create and repair something in their houses themselves.

Q4 What are the ways of getting information nowadays?

Ans- Well, I think the most popular way of getting new information today is the Internet. I'm sure that almost anything that you could ever need to know is available on the World Wide Web. One of the best tools for finding what you need is search engines such as Google and Yandex as well as social media such as Facebook and Twitter. There are also plenty of digital magazines, specialised online libraries and all kinds of text and video news websites which can provide you with any information you need. One more way of getting information is different types of educational or motivational events, trainings and seminars, either amateur or professional. They are usually held by one or a few speakers who share their experience in different areas of life with those who need some knowledge or just look for an inspiring example. Oh, I almost forgot to mention such tools as live streaming apps and communication with people.

Q5 How can people check whether a piece of information online is correct or not?

Ans- Well, I guess, first of all, they should make sure that they get it only from sites or sources associated with trusted institutions that have a proven track record or reliability and integrity, or from sites with expertise, I mean the ones that specialist in the kind of information they need to check. Also, they can verify information by checking the author's credentials, or looking up the info in offline sources as they tend to be more reliable than online sources.

Q6 Do people trust information online?

Q7 Why do some people NOT trust information online?

Ans- Well, I don't think they do as, regrettably, there is no quality assurance when it comes to information found on the Internet. Anyone can post anything online and, in most cases, this information isn't checked for accuracy, which discredits its reliability making people think that it is rather biased than impartial as well as rather incorrect than correct. Though, I am more than sure that everyone has their own list of websites they trust, otherwise, Internet wouldn't be as popular and widely-used as it is.

Q8 Will libraries be replaced by the Internet?

Q9 Are libraries still necessary?

Ans- Well, I don't think so, at least not in the coming years as nowadays the Internet gives just a small percentage of what is published. And the most reliable scholarly information is available only in books and journals. What's more, the Internet is not organized and doesn't have quality control, which makes it difficult to find the information people can trust and refer to. So, to my mind, both the young and the old will get back to libraries for many years to come.