On my trip to India over winter break, I noticed something very unusual over there. Mass media, especially the internet, is as popular there as it is here, maybe even more.
Looking at the streets and villages at the places my family visited, it was common to see people living with torn clothes, dirty hair and skin, as India is a large, third world country with almost half of its population living under the poverty line. At the same time, I saw some of those people using cell phones, driving mopeds, or waiting in huge lines at internet cafes. Furtermore, every street corner had billboards for various electronics and technological services.
At first I kept thinking to myself, “Why would these guys waste what little money they have on the internet and phones?” Big business targets India as its population is large and they obliviously demand the best products out there. However, the phone and internet companies price their products differently in India, so those in the lower class can use the technology.
Finally, the answer hit me. For Indians, and for other poor citizens of third world countries, the internet is more than just a place to play games and look up information; it’s a gateway for them. They cannot travel far, their schools are inadequate, but they still want to learn and see the world out there. The internet is the best solution, because with the click of a button they can get a vast amount of information and news.
My cousins, who are not living in poverty, use the internet all of the time. They love the fact that they can see sports scores of their favorite local and international teams, and see the world, so to say, with Google Earth. If they get such a kick out of the internet with a cable modem (yes, broadband access is widely available there), I can’t image how underprivileged children feel when they first use visit a website with a low powered dial-up. With all they have, or don’t have, the internet is heaven.
So, next time you see a poor person talk on a cell phone or type away on a laptop, don’t scorn them, congratulate them. They're taking their first step towards a better future.
Julia Song @ Tue, 02/28/2006 - 3:21pm
I agree with you that the Internet can be a gateway for some people. I remember this one time when I visited Korea, I was watching TV and saw the campaigns to raise funds to provide the Internet services to people in poverty or those living in isolated regions. For them, the Internet may be the only way to communicate with the outside world and to even educate themselves. We take it for granted and don't think about it, but there are some places that don't even have teachers or schools. And the Internet may provide them with opportunities that they would never have otherwise.