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Extreme Views on the Internet
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- Parent Category: Lower-Intermediate News Lessons
- Category: Science and Technology
- Written by Chris Cotter
People share opposite opinions and ideas less and less because of the Internet. It's easy to find websites, online newspapers and magazines, blogs, and forums which agree with your viewpoints. For example, if you believe global warming is a hoax, then there are more than one million websites. If you believe that the US government planned the 9/11 terrorist attacks, then there are more than seven million websites.
Without debate and discussion, imbalanced views are the result. People who have the same opinion have one-sided discussions and never hear opposite opinions. In other words, if a group of people discussed the benefits of the Kyoto Protocol, then almost everyone would support the treaty. Almost no one would talk about possible negatives. In addition, a person's confidence grows when other people don't disagree, and this leads to extreme views.
Discussions by large groups of people who agree with one another have the potential for good in the world, though. The Civil Rights Movement in the US is only one example. However, people could get together, become overconfident in their opinions, and yet be wrong.
Sociologists worry about less debate. Anyone who disagrees could be seen as the enemy in a future war of ideals and beliefs.
Preview some of the lesson material:
Warm Up: Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- The Internet is the most important invention of the modern world.
- The Internet is the most important invention ever.
- The Internet harms society.
- The Internet will cause problems for society in the future.
- I couldn't live without the Internet.
Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.
- People share opposite opinions and ideas less and less because...
- For example, if you believe global warming is a hoax, then...
- In addition, a person's confidence grows when other people don't disagree...
- Anyone who disagrees could be seen as the enemy in...
post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!
- What do you typically use the Internet for? Please explain.
- Do you often visit sites and read through other opinions which disagree with you?
- Do you agree that people are becoming more extreme? Why/not?
- If sociologists are correct, what can be done to prevent such extreme views?
- Do you agree with the sociologists? Why/not?
Google Search: Type "extremists" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.
