Who Holds The Power...?

So it's me again, and the question I am going to address today is:

Does the power lie in the "Power Elite" creating and shaping technology or in the individual using technology for their own purposes? Can these be separated?

In my opinion, the answer to this question is BOTH. Thus, the power does lie in the "Power Elite" and it also lies in the individual using technology. In terms of technology, I want to focus on the Internet specifically. After a discussion in tutorial, we now know that the Internet originated from the military and ARPANET and was only used for educational and research purposes. Today, ANYONE has access to the Internet. The "Power Elite" defined as internet service providers (ISPs) and the government definitely play a huge role in creating and shaping technology. If the government does not allow Internet, then.....there will be no ISPs...and inevitably no Internet. Because the government has the power to control whether or not Internet access is available, then the power does lie in the hands of the Power Elite. However, the power lies in the hands of the users as well. Everyday people like you and I can access the Internet as long as we can find a connection. Once using the Internet, we can join communities, create communites, create websites, create blogs, play games, and even create virtual selves! The cognitive tools used for the Internet lie in the hands of the users. The tools are like an extension of the user. Therefore, if the tools lie in the hands of the users, the users can do anything they want with these tools. Because technology, the Internet specifically, allows the user so much freedom, the Internet empowers the user.

In the physical world, individuals must abide by rules and regulations set out by the government, or in this case we can refer to them as the "Power Elite." In the virtual world, users also have to abide by certain "terms of use agreements" before using a service. Thus, it can be seen that there is regulation both in the physical world and in the virtual world. HOWEVER, in the physical world, I must blatantly state that, the Power Elites hold most of the power, but when discussing the Internet, this is not necesarrily the case. Users have the power to join and create various different virtual communities, upload videos, pictures, express opinions just to name a few.......and the most intriguing part is that they can do this FREELY! All in all, in my opinion, both the Power Elite creating and shaping technology and in the hands of the individual users who are using technology (specifically the Internet) for their own purposes. Furthermore, who said the individual users can't belong to the Power Elite group??? What if they do?? Thus, the Power Elite and the user can't be separated. Without consent from the government, Internet access would not be available, and when it does become available, without the users, the Internet would be useless.....

signed,

g.i.a.c.w.