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Who is the internet for?

Shows a computer titled "web accessibility" with multiple strings reaching out with different handicap logos, depicting accessible internet.

Openness

Why?

Open Internet is a great way to showcase answers to problems may have. It’s also great for people looking up tutorials on how to do something like fix a sink leak or how to build a specific item from IKEA, like this guy who showed how to build the MICKE desk. Having open internet is crucial to collaborate on others ideas, and have them give ideas with yours.

How?

YouTube is a great example of open internet. Anyone is free to upload content to YouTube for free. The baseline, basic videos, anyone can watch for free as well. Granted there will be ads, but watching the videos, commenting under them, subscribing to channels is all free to do.

Accessibility

Decorative image

Why?

Having accessible Internet is beneficial for everyone. Anyone using the internet to do research, complete homework, or just watching YouTube for fun should be able to no matter if they have a disability. The videos or webpages could also reach a broader range of viewers if more people could access it fully.

How?

As we previously discussed the “cut-curb effect,” everyone should have access to accessible internet. Whether it’s adding closed captions on videos, or adding text-to-speech on pictures. Even though they were intentionally put there for people with disabilities, an able-bodied person could use it and find they like it better that way.

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Lauren Foley

Lauren is a senior biomedical sciences major at the University of Mary Washington. She is on the volleyball team, which she has been a part of for going on four years now. She is originally from Virginia Beach, and she graduated from First Colonial High School in 2021. She enjoys reading and hanging out with friends in her free time.

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Alberta

 Alberta is currently a senior at the University of Mary Washington. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) program with a major in leadership and management. She has worked in the health sector for more than 15 years. She enjoys cooking and reading, and also connect with others that have similar interests. She lives in Fredericksburg and like helping people and volunteering in community and church activities. She very careful but hard working, proactive and do not rush into taking decisions or actions. She like family values and principles that help with a cohesive family.

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“Unmasking the Web: Deciphering What’s Real on the Internet”

Disinformation and the weaponization of the internet.

Being a political science major, naturally I had to look at the impact disinformation has on politics and security. Normally, most people’s common interaction with falsities on the internet comes in the form of pranks or trolling. However, disinformation can be significantly more harmful to people than putting glue in your pizza (at least the Google AI specified non-toxic). Countries opposed to the United States and non state actors can use social media and other websites to attempt to influence US politics. This was evident in the 2016 Presidential election, when Russia used Facebook, Twitter and other platforms to circulate false information regarding election integrity. Bots and troll farms post hundreds of false, inflammatory, or controversial statements with the intent of sowing division in the United States and increasing political polarization. For further information, Stanford University published a guide to disinformation and how to spot it.

How A.I. impacts disinformation.

A.I. as a tool of propaganda.

A.I. essentially multiplies the amount of disinformation and misinformation that can be spread. Hostile actors intentionally spreading disinformation is not new, but 20 years ago you had to have a human sitting behind a computer thinking of and writing fake news stories, articles, posts, etc. But, with the advent and increasingly rapid availability of A.I. software, that person behind the computer simply has to enter in a prompt and A.I. will take it from there. More recently, the use of A.I. to falsify pictures or videos can greatly increase the speed at which these are developed and circulated. Using A.I. does not require a camera crew and video editors to produce a false video. It can also create very realistic deepfakes of people, and have that person say false, or inflammatory statements. Stanford once again has excellent information regarding the use of A.I. for the purposes of spreading propaganda.

Using Copilot

My interaction with Copilot A.I. 

You
Sent by you:
Generate me a title for blogpost about "what is real on the internet?"

Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Sure! Here are a few title ideas for your blog post:
“Unmasking the Web: Deciphering What’s Real on the Internet”
“Truth vs. Fiction: Navigating Reality in the Digital Age”
“The Internet’s Illusions: How to Spot Real from Fake”
“Digital Deception: Understanding Authenticity Online”
“Fact or Fabrication? A Guide to Internet Realities”
Do any of these resonate with you?

You
Sent by you:
Can you provide more options?

Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Absolutely! Here are some additional title ideas for your blog post:
“Internet Realities: Separating Fact from Fiction Online”
“Behind the Screen: What’s Real on the Internet?”
“Virtual Veracity: Identifying Truth in the Digital World”
“The Reality Check: Unveiling Truths on the Web”
“Navigating the Web: How to Discern Real from Fake”
“Digital Truths: What’s Authentic on the Internet?”
“The Internet’s Mirage: Finding Authenticity in a Sea of Information”
**"Fact-Checking the Web: A Guide to Online Authenticity

Why I chose my title.

I chose my title because I liked the imagery evoked by “unmasking the web”. To me, this felt like a good title as I highlight throughout my blogpost some ways countries can use the web and A.I. as a weapon for political gain. I’d like to imagine that by exposing these harmful disinformation actors it has almost as much effect as unmasking a villain in Scooby Doo does. I believe this title falls a little bit to the right on the truth spectrum. I believe it is an exaggerated title, dramatizing what is honestly a basic informative post into what someone would think would be a much more in depth look into disinformation. However, I believe the title does not mislead the audience, but more so increases engagement.

Image of a robot representing AI typing on a keyboard.
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The Internet’s Double-Edged Sword: Fact vs. Fiction

False and Inaccurate Information on the Web

Have you ever paid attention to the number of pages there are when you scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page of search results? Some search engines even make the first blob of words on the screen when you search something “1-20 of 879,000 results,” for example. In a day and age where we have so much information literally at our fingertips, it can be hard to decipher what is correct and true to what isn’t among these hundreds of thousands of search results, especially when its easier than ever for anyone to upload to the web. Without any way to see who is posting what (a good bit of the time), we have no way of knowing or seeing who is behind a screen, knowing their intentions, or any certifications or qualifications they may or may not have. This is why your parents said, “don’t believe everything you see on the internet!” The American Psychological Association does a well job at further breaking down misinformation and disinformation in this article.

AI and Misinformation and Disinformation on the Web

It’s 2022 and your roommate just asked you if you’ve heard about that new artificial intelligence chat bot, “ChatGPT.” You look quite literally flabbergasted as she describes what it is and even pulls it up to show you on her phone in two seconds. Conveniently enough, you happen to be in the middle of writing a paper for class. You can’t wait to use this new tool to help you. You give it your paper prompt, ask it for some talking points, and hit enter. You’re surprised to see that most of what it gave you was…less than stellar.

It’s crucial to remember that AI tools do not “think” or have any real understanding (or however Professor Cartland said it), they generate responses by mimicking patterns from their training data. When a text AI like the ChatGPT I was using receives a prompt, it produces responses based on patterns found in similar texts, such as articles and web searches. While these responses may appear accurate, they can sometimes be false, outdated, or nonsensical, a phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” like the result it gave me that day. Good thing I fact checked!

Copilot Interaction

Me:

i have an assignment, heres the prompt: Write a post reflecting on the question "What is real on the internet?" Include a link to at least one online source that supports your take. Don't use any sources I shared or assigned. Use at least two sections divided by headings One section should talk about some reasons behind false and inaccurate information on the web the title i came up with for the assignment is "why the internet is two faced." could you give me some more title options please?

Copilot: Sure, I’d be happy to help! Here are some alternative title options for your assignment:

“The Dual Nature of the Internet: Truth and Deception”

“Navigating Reality in the Digital Age”

“The Internet’s Double-Edged Sword: Fact vs. Fiction”

“Unmasking the Internet: What’s Real and What’s Not”

“The Internet’s Mirage: Distinguishing Truth from Lies”

“Digital Realities: The Battle Between Fact and Fabrication”

“The Internet’s Illusions: Understanding Online Authenticity”

“Truth in the Web: Separating Reality from Deception”

“The Internet’s Facade: Exploring Online Truths and Falsehoods”

“Virtual Veracity: The Quest for Truth on the Internet”

Feel free to choose any of these or mix and match elements to create a title that best fits your vision for the assignment! If you need further assistance with the content, just let me know.

Me: these are so good! thank you so much

Copilot: You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked them. If you need any more help with your assignment or anything else, feel free to ask. Good luck with your writing! 😊

Why this title?

I chose this title versus the other ones because 1) I thought Cartland might chuckle at internet with a capital “I” and 2) because I thought if the language was eye catching to me, it would be eye catching to other people. In addition, some of the other options were too jargony. Almost like they were trying too hard. I think my title falls in the middle, leaning left on the spectrum of truth and accuracy in communication.


A face is split down the middle, one side with normal human features while the other side looks like a robot. Icons of gadgets and gizmos surround the face.
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Who is the Internet For?

Openness

Decorative Image

Why?

Making content open and accessible allows for greater reach and impact. The web’s openness allows for collaboration, which increases the overall quality of any information or creation. Individuals can also look to others for inspiration to create their own work. The internet’s ability to share and learn increases collaboration and inspiration, enhancing users’ knowledge and creative works.

How?

There are a few ways to make the Internet more collaborative. One example includes using Open-Source Code. This code allows anyone with a computer to edit or add information to make an article more inclusive or correct any wrong information. This means that no special qualifications or access are required to contribute. Wikipedia is famous for using Open-Source Code, you can see it in action in this Wikipedia article about Cats

Accessibility

Scene from The Lego Movie where Emmett forgets to put clothes on before leaving the house. The closed captions read: "Wear Clothes. I almost forgot."

Why?

Providing accessible content is morally right because it makes the Internet more inclusive and easier to use. Making content accessible also ensures that people with disabilities can access and understand the information, which allows for a more inclusive and diverse audience reach. Lastly, many countries have laws requiring web accessibility to prevent ableism.

How?

Accessibility on the Internet takes many forms. One example is adding closed captions to movies, episodes, and YouTube videos, such as the picture above. Another example includes color contrast, which ensures that text is easy to read for people with vision impairments. Both of these examples not only make the Internet more accessible but also improve the user experience for everyone.

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Who is the Internet for?

Openness

a computer with an open book as the screen sits in front of a blue background with a digital design beneath. above the image the caption reads "Access to Information and Knowledge" the caption below the image reads "Better Internet Series"

WHY?

Openness of online resources allows for a collaboration of efforts. People from all over the world can offer insight or help fix mistakes and errors. It can also serve as a blueprint for others to create their own work. Overall, it allows for a connected virtual community of people to create and share work.

HOW?

One can achieve openness of their work through public posts. For example, posting public code, reviews, or even YouTube videos outlining how to fix or create something. Anyone with access to the internet can use this information to guide their decisions or build off of what the original creator has done. Here is an example of an instructional YouTube video on how to cut your own hair: Hairdressers Guide to Cutting Your Own Hair.

Accessibility

a big circle comprised of four smaller circles surrounds a computer screen. the top circle contains an eye, the circle to the right contains a hand, with the finger clicking, the bottom circle contains a head with the brain highlighted, and the circle to the left contains an ear

WHY?

Accessibility allows for the information to reach a wider audience, as it can now be appreciated even by those with disabilities. It is also commonly a legal requirement, so in order to prevent potential lawsuits, your work must be mostly accessible to all. Lastly, needless to say, it is morally the right thing to do.

HOW?

Accessibility of information comes in many forms, for example: including captions or a written account of what was described, alternative text for a photo, and using headers to organize the text. Nevertheless, it is not possible to ensure perfect accessibility, but we should ensure that it is accessible to the best of our ability.

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Jennie

Jennie is currently a senior at the University of Mary Washington. She will be completing her final semester in December and will receive her Bachelor of Liberal Studies with a concentration in Leadership and Management. She has been married for 24 years and has two grown sons and one daughter-in-law. She has been working at her local social services for 13 years and loves her job.

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Charlotte

Charlotte is currently a sophomore at the University of Mary Washington. She hopes to declare her major in Psychology and is currently working for the City’s Parks & Rec department as a Program Coordinator for after-school programs. Other than that she likes to take shifts working the farmer’s market downtown because of the quaint towny people and the loud cicadas she didn’t get to enjoy in her hometown of Portland OR.

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