Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Blog 10 "Are People Better Informed in the Information Society"



Are people better informed in the information society? In the book Taking Sides author Alexander Hanson writes that there are only to sides to the issue. Yes or No. Alexander wrote about Linda Jackson who conducted an interview and Mark Bauerlein who also conducted an interview. Linda Jackson, "conducted a 16-month survey of Internet use by youth age 10 to 18 in low-income homes" (page 364).  She found that the youth who had internet had higher test scores and GPA's compared to students that did not have internet. Linda Jackson thinks Yes, people are better informed in the information society. Now Mark Bauerlein did a survey as well he thinks, "youth spend much of their leisure time in front of computer and television screens, but the information age has failed to produce a well-informed, thoughtful public. Instead we have a nation of know-nothings who don't read, follow politics, or vote-and who cant compete internationally" (page 364).Bauerlein's view is NO people are not better informed in the information society.  I think both have strong arguments to why people are or are not better informed in society. However, I think people are better informed. Today information is everywhere especially on the internet. People may not get the best coverage all the time but I do feel that as a entire whole society people are better informed and more connected in the information society. 

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