How Power Operates on the Internet

"Power operates in many ways on the Internet, let's take one example, that of Internet access, to discuss power"

Okay here are some basic ideas/notes if you will. From the top of my head - (no references, entirely my opinion and I may actually change my position on some of these things at a later point in time.)

Firstly, I think power is often constructed in so far as how much access a person has to something desireable and its parameters can often be defined by things like limits to when, what (sites), how much, and where you are able access the Internet.

I think the most striking factors that influence limitations on internet access may include things that require monetary input such as hardware, internet plans, access to broadband, software, applications or net user groups that require a fee. There are also restrictions that are incurred based on users adherence to certain terms and conditions and the ability to read social norms and fit within a certain community culture. There will be groups who have more power base based on their level of technological literacy, value systems or skills base. Skills and knowledge become a basis for a economy as well as actual money, these allow users to access specific privileges and interact with elite societies or membership within those groups.

It is possible to transgress limits within a group by failing to comply with the groups terms and conditions and legal requirements, such as inappropriate use of pornography or a breach of a human rights issue. Outside of these standards that are usually found across the board, members can be ostracised for failing to accurately read and fit within cultural and social norms within a group. This can result in lack of access to that facility or item.

People may have quite elitist or specific values and may find ways of restricting your access or online participation through various means. Users are able to ostracise certain members because they fail to conform with the values inherent in that site and so can find ways of excluding them from “secret” activity that is more highly valued then regular net activity, such exclusion leads participants to have less knowledge and thus less literacy. They can form secret user groups for those who have more of a valuable commodity such as the factors that often contribute to class construction such as the appearance, financialThe Confession: A Novel