Life without the internet, a very new technology, seems almost unimaginable for most people in western nations. Today the internet is intrinsic to media and communications, entertainment, politics, defence, business, banking, education and administrative systems as well as to social interaction. The Internet disentangles this extraordinarily complex information and communication technology from its place in our daily lives, allowing it to be examined anew.

Technology has historically been shaped by governmental, military and commercial requirements, but the development of the internet is increasingly driven by its users. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and many other emerging applications are shifting the way we express ourselves, communicate with our friends, and even engage with global politics. At the same time three-quarters of the world's population remain effectively excluded from the internet.

Packed with case studies drawn from around the world, The Internet presents a clear and up-to-date introduction to the social, cultural, technological and political worlds this new media form is creating.

1. Introduction

2. Development of the Internet

3. Broadening the Social Context

4. Digital Divides?

5. Harnessing the Internet?

6. Regulation and Jurisdiction

7. Information and Culture in the Public Sphere

8. Community

9. The Internet in Family Life

10. Conclusion

Annotated Guide to Further Reading

Questions and Exercises

Bibliography

Index