The Internet and Community Development

How important is the Internet? In 15 years or so of mainstream use, the Internet has been a game changer for society. Simultaneously reducing geographic boundaries, increasing universal access to  knowledge and connecting people around the world instantly, the Internet has changed how we work, learn, play and communicate. It has also changed the face of local development and decision-making. 

Businesses and organizations, including communities are constantly trying to harness the latest Internet trend, as each evolution completely reshaped the playing field, from static websites and our emails in the mid 1990's to Facebook and twitter today. 20 years ago people used telephones and printed materials as their primary source of communication and information - today emails and digital content are the norm. 5 years ago most of us were just learning about social networking - today it has become a dominant source of news, entertainment and of course socializing. To put the growth and importance of social networking in context, Facebook, the top social network, now has more than 750 million users, more than 10% of the world's population (Wikipedia). 

In terms of community development, computers and the Internet have become the buildings and highways of the new economy. Access to the Internet has become an essential tool shaping how people work and live, and community development is no exception. Accessing information, communicating with partners, finding funding grants and proposals, interacting with community members are all essential ways in which the Internet is used in community development. More important however, is the extent to which Internet access has become fully integrated into our lives. 

For many of us, the Internet had become something we can't live without either at work, school or at home. For most of us, geographic barriers are gone, news and events are followed in real time, knowledge is available at our finger tips. Experts are beginning to use terms such as dependency and addiction when referring to the extent that the Internet has become integrated into our lives, or most of our lives. Many people, especially in the younger generations, cannot imagine living in a home or community without access to the Internet. 

The speed in which the Internet has reshaped our lives is impressive, and the importance of having quality access to the Internet cannot be understated. Ensuring quality access to the Internet and engaging residents through social media should be pillars of any community's development plan. This is especially true for rural Canada, where many people struggle to find decent and affordable Internet access. Further exploration into the levels of Internet access for rural communities would be an important contribution to the community and rural development field.