technoculture203-09

For a couple of days now I have been contemplating the idea that society itself may indeed be a victim of internet piracy. Society and in particular group interactions have the potential to be dramatically changed by the easy availability of media online. My point is best illustrated through the medium of film. In the past watching movies especially at the cinema was largely a group activity enjoyed by couples or groups of friends. Now many people choose to download pirated films and watch them at home alone. This is just one example of how the availability of digital media online can change group dynamics, or remove them all together. This trend can filter through to other aspects of life as the public no longer has the need to interact with other people when they can access almost anything they want from the comfort of their own homes. At the very least people were forced to interact with the cashier at the video store if they wanted to rent a movie. While this is a slow and gradual process, internet piracy has the potential to damage society by changing the way people react with others. Record companies and corporations are not the only victims.