Internet Turns 40, Faces Growth Barrier

Internet Turns 40, Faces Growth Barrier

As the internet turns 40, artificial barriers have become the very reason for its limited growth. Spam and hacking attacks emerge every now and then, forcing network operators to install security firewalls. Authoritarian governments restrict access to various sites and the commercial aspect of the business is always considered, prompting new standards especially on mobile devices.
 

A law professor and co-founder of Harvard’s Beckman Center for Internet and Society Jonathan Zittrain said, "There is more freedom for the typical Internet user to play, to communicate, to shop — more opportunities than ever before.”

 

"On the worrisome side, there are some longer-term trends that are making it much more possible (for information) to be controlled,” he added.

 

The internet started way back September 2, 1969, followed by the growth of email and TCP/IP communications protocols on in the 7os. The next decade produced an addressing system which is widely used today.