JOIN USIn the slow lane
Youngsters are known to be vocal about issues that revolve around them. With the techno-savvy generation that we have now, the youth in the City have a lot to say about ‘net neutrality’ which struck the headlines a few days back. They have been keeping abreast of the developments on the subject.
‘Net neutrality’ in simpler terms means treating all internet traffic equally, even if the internet usage be it watching a video link, shopping on your favourite website or playing an interesting online game.
While this might paint a rosy picture, many think of it as the end of the internet and others feel that it is a breach of freedom by itself.
Additional charges
Tina Anisha Bibiero, a final-year student of The Oxford College of Arts, says, “The telecom operators just want to burn a hole in the pockets of consumers, where apart from the money that one pays for individual internet packages, one will also have to shell out for individual packages to access the links one wants to. Seeing the number of people who use social media and stream videos, the effect of such additional charges would be huge.
Curbing freedom
Clinton, a second semester student of BCom from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, says, “If net neutrality is put into practice, then many applications and websites will be able to influence telecom operators and one will not be able to access all sites as one wishes to at a given price. The concept by itself is very vague, where it sounds like it aims to make the internet accessible to everyone, but in fact it will just end up pulling many threads.”
Good campaign
Arun, a second semester student of BCom from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, says, “The newest video by ‘All India Backchod’ called ‘Save The Internet’ explains the concept in layman’s language and has tried to campaign for the cause. It has helped people to know more about the concept than any link which explains the concept. It tries to subtly explain with humour, the doom that internet users await in India, if ‘net neutrality’ would come into being.”
Impractical move
Umme Sara, a BSc Fashion Designing student of The Oxford College of Science, says that putting ‘net neutrality’ will cause a lot of havoc. “It would discourage people in accessing the internet on the whole. There are many who wouldn’t be able to afford this concept. People check out low internet packages when they use the internet through the mobile or otherwise. If things are to be equal, then the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India should be able to figure out a way, where things are equal in theory and practice.”
Bearing the brunt
Saniya, a PU student of The Oxford College of Commerce, says, “The telecom providers will be paid a particular amount by content providers. Though the term may make it sound like the internet would be a wider platform for smaller businesses and start-ups, they are actually at the brunt. They will have to pay a considerable amount to be considered in the fast internet speed lanes, and this might result in slow growth or a loss for these businesses.”