Chapter 1

1. Janna Malamud Smith supports her argument that the Internet helps people stay connected by providing examples of her son and her chatting with distant friends online. On the other hand, Douglas Groothuis contends that online communication—such as that extolled by Smith—cannot provide the trust and human interaction necessary to build meaningful relationships. Describe a deep friendship that you enjoy, listing the specific qualities that make it meaningful and enduring. In your opinion, can such friendships be developed and sustained over the Internet? Why or why not?
2. Anthony G. Wilhelm uses a U.S. Department of Commerce study—which found that affluent people are more likely to own computers than those at the lowest income level—to argue that unequal access to the Internet harms society. However, Eric Cohen criticizes the way Wilhelm and others use the Commerce...