Paper Example. Should violent and offensive content be removed from the Internet?

Since the invention of the internet in the mid-20th century, the world has changed, as access to the internet brought about numerous benefits. The internet has tremendously grown with different bodies, both privet and public bringing about the increase in the growth of internet use over the century. Today the use of the internet is deemed as an essential factor. According to the research conducted by (Kayis, 38), nearly 89% of the respondents proposed that the internet should be deemed as a basic human need.

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Most of the respondents argued that the internet should be provided freely to every human across the world to ensure that development and shaping of knowledge are at the brink. Nearly 76% of the world's population is exposed to the internet daily, with millions of data requests being received every second (Pavan, 65). As a result, this becomes critical to understand the effects of the internet in a broader society if it is not censored.

The increased use of the internet has brought about adverse effects in the community with a rise of violence in society, which is fueled by the internet. As Citron, Danielle Keats, and Benjamin, (19) noted, the internet is slow fueling the criminal activities, where it has offered a coaching ground for young and ambitious youths to venture into illegal activities. The essay will critically elucidate on why should the offensive and violent content be removed from the internet, by considering Kant's argument.

According to (Pavan, 64), internet censorship has become one of the evident concepts that have acknowledged the view of violent and offensive content should be removed. In many times, the use of violent content has escaped the firewall blocks through the use of sophisticated virtual privet networks (VPN).

However, it is interesting to see how the number of view in these sectors is tolling every day. The increasingly violent content on the internet is finding its way into our homes, and the repercussions are quite evident in our society. There has been an increase in crime levels, both locally and globally, which is fueled by the rise in violent content on the internet. Considering the utilitarian theory, the benefits of the burning the extreme and offensive content outweighs the effects.

Baron, (43) defines utilitarianism as a normative ethical theory that considers the weight of good against the evil, based on the current circumstances. The argument seeks to justify the positive effects that will be obtained if a particular perspective is considered more beneficial to the majority. The theoretical approach moves beyond an individual's interest, as it takes into consideration the interests of others.

There has been an increase in moral degradation in the current society, as individuals do not consider the consent of moral upholds. The use of internet has fueled the increased immorality in our communities. Children at a tender age are being exposed to toxic content, which is defining our society. Even though the internet's benefits outweigh the total burning of it, there is a need for removing the offensive materials on the internet, which has undermined our ethical practices and moral behaviors.

Today most of the crimes are influenced by the internet, as it is becoming one of the best teaching platforms that offer readily available crime concepts. The use of violent material has become a point of reference, especially to many radical groups across the world. The increase in readily available content fuels terrorist activities. According to (Kayis, 41), since the downfall of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014, terrorism activities across different parts of the globe have not reduced.

Even though the fight against terrorist activities is on the horizon, the internet has brought about a new avenue of radicalization. The use of violent events on the internet has proved to be more helpful to these groups. The ISIS group adopted a new concept of encouraging its members to use different undisclosed media platforms to continue their teachings (Bennis, 18). Some of the material sent to these group members across the internet are violent, which help to build their ideology of mass murders.

Who should decide what content is offensive?

The issue of offensive content goes beyond our imagination, with different stakeholders being involved in solving the puzzle. Objectionable content has brought about numerous damages ranging from moral degradation to the fueling of terrorist activities. Through this, there is a strict need for the curbing the viewing of offensive content.

The issue of curbing offensive content requires an array of regulations, which help to determine the level of offence in the material. More so, it is essential to identify and establish the source of the content, as a suitable means of dealing with the matter. Never the less, there are different critical stakeholders, who can define which content is offensive, and what is deemed not aggressive for the public view. To begin with, religious leaders have a greater understanding of different ethical theories and laws, which have governed religious beliefs. In this case, religious leaders play a critical role in ensuring that offensive content does not reach social groups.

Secondly, parents have a more significant role in regulating the access of content to their children. From the early age of ten, children now have access to the internet. The increasing growth of technology is playing its destructive part if it is not monitored under a closer microscopic lens. Parents have the responsibility of now controlling what their children should access, as a suitable way of bringing children with good moral behaviors. Through this, children distinguish between good and evil. Children with little exposure to offensive and violent content have better ethical behaviors than those exposed to dozens of aggressive and extreme materials. Parents should take responsibility of regulating any access of violent content, not only from the internet but back home, which may emanate from the reading of radicalization books, as well as watching violent and offensive material in television.

Thirdly, the internet is made of different independent institutions, which increases the accessibility of the internet. Some of social institutions are devoted to expanding the availability and control of the internet. As a result, there is a higher possibility of these independent institutions to play the role of parental care in ensuring that violent content is not aired on the internet. According to (Pavan, 68), the information broadcast on the internet is facilitated by different independent organizations, which increases the accessibility of the global internet. Organizations have a greater responsibility in shaping the morals of a community. Through this, the burden of reducing violent content can be controlled by these independent organizations.

Lastly, the government is an essential body in regulating and enforcing new policies that benefit the citizens. Each government has the responsibility of protecting the moral and shaping the culture of the nation. Countries with more significant and sophisticated systems, have thrived when it comes to moral upholding. Violent content is a more substantial challenge to a democratic government, especially considering that some of organizations and independent websites pay millions of dollars to air their content.

The government benefits from the revenue generated at the expense of moral degradation. However, there is a critical and moral point of view that each government should consider when licensing the airing of violent and offensive content. Considering Kant's Utilitarianism ethical theory, there is the need to consider the utility benefit to its citizens. The essence of finding this concept assesses the benefits of implementing policy and its advantages over the consequences. The government has the opportunity to deliberate on the need to regulate and burn offensive content to ensure that moral degradation and ethics are not violated.

Conclusion

The internet is slowly losing its meaning as a research and educational media. Gradually the use of violent and offensive content is rising at an alarming rate, which is affecting the entire internet. The issue of radicalization is handed from one group to the other through learning and observing violent and offensive content on the internet. Subsequently, this is affecting the customs and ethical practices of our culture. Slowly the violent content is threatening our morals, as violence is becoming the order of the day. However, considering Kant's Utilitarian theory, there is a need to ponder on the need for removing violent and offensive content from the internet. Additionally, the government has the collective rights to consider the essence of removing these contents due to the ideology supported by the utilitarian ethical theory.

Works Cited

Baron, Marcia W. Kantian ethics almost without apology. Cornell University Press, 2018. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vi5zDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Baron,+Marcia+W.+Kantian+ethics+almost+without+apology.+Cornell+University+Press,+2018.&ots=1gPAJwfbj-&sig=4jFfP1Y-XGgiysvbKC_yAbXDuFw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Baron%2C%20Marcia%20W.%20Kantian%20ethics%20almost%20without%20apology.%20Cornell%20University%20Press%2C%202018.&f=false

Bennis, Phyllis. "Understanding ISIS & the New Global War on Terror." (2016). https://cedar.wwu.edu/fairhaven_wif/2015-2016/2015-2016/11/

Citron, Danielle Keats, and Benjamin Wittes. "The internet will not break: Denying bad samaritans sec. 230 immunity." Fordham L. Rev. 86 (2017): 401. https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5435&context=flr

Kayis, Ahmet Rifat, et al. "Big five-personality trait and internet addiction: A meta-analytic review." Computers in Human Behavior 63 (2016): 35-40. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303239526_Big_five-personality_trait_and_internet_addiction_A_meta-analytic_review

Pavan, Elena. "Internet intermediaries and online gender-based violence." Gender, technology and violence. Routledge, 2017. 62-78. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781315441160/chapters/10.4324/9781315441160-5