2020

2020... it sounds like a year that is so advanced into the future that we all might be riding around on hoverboards by then.  Ten years ago, the eleven year old that I was, I would have wagered a generous amount of money on this prediction.  Generous meaning the only money to my name; a whooping twenty dollars.  Regardless of that amount, I was convinced after watching "Back to the Future" that by the time we reached 2015, the year in which Marty McFly traveled forward to, we would see at least some indication that hoverboards were on the rise.  Unfortunately, this just isn't realistic.

In today’s time, we rely on the internet for anything and everything.  The internet provides a quick and easy way for users to do just about anything.  This being said, the need for print is dwindling as more and more people find it easier to stay updated through the ease of their technological devices.  This applies not only to news found printed in the daily newspaper, but also information regarding social issues and networking as well.  We rarely pick up the phone to call our friends and family to check in anymore, because we can find out this information by simply searching them on our Facebook.  Immediately we can see pictures from their latest trip, status updates about their lives, and so on.  We use the internet to check the weather, to see what is on TV, to stay connected with our favorite politicians or celebrities, and so on.  We use Twitter to follow accounts that can relay important news articles to us, or use it to stay informed with what’s happening in our area.   As the internet continues to change and advance, where will this lead us in five years?

I strongly believe that in five years we will rely on the internet as our sole outlet for news and information.  The use of print is fading, but it is still seen throughout our society with conservatives who still use it as a primary source of information.  It’s not to say that I agree with the retirement of print altogether, but in this day and age it is essential to be realistic.  We already use the internet in so many ways that provide us with our information outlets and half of the time we are unaware of it.  With the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Chat Rooms, and so on, we are constantly updated with information.  We use word of mouth over the internet to share our opinions, and receive recommendations.  We are able to filter out anything that is not of interest to us, and stay in tune with other information that does concerns us.  Our social media habits are constantly changing, and over time they have helped to evolve the internet into what it is today.   There are already numerous news sources online, so who’s to say that our entire news supply will not become accessible through the internet?  Our reliance on technology will continue to grow, and by the year 2020 we will consider print media a concept of the past.  My optimistic hopes for hoverboards will continue, but for now I will stick to the prediction of something more promising: the Internet.