IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT THE INTERNET

Just few days ago, Facebook’s three social platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp – all experienced outages. And from many people’s reaction, it seemed like the world was coming to an end. This really got me wondering about a day without the internet. My gosh! It’s even hard to think of it even though this was a normal existence just two decades ago.

What Would Happen to Online Businesses?

This is the first thing that popped up in my mind, because I run an online business. Most of my clients are virtual; I’ve never met them before and yet we have an engaged working relationship. And because the internet is an ‘always on’ society, a day without the internet could spell doom for an online business. What would happen to deadlines that must be met? What about customer concerns that need urgent attention? What if they find an offline solution to their problems? Mehn! That would be pretty ugly. It better not happen.

Would Offline Relationships Improve?

The internet has made the world a global village. With the click of a button, a message can be passed from London to Lagos. Businesses are run online, events are held online, in fact almost anything can be done online. This has resulted in people clinging to their phones, not needing to meet people face to face in order to actually communicate.

Would a day without the internet improve offline relationships between people? I think so. If nothing else, boredom is often enough reason.

Would Traditional Media Go Back to Prominence?

Since the emergence of the internet (especially social media), there has been a seismic shift in the way people consume information, several research shows that the increasing time spent on the internet is eroding consumption of traditional media such as print newspapers and radio.

Would a day without the internet drive people back to their radios and TVs? I think it would. With so much happening in this Nigeria and the world at large, there’s an unquenchable thirst for information, and many people can’t even stay for a day without ‘watching film’. Radios, TVs and print newspapers will suddenly become many people’s Google in a day without the internet.

A day without the internet is sure to have its ups and downs, but if you ask me, I hope that day never comes.