Information and Networks

1. I would say the network law that I most agree with would be Sarnoff’s law, which states that the value of a network increases linearly with the number of people on it. I like the simplicity of this law; being stated so plainly essentially makes it self-explanatory. For example, say CNN has 100,000 viewers in 2015. If their viewers increased to 200,000 in 2016 then they can say their value has indeed increased. This law is prominently used to explain traditional broadcasting channels such as television and radio. However, it can be used to better understand social media sites as well. As more and more people decide to use sites such as Instagram and Facebook, the more valuable they become to the users themselves and as a social medium overall.

2. In five years from now, I think people will attain their information much like we do now. So much of our communication is done through digital mediums, social media sites, and other networks that I believe this trend will continue as we move forward. As technology progresses, I believe information will only become more easily accessible to whoever wants it, whenever they want it. The more people are willing to share and provide information online, the greater the opportunity for other people to access and use your information. This can be both a positive and negative characteristic of advancing technology and communication tactics. While privacy may seem like an afterthought now, I believe it will only become more and more difficult to maintain and protect in the future. People like to be in the know and in constant communication with their peers, which in turn means more information will be out in the open as the years go by. I think in the future, if there is something you want to know, it will be readily available to you, even more than it is now, whenever you want it, no matter the time or location.