[INFOGRAPHIC] Everything You Need to Know about World Internaut Day
Who are internauts you ask? Well, the very fact that you’re reading this makes you one yourself!
On the 23rd of August every year we celebrate the birth of Internet as we know it today. The very term internaut represents the blending of the word internet and the Greek word nauta, which means ‘traveler’. And when you think about it – Internet certainly has been an amazing journey so far.
Where it all began…
On August 6th, 1991, the first website was launched.
Providing the information on the World Wide Web, we can safely say that it announced the beginning of the new era, – the era of Internet. Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the website, provided explanations on how to design webpages. With this one small step (or a click, if you will) he truly made a giant leap for mankind.
Now…
… the world population exceeds 7,340 billion people, out of which 3,611,375,813 are internet users. The leading region is undoubtedly Asia, with 49.6% of internauts; the second place goes to Europe, currently inhabited with 17% of the total number of internet users. Surprisingly, North America is the 5th, with 8.9% of internauts, right behind Latin America (10.7%) and Africa (9.4%).
If we look at all the changes that occurred in the last 25 years, the reason for the celebration is more than obvious – Internet has had an impact on literally every part of our lives – from the way we communicate with each other, the way we learn, do research, to the way we conduct business.
Although some would argue that the constant insistence on using Internet as the primary source of communication has alienated people, no one can deny the benefits. Thanks to Skype, WhatsApp, Viber and other instant messaging services, we can connect with anyone at any time, regardless of their location. Can you imagine now not being able to make a video call to your friend or a relative across the globe? Hardly.
Aside from personal benefits, we can see great progress in the way we do business. Not only did the Internet improve the quality of collaboration for international partners, it has made great changes on the global market. Never before has it been so easy to start a business or get funding. When it comes to marketing, as average person spends more time online than with the TV and all other traditional media combined; Internet is evidently the most effective medium of advertising.
Last, but not least, Internet has greatly influenced the process of education. If you were to walk into a library, it’s highly likely that you will find yourself in an empty room full of dusty books no one ever checks out. How come? As it happens, almost 90% of all students prefer to do their research online rather than making a trip to the library (Wikipedia being the most often used resource, of course). And it’s not just about making the learning process easier – Internet has provided many with the opportunity to take online courses that otherwise would not be available to them.
Check out the following infographic to find out more interesting facts on the WWW and why every year we so eagerly celebrate the 23rd of August. 🙂
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