The Internet has been around for years and with more devices being created to access and utilize it, it's becoming an integral part of many systems and functions. For context of how important it is to us now, here are the likely and potential impacts of the internet's collapse.
1. Mass Panic
If the internet went out permanently three decades ago, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. It would make headlines, for sure, since it was already starting to become more widely used by the public. However, society can easily bounce back since they are not as reliant.
Now, the aftermath could be massive in terms of what we're used to. More than half of the global population uses the internet on a daily basis, and a huge percentage of those people require it for work and keeping in touch. Most alternatives we can turn to are now out of date.
2. Bankruptcy for Countless Businesses
A lot of companies have made their fortune due to the internet, specifically with all the users who access it. The retail giant Amazon, for instance, uses this connection to sell items online, and the same goes for many online shops.
Without the internet, its value will instantly drop since they have lost the only bridge to customers. The same goes for cybersecurity and internet providers, along with online advertising since most ads now appear on social media and streaming sites.
It won't just be business owners that would lose their business. It goes without saying that everyone employed at that business will be losing their jobs, and online sellers will lose their source of income. Billions of people will be affected by this factor alone.
3. Communication Will Be Difficult
Thanks to social media and messaging apps, we can contact anyone anywhere in the world instantly. All you need is an internet connection and you can call someone from the other side of the world without a problem.
If the internet does collapse, we will have to settle for the communication methods we've had before such as telephones and mail. There are still people who have telephones in their homes now, but a lot no longer see the need for them and therefore don't bother to get a line.
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4. Smart Devices Would Lose Most Functions
Technology has definitely come a long way. A lot of the tools we use now come in small flat devices as the smartphone can serve as a telephone, a camera, a calculator, a flashlight, a mail service, a portable gaming device, and so much more.
Without internet access, it will revert back to just being a phone. It will have the ability to send messages, make calls, and do all the other things that old cell phones do, but most of the apps especially social media and streaming services will become entirely useless.
5. Data Loss
Photos, videos, documents, and other media can be saved on our computers. Unfortunately, we only have a limited amount of storage and we sometimes have to rely on the cloud. The internet can basically store an unlimited amount of data, so we can just upload our files there.
Once the internet shuts down, then all the data saved on the cloud will go with it. Both data with sentimental and monetary value will disappear which will mostly be impossible to get back. That's billions of memories and important documents, gone.
