Is the internet actually making us stupid?

Hey before I know it we are finishing the course very soon! As we have talked so much about the trillion potentials of internet throughout the couse, I saw this interesting debate on BBC "Have you say" section: "Is the internet making us stupid?"

Heavy internet use is replacing thinking according to a group of researchers. Is the web replacing serious thinking?Experts including Professor David Nicholas of University College London say that this leaves people unable to concentrate, learn and read books in the same way as previous generations. There are also fears that younger people are failing to learn the skills of deep reading and instead are too ready just to skip on to another web page. However, others including the Canadian researcher Don Tapscott claim that internet use enables people to exercise their brains.

Read the full article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/analysis/7935725.stm

So you feel dumber or smarter, having just closed the Facebook page after checking out a few videos on YouTube??

Internet Marketing: Not just LBS MBAs, now even politicians are serious about it!

Thanks to Obama, now "political web campaign" is the polular choice for politicians.

After watching Obama running a successful campaign using technology to reach the masses, now Indian politicians are trying the tactic at home!

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2009/gb2009036_883317.htm?chan=globalbiz_asia+index+page_top+stories

It would be very interesting to see how well the new-edge web campaign gonna fetch in the world's biggest democracy.

But since internet and emails etc have been around for a while, what intrigued me is what took the politicians so long to realize the power of internet marketing.