Concerns
The argument of oral versus literate cultures is once again taking on new dimensions with the rise of the Internet. Whether people are Internet-literate or not is adding to the Great Divide theories of the 1980s, though they should be short-lived. These arguments over whether a literate culture was superior to an oral culture threaten to spill over into the debate of technological communication superiority. Just as some people believe that literacy leads to higher forms of thought, there are those who believe being online is important to communication evolution. It is easy to push this line so far as to see non-technological societies as inferior to ones that embrace new communication technologies such as the Internet. However, the Internet will differ from other forms of communication that divided people in the past. In the past, it was difficult for some sectors of society (women, the poor, various ethnic and religious groups, age: too young, too old) to obtain the technology to advance themselves. Dale Spender writes extensively on these topics. With the Internet, there are many resources for anyone to make their presence felt, their voice heard, and their literature available.
There was an argument that the Internet would further separate the rich from the poor, being available primarily to middle-class Westerners, particularly males (Spender). Because the United States dominates the Internet, there is concern about U.S. values being projected globally through literature, as in past times. However, this imbalance is expected to even out as more countries gain Internet access.
Other concerns with using the World Wide Web as a source of literature include the lack of publication dates for online articles—was a piece written five years ago or last week, and which edition is it? Currently, no online journals have the reputation of print academic journals, and until they do, print journals will remain more sought after. The source or qualifications of authors are rarely verified; a "Dr." title or "PhD" suffix does not guarantee authenticity. The most frustrating aspect of the Internet is the disappearance of web pages due to server crashes, site deletions, or services shutting down, leading to significant losses of online content.
In Australia, the Internet is widely available for free through libraries and schools. It is simple to book time at a library or use university facilities, meaning there is no excuse for anyone not to publish their work online. Numerous services offer free web hosting, and templates make it easy for anyone to share poems or stories online. For those wanting to enhance their pages, many online tutorials teach basic web development. Additionally, free web-based email services and the proliferation of Internet cafes, as well as public Internet access points in shopping centers, gas stations, and airports, ensure that there will be no new class of "Internet poor." The new web-based literature will be the literature of the people, created by readers, not just institutions or established writers.
The World Wide Web will be accessible to more people, allowing them to share their literary genius with the millions who browse the Internet daily.
Futures
The future of Internet literature holds immense potential as access continues to expand globally. With increasing connectivity, the barriers to entry for publishing online will diminish, fostering a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape. The democratization of digital platforms will empower individuals from all backgrounds to contribute to global literature, reshaping cultural narratives and communication paradigms.