The Internet (Cambridge International IGCSE ICT)

Spec point — 10.2.1

The Internet

What is the Internet?

• The Internet is a network of networks which allows users to

  • Share and distribute information outside of an organisation
  • Send and receive emails

• The internet has many features to it which users can use to communicate and share information with others

Blogs, Forums & Wikis

What is a blog?

• Web logs (blogs) are journals shared on the internet by a writer (blogger)

• They are regularly updated and often written in an informal or conversational style like a journal, managed by individuals or small groups

• People can share their views and opinions on a variety of topics including

  • Movies
  • Food and restaurants
  • Game releases

• Blogs are usually presented in reverse chronological order

• They allow for reader comments, facilitating some level of discussion

• Other internet users can’t change the content of the blogs, they can only read them

What is a forum?

• A forum is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages

• They are often organised around specific topics or interests, and divided into categories known as threads

• Unlike blogs, forums are primarily focused on peer-to-peer interaction

• They may require users to create an account before posting

• Forums can be moderated or unmoderated

  • A moderated forum is under the control of an administrator who determines what can and can't be posted, preventing inappropriate or hurtful content from being published
  • An unmoderated forum means that no one is in charge and the moderation of the forum relies upon voluntary action between the users of the site

What is a wiki?

• A wiki is a website or web application that allows users to add or edit content
• It is designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing from many people
• It holds information on many topics which can be searched
• Posts are not in chronological order
• The structure is determined by the content or its users
• Changes can be tracked and reverted if necessary

Social Networks

What is a social network?

• A social network website is a platform where users can connect with others and share content

• They include platforms such as

  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

• Social networking platforms usually require users to create a profile and allow them to share text, images, videos, and links

• They facilitate interaction, collaboration, and information sharing on a large scale

• Privacy settings allow users to control who can see their content

Internet Service Providers (ISP), URLs & Web Browsers

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

• An Internet Service Providers (ISP) is a company that provides access to the Internet to users and businesses
• The ISP provides internet access by leasing equipment and telecommunication lines to users that are required to access the internet

Web browsers

• A web browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve, and display content on the WWW

• Web browsers are used to display web pages which include images, videos and other files

• A hyperlink is a word/phrase/image which references data that the reader can follow by clicking or tapping, usually taking you to another web page

• Most web browsers have the following features:

  • Home page
  • Ability to bookmark favourites
  • Keep a history of visited websites
  • Hyperlinks which allow users to navigate between pages

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

• Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are the web address a user types into a web browser

• Websites are stored in the form of an IP address however, these are not user friendly

• Instead, an alphanumeric format is used for the benefit of humans

  • An example is www.savemyexams.com

Search Engines, Evaluating Information and Risks of the Internet

What are search engines?

• Search engines are tools that locate and display web pages related to the search terms entered by the user
• They are essential for navigating the vast amount of information on the internet
• They index millions of web pages and use algorithms to rank the relevance of each page to the search terms

How do search engines work?

• Search engines work in three stages:

  • Crawling
  • Indexing
  • Ranking

• Crawling is when web crawlers scour the internet daily to retrieve new websites

• Indexing is how websites are categorised based on the content of their web pages, keywords and metadata

• Ranking is how websites are ranked and listed on search engine pages - this depends on many factors to display the most relevant results

Amount of information

• Search engines can provide an overwhelming amount of information, making it crucial to use specific and relevant search terms
• Using quotation marks for exact phrases, plus signs for mandatory terms, or minus signs for excluding terms can help refine the search

Finding relevant and reliable information

• The relevance of information is determined by the search engine’s algorithm, which considers factors such as keyword frequency, page quality and EEAT
• Reliable information typically comes from reputable sources such as educational establishments, governments, or well-established industry websites

Evaluating information found on the internet

• The internet offers a wealth of information, but not all of it is accurate or reliable
• Assess the reliability of information by considering the reputation and credibility of the source
• Determine the validity of information by checking it against other reputable sources
• Consider whether the information is biased, looking for perspectives that may be promoting a particular viewpoint
• Check how up-to-date the information is, as outdated information can be misleading

Risks of the internet

• There are a variety of arguments for policing the internet