Evidence

Internet and the prospects of online social networks

The Internet plays a crucial part in the progression of the main character, Cayce Pollard, in Pattern Recognition by William Gibson. The use of email throughout the novel is a big piece of evidence. This book was written in 2003, when text messaging was not as popular in use as it is today. With this in mind, Cayce and those around her use email as the main vehicle of communication. An easier way to communicate might be to talk through the telephone, but in most cases Cayce has only talked to her friends through the forum F:F:F and it might be awkward for her to talk to them through the phone as she has mentioned before.

Emails can also be a dangerous form or communication. In some cases outside parties can hack into your email and see who and what you have been writing and all privacy is given up. In other cases, however, email can be used to communicate with those who are difficult to locate. There are mysterious pieces of film that are being uploaded to the Internet and have become the center of attention across the globe. Cayce has been given the job of finding this mysterious maker. After many trips to different countries across the globe, she finds her first real clue as to the true identity of the maker, an email. This email becomes her only form of communication with the maker until she can locate her. In this instance, the use of email is positive.

The F:F:F forum can be called a form of a social network. This forum can be used by anyone who makes a username. The purpose of this forum is to talk and discuss the mysterious video clips that are uploaded to the Internet. This is also where Cayce meets her friends and also an enemy. The concept of a social network seems fun and entertaining, but in reality, it can be scary. Anyone can become a member by filling out a form online. Some people might be stalkers or serial killers with the façade of a nice teenage boy or girl. In social networks, one can never be too cautious or careful of the people they meet online. Through personal experience, there have been cases where random people have friend requested close friends of mine. In all of the cases they ignored them, but it shows that there may be weird and unusual people trying to watch your every single movement through a site such as Facebook.