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Have the students in your life been quiet recently? Have you noticed an extreme focus almost akin to panic? Are they almost constantly found withdrawn and huddling next to a computer screen, feverishly absorbing information?
Well, they may have an addiction, or they may be suffering from the side effects of Wikipedia’s shut down on Wednesday. At least, I can only imagine that students across the globe are rushing to finish their research before the 24 hours of Wikipedia darkness begins.
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales announced on Twitter yesterday, that the sixth most popular site on the Internet (and number one in every student’s heart), would go black for 24 hours on Wednesday, January 18.
The choice is in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), although I have to believe that parents and professors are in on it too.
It’s feared that these two pieces of legislation, if passed, would severely impact free speech online, holding website owners liable for links on their site to illegally downloaded material.
Wikipedia is not alone. Reddit and the Cheezburger network will also be joining in the 24 hour blackout protest. Still, many are doubting the level of impact this will have on the legislation.
Although few can doubt that the aftershocks will be felt by research papers everywhere.
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“Wikipedia to go dark Wednesday in protest against SOPA, PIPA”: USA Today
“The Case For and Against the Wikipedia Blackout”: The Atlantic Wire
…bi-daily smile…
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