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There are lots of ways to access the Internet. Internet service providers and online services can provide you with an account that gives you access to everything on the public Internet. This includes chatrooms, discussion groups called newsgroups, E-mail, file libraries, instant messaging, web sites, and lots of other services. Some even let you listen to music and view videos.
Most people think of computers as the only way to get online, but it’s possible to do it from other devices including cell phones, personal digital assistants, and even video-game consoles. Some video-game systems, for example, are Internet enabled so you can compete against — and chat with — players around the world.
Most cell phones can also be used to exchange instant messages, send E-mail, and surf the web. Exchanging short messages, called “texting,” is growing in popularity in the United States. Many cell phones also have color screens and built-in digital cameras making it possible to exchange photographs.
Companies that provide Internet service can, in certain situations, exercise some control over the type of content and “customer conduct” in its own areas. But these services have no control or jurisdiction over what takes place on the Internet as a whole. And even within their own areas, these services can’t monitor everything that happens. So, even if you’re going online using one of these services, you’re not completely protected from the larger dangers.
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