Going Green

The internet, social media , and basic computer applications like word and excel are helping users to go green. One of the most significant ways in which they are doing this is by causing us to use less paper, since we can use electronic communication instead of letters, and we can keep electronic records of things and access information online instead of keeping paper records of everything. Being able to access information (and entertainment ex:movies on itunes) online also allows us to save gas since we don’t need to drive to different places to get a hold of these things. The internet and social media also offer easy, free and fun opportunities to help the environment from your computer. One example of this is the facebook application known as “(Lil) Green Patch” , in which you get your own virtual green patch and exchange plants with friends. For every 10 plants a user sends they save one square foot of endangered forest. As of March 31 the users of (Lil) Green Patch had saved 13 million square feet of forest. The internet and social media also help raise awareness about ways that people can go green . For example some of facebook’s “fan pages” are devoted to sharing ways to go green and helping to raise awareness about environmental issues . Facebook users invite friends these pages, helping the pages to gain popularity and spread knowledge to users about how to improve the environment. I think that given the condition that our planet is in we are fortunate that that the internet, social media , and basic computer applications have made taking steps to help the environment easier.