How was the Internet a turning point in history?

[Gabrielle]

I'm doing my social studies project on the invention of the Internet

[Mike]

Internet changed the way people access information. The following important things changed:

- jobs now more accessible; job search is easier as companies made websites and applications for work are via email

- pornography industry is now more open; bestiality, bdsm, fetishes and other taboo sex practices are easily found on Internet and chat forums exist

- online dating and chatting sites connect the world; marriages, friendships and hobby circles are more easily arranged now

- paper books are now threatened with extinction; encyclopedias, telephone books, newspapers and magazines are now more often used online

- government can no longer easily control public; general population of most countries with Internet can exchange information that is normally considers anti-establishment and revolutionary

- marketing and business companies can more easily spy on people through surveys online and through Facebook and other online diary websites, thus making selling products more easily

[clint]

Just for me, the internet pretty much made it possible for me to hold down my last job for quite a long time. I literally had no coworkers, so boards like the Straight Dope and Mellophant gave me someone to talk to around the watercooler, in a manner of speaking.

Facebook has kept me in touch with friends who otherwise I probably wouldn't hear from much. On the other hand, I think it killed my 25th high school reunion. There was a very bad turnout, and it makes sense when you think about it...anyone who cares about seeing people from HS is already in touch with them on FB.

On a less personal level, I've heard that ebay has really killed the collectables market. Not that people don't collect anymore, but it's so easy to find pieces on ebay that it's killed the rare factor, and the prices of a lot of them has collapsed.

Those are a few I can think of off the top of my head. Does anyone else have any examples of how the internet has changed us and the way we live?