Dark Side of the '90s Season 1 Episode 10 Internet 1.0: Don't Believe the Hype

As the 1990s came to a close, the world was rapidly changing, and nowhere was that more apparent than on the internet. The decade had seen the birth of the World Wide Web, and the spread of email and instant messaging had revolutionized the way people communicated. But along with the benefits came many new dangers, and the episode Internet 1.0: Don't Believe the Hype delves into the dark side of the early internet.

At the beginning of the episode, viewers are introduced to the excitement and optimism that permeated the tech industry in the early 1990s. The possibility of connecting people from around the world and the potential for exponential growth seemed limitless. The episode then explores the infamous "cyberporn" scare that captivated the media and politicians, painting the internet as a haven for child predators and pornography. While there was a kernel of truth to these claims, the episode also highlights how fear-mongering and sensationalism fueled calls for increased government regulation and censorship.

Moving beyond pornography, the episode covers a range of other dangers that arose in the early days of the internet, including phishing scams, viruses, and identity theft. The show examines how these threats disproportionately affected less tech-savvy users, many of whom were still adjusting to life online. Viewers will learn about high-profile cases that highlighted these dangers, including the "ILOVEYOU" virus that infected millions of computers worldwide and Melissa, a highly contagious virus that spread via email.

Another major theme is the proliferation of false information and "clickbait" headlines, something that we still see all too often on the internet today. The show examines early examples of this phenomenon, such as the infamous "Dihydrogen Monoxide" hoax that alarmed many people into thinking their water supply was dangerous. Along with spreading misinformation, the episode also covers how the early internet led to an explosion in conspiracy theories and the "truthism" movement.

Throughout the episode, viewers will come away with a clear sense of how the early days of the internet were a Wild West of sorts, with few rules and regulations and many unscrupulous actors looking to exploit people's naivete. The episode does not paint the entire internet of the time as inherently malevolent, but rather shows the many ways in which people's fears and anxieties interacted with technological innovation to create a potentially dangerous landscape.

Ultimately, Internet 1.0: Don't Believe the Hype is a fascinating look at a period of technological history that many of us take for granted. By examining the dark side of the early internet, the show sheds light on the ways in which technology can be both a force for good and for ill, and how important it is to take a critical eye toward what we consume and share online. Anyone who uses the internet today will come away with a renewed appreciation for the many challenges that still exist in the digital world, as well as a sense of how far we've come since the early days of dial-up and Netscape Navigator.