The Internet has developed rapidly since the 1990s, bringing profound changes in interpersonal relationships. For example, people can easily communicate with each other without the need to meet. This new model of communication catalyzes the process of information transmission while simultaneously reducing costs.
 

Moreover, some online resources, including text, graphic, sound and video resources, can be duplicated and utilized countless times by different people at zero cost for reproduction. This seems to be the greatest benefit made possible by Internet technology. And some scholars claim that resource sharing is the basic virtue in the cybernetic age.

Though the concept of online sharing is borne out of good intentions, it does not necessarily generate favorable results. In some cases, sharing may infringe upon the legitimate interests of others.

First off, people cannot guarantee that every piece of information they put on the Internet is true, which is to say they cannot rule out the possibility of relaying false information to others that may cause them harm.
 

For example, there are posts on microblogs soliciting money for students who are not able to cover their tuition or daily expenses. But, some of these are scams that prey on people’s compassion. So, the act of sharing them actually is a kind of complicity in the crime.
 

Also, some Internet resources contain built-in advertisements that cost people time and effort to read. For instance, the WeChat “Moments” feed is often cluttered with posts asking for votes or offering prizes in exchange for “likes.” People can be tempted to promote these businesses even through the promise of a small benefit. But, to waste people’s valuable time for personal gain is immoral.

In addition, some Internet viruses are spread as “Trojan horses” embedded in online resources. It is hard for ordinary people to identify data that contains viruses.
 

Moreover, sharing sometimes is an infringement upon intellectual property. This is especially harmful to original works. People tend to share resources without considering the rights of creators. In this process, the rights of the creator are gradually diluted the more the property is shared. A lack of copyright protection could cause some to lose interest in creating original work.

Therefore, sharing on the Internet is not always a virtue. Sharing can damage others in the form of false information and fraud, and usually the victims are the family and friends of the ones sharing the information. Also, sharing can infringe upon the intellectual property of creators of the resources, which in the long run will harm the development of Internet originality.

 

Li Shi is from the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China.