--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the great debates about the…" description: "\"One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.\" — Adam Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg" --- # One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it… ![“One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.” quote by Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg) > “One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.” [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Internet can expand or limit freedom depending on how it’s used and regulated, shaping personal and societal liberty. **In simple terms:** The net can both free and restrict us. Key Takeaway Consider how tech affects your freedom. Themes freedom technology society Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - online activism - privacy settings - education - policy making Key Concepts politics ethics digital rights Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms do you value most online? A Different Perspective Freedom can be illusionary without critical awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Build an "inclusive narrative" that goes beyond race, class, religion, etc., so that all may participate in the "the great debates".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/build-an-inclusive-narrative-that-goes-beyond-race-class-religion-etc/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [One of the lessons learned from 22 July is that we have to take seriously all those people who take part in debates on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/one-of-the-lessons-learned-from-22-july-is-that-we-have-to-take/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) > [Making new friends on the internet but making none in real life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-new-friends-on-the-internet-but-making-none-in-real-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Researchers claim that the Internet is making us dumber and more impatient. I dont get it. Moving on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/researchers-claim-that-the-internet-is-making-us-dumber-and-more/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Freedom is not something that anybody can be given. Freedom is something people take, and people are as free as they want to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-is-not-something-that-anybody-can-be-given-freedom-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I can only be free when the other people around me are free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayman/i-can-only-be-free-when-the-other-people-around-me-are-free/) Jayman > [Black Americans like me are free people with free minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-jones/black-americans-like-me-are-free-people-with-free-minds/) [Vernon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-jones/) > [There's no limit to what free men and free women in a free market with free enterprise can accomplish when people are free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/there-s-no-limit-to-what-free-men-and-free-women-in-a-free-market/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I see the psychedelic experience as a birthright, and we can't have a free society until people are free to explore their own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-see-the-psychedelic-experience-as-a-birthright-and-we-can-t-have-a/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I love being free enough that I can be so intimate with people, and that people are free enough that we can all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-being-free-enough-that-i-can-be-so-intimate-with-people-and/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“They think the government shows people everything —how to work, study, eat, sleep and that’s it. They are afraid of change. They do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-krotov/they-think-the-government-shows-people-everything-how-to-work-study/) Anton Krotov > [No country and no people can be free and ignorant at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-country-and-no-people-can-be-free-and-ignorant-at-the-same-time/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [These ballot initiatives against same sex marriage remind us that America is the land where people are free to dream whatever they want, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/these-ballot-initiatives-against-same-sex-marriage-remind-us-that/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [The American people are free to do exactly what they are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-churchill/the-american-people-are-free-to-do-exactly-what-they-are-told/) [Ward Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-churchill/) > [The Israeli people must be free to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/the-israeli-people-must-be-free-to-live-in-peace-and-security/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) ## More by Adam Cohen > [Congress needs to toughen the laws protecting elections and make clear that anyone interfering with democracy will pay a stiff price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/congress-needs-to-toughen-the-laws-protecting-elections-and-make/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [In a perfect world, we would have put users in control of their information when the Internet was first created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/in-a-perfect-world-we-would-have-put-users-in-control-of-their/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [With increased awareness should come greater caution about how confessions are used at trial - and a greater willingness to overturn convictions when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/with-increased-awareness-should-come-greater-caution-about-how/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Being unemployed - or working at minimum wage - is rough in the best of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/being-unemployed-or-working-at-minimum-wage-is-rough-in-the-best-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [The Supreme Court's most conservative Justices have presented themselves as great respecters of precedent and opponents of 'judicial activism' - of judges using the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/the-supreme-court-s-most-conservative-justices-have-presented/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [To be rejected on account of old age may or may not feel the same as being rejected on the basis of race or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/to-be-rejected-on-account-of-old-age-may-or-may-not-feel-the-same-as/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Our movements reveal a great deal about who we are. A record of our locations over time can reveal whether we go to tent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/our-movements-reveal-a-great-deal-about-who-we-are-a-record-of-our/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [A federal Voters' Bill of Rights could press the states to put non-partisan managers in charge of elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-federal-voters-bill-of-rights-could-press-the-states-to-put-non/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [There was a rule, back when I was an education lawyer in Alabama, about visiting public schools: always go on a rainy day so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/there-was-a-rule-back-when-i-was-an-education-lawyer-in-alabama-about/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [When the government takes video of people in public places, the images should only be kept as long as they may reasonably be needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/when-the-government-takes-video-of-people-in-public-places-the-images/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Set in the advertising world of the 1960s, 'Mad Men' is stunning to look at - a Camelot-era parade of smartly dressed professionals lounging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/set-in-the-advertising-world-of-the-1960s-mad-men-is-stunning-to-look/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets have a great deal of information about all of us - and the government wants to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/twitter-facebook-and-other-social-media-outlets-have-a-great-deal-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [There is a lot of talk in conservative circles about judicial modesty and deferring to the political branches. 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But when compared with discrimination against racial minorities and women, it is a second-class civil rights issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/age-discrimination-is-illegal-but-when-compared-with-discrimination/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > ['Hard Times' does not romanticize the Depression, but at least a few of Mr. Terkel's subjects managed to find silver linings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/hard-times-does-not-romanticize-the-depression-but-at-least-a-few-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) [Explore all 98 Adam Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) ## More Free quotes > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. 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No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/) Gift of Gab > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) Browse all 6,143 Free quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-internet-is-whether-it-is-making/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-internet-is-whether-it-is-making/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/adam-cohen-6582_free_one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-inter_1954591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.” — Adam Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the great debates about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-internet-is-whether-it-is-making/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/one-of-the-great-debates-about-the-internet-is-whether-it-is-making/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```