If you’ve logged onto the internet in the past few days — and judging by the fact that you’re reading this article, you have — you’ve probably heard the term “net neutrality” thrown around a lot. Net neutrality is defined as “the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.”

This is incredibly important in our modern technology-run age. It’s also incredibly important because the head of the FCC is planning to kill it.

What this means is that internet companies can create faster internet speeds — for a higher cost. Basically, those who can’t afford these faster speeds will be stuck with slower internet. This will effectively end the internet as we know it. Access to the internet will no longer be fair.

If net neutrality is revoked, ISPs (internet service providers) won’t have any legal obligations to keep all services running smoothly. Hypothetically, Comcast could receive money from Amazon, and in return, slow down Netflix speeds in order to steer people to Amazon Video. While this is only a hypothetical situation, it’s a highly likely one, as there has already been evidence of ISPs violating net neutrality rules.

Unfortunately, we tend to not care about issues until they become personal. In the case of net neutrality, it’s personal to everyone who owns a computer, a smartphone, a tablet and the like. I publish my articles on the internet. The end of net neutrality would mean paying more to read my articles. My articles are shared on Facebook. The end of net neutrality would mean paying more to access Facebook. You see my point, and hopefully, you understand why this is crucial to the continuation of the internet as we have come to know it.

I’m not the most educated when it comes to technology, and the concept of net neutrality itself is confusing to me. I’ve explained it as best I can, but for further information, I’m including an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that delves deeper into the issue. I’m also including a link to a petition I have signed to protect net neutrality. If these two things sound like too much effort, you can also simply send a text to RESIST bot at 50409, and include a message to your representative.

If you use the internet, this issue affects you. You should care, and you should take action.Video:

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-net-neutrality-netne...