Social problems are quite ubiquitous in society today. They span from problems involving childhood obesity to gang violence to poverty. As one can see, the spectrum that social problems take up is quite diverse. But what makes a social problem a true social problem and not a phenomenon? First of all, a phenomenon deals mainly with an unusual occurrence that affects a group of people and is not well known. On the other hand, a social problem deals with a situation that started off as a phenomenon but then turned mainstream by making itself aware to the world. A great example of a phenomenon turned social problem is the concept of copyright infringements through the internet. With the help of lawsuits against websites that offer free downloads, society has become more aware of this growing social problem.
When looking at society today, one can see that people are dependent on technological advances especially the internet. Those who are more dependent then others are people who grew up in this technologically dependent age, more specifically internet users who are considered teens and young adults. This specific social structure is one that provides the most information in terms of copyright infringement via the internet because they are the majority who participate in this particular social problem.
As with all social problems there exist groups lobbying for or against the right for people to access copyrighted material online. Through a social conflict perspective, which involves two groups fighting for control over certain resources, one can better understand the reasons why people are for or against the proposed social problem.
Mobilization For and Against
Teenagers versus RIAA & MPAA
Ever since the internet became prevalent in many households today, teenagers have found various ways to use the internet as a source of entertainment. There are many things that companies put out into the cyber world that are intended to teach and entertain the youth of today. But there are also some things that big companies probably never saw coming; for example, copyright violations. This issue on whether or not the act of downloading and copying things off the internet is illegal is up for debate between two major groups. These battling sides include young internet users versus the entertainment industry. The supposed illegal downloading of music and movies has become such a concern for the entertainment industry that specific groups have been established to battle such problem.
The groups that were created to help and protect the entertainment industry are the Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In an article Charles Duhigg (2006) stated that these groups have spent millions of dollars in their fight against people downloading or copying copyrighted material without the knowledge of the owner. Some ways that these groups have used that money have been towards funding school programs in teaching students that copying movies or music off the internet is piracy. (Duhigg, 2006, p.1-2). With the efforts of the RIAA and the MPAA, some people are learning about the supposed wrongfulness of piracy but other take a much different stand on the situation.
Many young people do not comply with what groups such as the RIAA and the MPAA are fighting against. In a Gallup pole taken in 2004, it stated that about 83% of teenagers today think it is alright to download copyrighted material illegally. Obviously the entertainment business and the teen market are not seeing eye to eye. Teenagers see downloading as a way to be able to enjoy the music or movies they love with this a click of the mouse. Some believe that it is even a good way to get the word out on certain products of the entertainment industry. But in the eyes of the industry, this is not the case. In fact they believe that thousands of dollars are lost as a result to the so called copyright infringement and that this act of stealing needs to stop There have even been some instances where teens were sued for “illegally” downloading more than a thousands songs each (Maier, 2004, p.1). Besides the “illegal” downloading debate between teenagers and groups such as the RIAA and the MPAA, there is also another prevalent debate in terms of having a website devoted to hosting videos that may or may not be copyrighted material.
YouTube versus Copyright Holders
Recently one video hosting website has created quite a stir in the debate over letting teens and young adults post up videos of their choice; this site is called YouTube. This year old website was created to give people the freedom to upload his or her home videos, favorite music videos or favorite clips from television or film. With its growing popularity copyright holders have become aware of people uploading and therefore illegally reproducing copyrighted material. In fact there is so much concern with this site that companies who produce the copyrighted material are constantly threatening the site with copyright infringement lawsuits. On the other hand, YouTube has other opinions about their site. The creators said that this is a site where people can share whatever they want with whomever they want and that doing so is not an illegal act (Wood, 2006, p.1). But because of the threatening lawsuits, the site has been making a few changes. In an article by Verne Kopytoff (2006) it stated that YouTube has given in to removing certain things only at the request of the copyright holder and that they would not removing anything else just because. Basically a written request for the removal of the material had to be put in. Even though YouTube complied with some requests, it does not mean that they do not believe in the original purpose of the site (Kopytoff, 2006, p.1).
In looking at the social problem of copyright infringement, among teenagers and young adults through the internet, one can see that it is indeed a situation that needs to be looked into with greater awareness. New types of crimes are supposedly being committed and people, especially parents, need to be more aware of these new technologically related crimes such as the illegal downloading and sharing of film and television. As one can see there are many groups who mobilize for or against this idea of copyright infringement. One can not really state which side is correct but one can take both sides into consideration and find a common ground toward a solution. If the present social problem cannot be resolved then other social problems could, and one day will, become known.
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