What YOU Should Know About Internet Piracy

Internet Piracy is the illegal distribution of copyrighted media on the Internet. The pirated media is usually hosted on illegal sites that take media and display it to the audience for profit without consent from the media’s creators. This heavily harms the creative industries as their ideas and property could be stolen leading to a large loss of income. This type of service is also dangerous as some may carry viruses and dangerous malware that can be used against other people.

In James Hubert Blake High School a majority of students have stated that they, at some point in their lives, have used pirated media.Β 

Josh St. Paul, a Senior at Blake, stated that the cost was an issue stating, β€œIt was harder for us to watch movies unless we paid an [expensive] subscription.” 

St. Paul claims that it’s difficult for students like him to pay for the subscription. He felt frustrated when new movies and television were released and he had no way to watch them. 

When discussing why he pirated media, St. Paul explained that, β€œthe influence of [his] friends” led him to try pirated sites, as it was such an easy way to watch content.

St. Paul. stated that the people around him have been, β€œusing the pirated media for a long time,” to watch shows. Josh was mostly obvious to the dangers of using the pirated media because he took safety by word of mouth as his peers suggested, β€œthese sites were good.” When asked about the dangers of using pirated media Josh S. expressed that, β€œNo I should probably do more research.”

Ravi B. discussed that his family led him into watching the sport and that the media β€œWasn’t commercialized in America.” Ravi B. stated that he uses the media to watch, β€œPatriots game.” When asked about the potential dangers, Ravi B discussed that he, β€œknow about viruses and that it can mess up your computer.” Ravi B. did state how he didn’t know much else about how these pirated media could be dangerous.

Franklin Jean, a senior at Blake, explained that he β€œdidn’t have the money” for the β€œexpensive subscription[s]” required to watch new TV shows and movies. Jean. also talked about how people tend to β€œquickly spoil the shows,” meaning that if he didn’t watch them quickly, he could lose out on the experience of new episodes. Jean also talked about how he and his friends, β€œCouldn’t pay for the services,” to watch their shows.

The majority of Blake students do not have the funds to pay for expensive entertainment services as people. It is likely that this is due to the lack of jobs high school students have so it becomes a problem when trying to find ways to get the money. 

Another common problem seems to be social media as people want to enjoy the media without having to worry about spoilers, lack of access, and communicating in social groups. This issue relates to the fast flow of media as well as community members discussing these media topics leading to less enjoyment from certain media. 

In the Blake community it appears that the majority of the students may not know the risks of pirated media due to ease of access, social group suggestions, and lack of overall awareness on the consequences of the pirated sites. The dangerous lack of awareness may lead to serious cases of viruses and malware. 

As discussed, pirated sites can lead to stolen information from students and stealing from creative industries. Problems with the lack of student awareness should be addressed and alternative ways to safely use and obtain media.