In his essay entitled "Links" (p. 490), Steven Johnson observes that "Popular slang has borrowed heavily from the digital idiom" (para.1), and he cites "the ubiquitous 'cyber-’ prefix" and "the broad assault of ‘spamming’" as two of the most prominent examples. What other expressions, turns of phrase, and metaphors can you identify whose origins can be traced to the Internet? Using a search engine, explore the web for essays on the subject of the influence of Silicon Valley on American popular idiom. As you conduct this research, identify as many examples of these terms as possible and focus on three or four that you regard as most widespread in use. Draft an essay in which you argue for–or against–defining these terms in the next edition of the American Heritage Dictionary.

You might visit web sites such as Silicon Valley Slang Page that document and list cyber slang. Try Cyber Kidz, for a dictionary of cyber slang and a multiple-choice slang test; or the Silicon Valley Slang Page, which includes a list of links to other slang sites. Does the slang featured on these sites sound familiar to you? Does it sound obscure? What percentage of the terms listed would you speculate are in widespread use outside of Silicon Valley?

In February 2000, the Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society (SIQSS) released the results of a survey of 4,113 adults in 2,689 households to assess the social consequences of Internet usage in America. Visit the Stanford web site for a summary of the survey, its methodologies, and its findings. What are the main findings? To what extent do they surprise you? The national news media reported widely on the survey. You might search the archives of a major newspaper or magazine (such as WIRED) to assess how the story was covered in the press. Then, write your own 500-word news report on the release of the survey. What aspects of the findings will you emphasize in your report?