Desktop Computer Packages

If everybody in the world turned there computer off, would the internet cease to exist?

Logically, the internet is a meeting of computer hardware and software thus if every computer in the world is switched off, the forum cannot exist as it has no physical entity.

Public Comments

1. yes as for every computer to be off this would mean all the pc's at the server farms providing the web pages you view would be turned off too.
2. This is IT! I'm swiching my computer right now. Come on people! Swich the computers off! Lets kick some internet's ass! :)
3. i think you just answered your own question.
4. Yes, the internet is made up entirely of all the computers connected to the net so if they were all switched off then the internet would instantly cease to exist.
5. To all intents and purposes, yes. Although it would wink back into existence as soon as two linked computers were switched on again. The information and data that makes up the internet wouldn't cease to exist. It just the links that won't be there.
6. I reckon it would still be there waiting to be accessed - just like the sea is there whether people are in it or sailing on it or not
7. You would only need the web servers to disconnect from the internet, since they are the ones holding all the information. Then if anyone else tried to access a webpage, they would keep getting the "page not found" message.
8. yes your right it would cease to exist because all computers are connected to make up the internet.
9. wow i never thought of that.....
10. so...if you've answered your own question, i suppose its really a rhetorical question then. however, the information would still exist, stored away and can be revived within seconds, so it will virtually still exist. the internet is not just hardware and software, its the middle ware, us humans! har har seriously - its like a falling tree in the woods, if there was no one there to hear the sound of it falling, it would still produce noise (say on camera or something). the philosophy of the matter is really just a bit of confusion confined to your mind...set it free and hope this leads to a happier path for you on life's information highway!
11. I switched off 6 hours ago But, just checking if anyone has asked a question ...
12. You are wrong. There are physical cables, wires and equipment that underlay the network. Apply your logic to the scenario of if everyone in the world switched of their radios or televisions, would these medias cease to exist? Of course not, because the infrastructure of it all remains for when it is all switched on.
13. Does your bedroon cease to exist when you turn off the light? indiandy
14. The internet would still be there, as the physical connections are still there, even though the computers are switched off, you just won't be able to browse the web at all.
15. The thing is that not everyone has a pc with internet, some people just have computers, the internet will still exist, thing about it, you turn your pc off, you still got the internet the next day. my answer is no..
16. If a tree falls in a woods does it make a sound??? It won't shut down. When you turn off your computer does all your e-mail disappear? The minute you turn it on again it's there. It's called cyberspace!!
17. The internet will still be there except that it will not be in use.