What does PIPA/SOPA mean? They are the Protect IP Act and Stop Online Piracy act. These two taken in conjunction basically give the government the rights to control everything on the internet- what can or cannot be posted, what can be censored, and enforces strict copyright laws. Say you have a YouTube video of a collage of pictures with friends and in the background a Taylor Swift song is playing- your video and site could be taken down due to copyright infringement!

Sites like Wikipedia and Reddit blacked out in order to protest the anti- internet acts. In doing so, Twitter feeds blew up with people writing things like "guess I’m going to have to hand in my report a day later!!" Thousands of websites posted links to call senators and oppose the bill from being passed. The truth of the matter is that the Internet is far too vast to be censored. Plus, who could live without hilarious YouTube videos and Tumblr posts? I know I can’t!

How would you feel if you lost control of the internet?

*UPDATE* Senate has backed down until further notice!

-Patti, contributing elfette