Today, the Internet is one of the most powerful
tools throughout the world. The Internet is a collection of various services
and resources. The Internet or the World Wide Web is indeed a wonderful and
amazing addition in our lives. The Internet can be known as a kind of global
meeting place where people from all parts of the world can come together. It is
a service available on the computer, through which everything under the sun is
now at the fingertips of anyone who has access to the Internet. A human brain
to our eyes appears approximately six inches in size only but inside this
little bowl hidden an ocean of ideas and thoughts. Internet is not that little
word as is generally understood but actually it is the name of whole computer
world’s universe which is carrying with it sea of knowledge and information
that deals with each and every topic that exists on the face of the earth.
Today, Internet is providing everyone peculiar
knowledge and information that one needs. The internet has allowed our world to
become a globally connected network that advances knowledge everyday.
The last few years in the society have seen incredible changes
technologically and culturally. Life has become increasingly easier as machines
designed to improve living standards proliferated. Computers have brought so
much information home that many students do all their research from the comfort
of their desktop. Socially the changes have been just as great, though perhaps
not always for the better. Overall, people are feeling less connected to one
another than ever before.
Many sociologists subscribe to the belief that the internet,
in-home computer usage and widespread availability of virtual access, are
transforming modern social and economic life. Problematic to these issues,
however, is whether the changes have been beneficial or detrimental.
If people were to use the Internet primarily
for entertainment and information, the Internet’s social effects might resemble
those of television. However, research has shown that interpersonal
communication is the dominant use of the Internet at home. That people use the
Internet mainly for interpersonal communication, however, does not imply that
their social interactions and relationships on the Internet are the same as
their traditional social interactions and relationships, or that their social
uses of the Internet will have effects comparable to traditional social means
of communication
ADVANTAGES OF THE
INTERNET:
In fact, the advantages out-weigh the
disadvantages. The most common thing the Internet is used for is research.
Children and students are among the top people who use the Internet for
research. Today, it is almost required that students use the Internet for
research. Thirty percent of teachers give assignments requiring research from
the Internet. In the classroom, sixty-six percent of teachers use the Internet
to teach. The Internet has become one of the biggest sources for research.
Almost everyday, research on medical issues becomes easier to locate. Web sites
have become available for people to research diseases and talk to doctors
online at sites.
Another popular thing to do on the Internet is to check out the
news. Almost all local news can be obtained through the Internet. Shopping online has also become a huge success
and is considered a great advantage of the Internet. No matter what people are
shopping for, it can be found on the Internet. People do not even have to leave
their homes. A few companies have collected millions of dollars using the
Internet for selling. Clothing is probably one of the most bought items online.
Almost every major clothing store has its on Web site. Just one click of the
mouse on the items they want to purchase and the items are delivered to their
front door.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET:
Despite all of these advantages of the Internet, there are
numerous disadvantages. Many fear the Internet because of its disadvantages.
They claim to not use the Internet because they are afraid of the possible
consequences or are simply not interested. People who have yet connected to the
Internet claim they are not missing anything. Today technological society must
realize, it is up to them to protect themselves on the Internet.
Children using the Internet have become a big concern. When
children are online, they can easily be lured into something dangerous. When
children talk to others online, they do not realize they could actually be
talking to a harmful person. Most
parents do not realize the dangers involved when their children log onto the
Internet.
Another major disadvantage of the Internet is privacy.
Electronic messages sent over the Internet can be easily snooped and tracked,
revealing who is talking to whom and what they are talking about. People should
become aware that the collection, selling, or sharing of the information they
provide online increases the chances that their information will fall into the
wrong hands. Consequently, they will become a victim of identity theft, one of
the worst privacy violations with potentially devastating financial
consequences. When giving personal information on the Internet, people should
make sure the Web site is protected with a recognizable security symbol. On the
other hand, this does not mean they are fully protected because anyone may obtain
user information.
Today, not only are humans getting viruses, but computers are
also. Computers are mainly getting these viruses from the Internet.
