Packing networking has been in place since electronic computers were invented in 1950. It could be considered as the first version of the internet and the US awarded defense contracts in 1960 including packet networking. However, thanks to Tim Berner’s Lee and his research at CERN give we modern internet.
Not only could the internet serve as an instant connection between peer to peer between two or more persons with digital devices, it could be used to send and receive data at atomic level.
How does the internet help in interactions?
The Internet has been the world a smaller place and it also helped people to become more autonomous in their interactions with others. It also has created a certain level of conflict which do not exist in past.
The global connectivity and Internet has fostered parallel societies. While it made you be your own representative, it also let you communicate to the other people in ways that earlier we would not have been able to.
When you live in a parallel society, it is difficult to have direct contact with people in the other society. An example is when they would not be aware of what you were doing or saying about them. However, with the Internet you can have access to all people at the same time. You have the opportunity to see what they are doing and you are informed of things.
If you have a room full of friends, you would be able to see what they are doing and discuss it. However, when you live in a small space, the opportunity is restricted as there is not much space for you to see what everyone is doing. With the Internet, you can be in touch with people from any part of the world and you can discuss anything with them.
The Internet is a very strong medium of propaganda as it has the ability to influence the minds of the people. It has a lot of power in it and it is changing the ways people are thinking and how they think.
Read More: Pros And Cons of Internet Censorship
Is the internet a blessing or curse?
While with the evolution of businesses and technology, individuals have benefited from what the internet offers. However, despite the advantages the internet brought to mankind, there also exist many potential disadvantages. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of the internet to understand whether it is a blessing or a curse.
When we use the internet, we end up getting redirected several times from where we originally came from. Therefore, the most significant advantage of the internet is that we can easily find what we are looking for without the effort of getting on the computer. The downside is that we end up getting confused, wasting our time.
Pros of the internet:
It’s time to discuss the pros of the internet and these are as follows:
Communication takes place globally:
It is possible to chat with someone half-world away in real-time and thanks to the internet. Businesses can also hold global video conferences instead of paying for people to fly in for meetings and entrepreneurs can start with a good idea and expand them to a global audience from a home computer. Thus we can communicate cheaper and easier with each other than ever before in history.
Information is available on the internet openly:
The internet allows you to access information from newspapers from all over the globe and many of them are free, thus you can also follow a blog to get helpful ideas from someone who has conquered a challenge that you are currently facing. It also takes information that is simple keyword research on a preferred search engine and even an 8-year kid learned how to drive a car because of YouTube.
Apply: International Student Essay Contest, 2019: Internet Responsibility
Can connect more easily:
Social media allows people to connect with others unlike any other time in the past and its early days; long-lost friends can find one other and rebuild old relationships.
Today social media allows you to promote business opportunities and local sports teams. It also permits you to have personal causes with incredible ease and in just seconds you can talk with a friend and conversation even if you have not seen him in person for about 10 plus years.
Effective platform to earn from home:
One of the biggest cons of the internet is related to employment and by just having an internet connection anybody can work from home with the plethora of online jobs available. Mothers that used to stay home to take care of their children and household can now be employed as a virtual assistant or custom care representatives. Most entrepreneurs these days can open a home-based business which saves them cost.
With reduced expenses like rent and gasoline, among others, this problem of employment can be solved and women can be empowered.
Make banking and shopping easier for customers:
These days public can buy anything 24/7 from the comfort of their homes and this technology advancement is preferred by some shoppers because they not only save time but also money.
They don’t have to spend on gasoline and be caught in traffic with online shopping. Bank transactions and payments can now be done online and convenience gladly embraced by consumers all the time.
Effective tool to build company image and branding:
The business sector is one of the groups that directly and conveniently take benefits from the internet and it helps start businesses and existing ones to reach out to their clients. It also offers products and services and with the presence of the web, businesses can operate online while allowing customers to order and pay online and they also can let the consumer know about their new products and services. It will be easier for them to establish authority in the industry they belong to and with an interesting website that is user-friendly and responsive in design.
Saves time and get work done quickly:
It also saves time and now company owners can transact business online and save time. Before sending, messages are done with snail mail and with an internet connection. Order can be shipped within a short turnaround time and be available to customers with faster communication. Consequently, it will increase the sales and profit for the company.
Cons of the internet:
Talking about the cons of the internet, if you use this tool for much and you do not control your usage, you may face severe challenges such as, loss of communication with your friends and relatives and even social isolation. Other than this, if you use this tool to your own disadvantage and you abuse it, you may be facing problems such as, loss of your job or school as well as your reputation. Moreover, your child could also become addicted to the internet and addiction in children is at a higher risk than the rest of the population.
Now it’s time to switch towards the cons of the internet and these are as follows.
Internet an addiction:
Internet addiction is an impulse control disorder and it can cause some people to develop an emotional attachment to online friends, activities, or exchange ideas. Moreover, this addiction can also lead to becoming people preoccupied with the internet and risking their jobs in real life. It also brings significant personal relationships for the chance to connect with others online.
Impulse control disorders:
Impulse control disorders or compulsions are defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and it includes the following:
Control and obsession with rules and regulations, hygiene, religious behavior, for example, wearing masks, avoiding bodily functions, hoarding objects and loss of control.
Most often, people with this disorder do things without trying to. For example, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, states that it does not matter what you do, if you do not try it to a certain extent, you will not be able to finish your task. Moreover, they might forget the tasks that they intended to finish. So, this disorder can be incredibly devastating for the family and friends of the people with this disorder as they do not try to control their behavior.
Negative effects of binge-watching TV:
Binge-watching TV shows online can cause binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is defined as a condition in which a person consumes large amounts of food in a short time period. It is also estimated that every 14 minutes, someone will visit the ER for an eating disorder. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, depletion of bodily fluids, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, and vomiting.
Entails expenses:
Business owners and private individuals need to invest in computer systems and you can benefit from this innovation with internet connection and web hosting. Businesses also need to upgrade one time and another and train personnel to automate their system and individuals also need to apply for internet connection and pay for monthly internet expenses. All these include expenses.
Promotes pornography:
One of the biggest cons of the internet is pornography and other cybercrimes. Just one individual capable to upload images and videos online promotes cases of cybercrimes. Scrupulous individuals use this money to take advantage of innocent men and women and children to take part in explicit sexual activities.
Decreased personal privacy:
The amount of personal information shared on the internet is so enormous that personal privacy is at risk and it is not identity theft that is an issue. Kim Kardashian West has stolen jewelry stores from her in Paris because of the amount of information that was being shared and a group of 17 people tracked together. It also located their movements and stuck because of the information freely shared and if you share vacation photos in real-time, then you are announcing to the new world that you are away from home.
Conclusion:
The pros and cons of the internet show that connectivity is either good or bad depending upon how you utilize it.
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