The advantages and disadvantages of the Internet

The Internet has transformed the way we get hold of information and the way we communicate. Using a search engine such as Google, we can access a huge range of information on an enormous number of topics on the Internet in a very short time. Before, this would have involved a great many different resources, such as reference books, and several trips to the library.

Having all this information at our fingertips is, however, not without its disadvantages. Unlike the information supplied by most high-quality reference books, information obtained from the Internet is by no means always accurate. There is no monitoring of the Internet to check for wrong information. People can write what they want on their websites.

The Internet is obviously a valuable educational tool, but it can create problems in educational circles. Finding so much information so easily on the Internet sometimes makes students stop thinking for themselves. They may simply google a topic, rather than try to come up with some original ideas of their own. Some students have even been known to copy whole essays from the Internet.

There is another problem which can occur when people are looking for information on the Internet. There are thousands of sites on the Internet containing pornographic material.

These sites can be accessed accidentally by children and can cause them great distress. For this reason, it is vital that parents monitor their children’s use of the Internet.

The Internet has had an amazing effect on the speed of communication. Instead of laboriously writing letters and sending them through the postal service, we now email a great deal of our correspondence. It arrives instantly, no matter how distant the destination. This is of particular benefit to businesses.

One disadvantage of email is that many people get inundated with unwanted emails, known as spam. Often these are for the purpose of advertising goods or services. Some people are subjected to spamming, the receipt of unwanted emails in bulk. These do not serve any useful purpose, but they can cause a block in the entire email system.

Many business transactions can now be conducted using the Internet. Instead of going shopping people can order goods, make travel arrangements, etc, and pay for them online. They can even conduct their banking business online.

All this is extremely convenient and time-saving. However, again, there is a drawback. Unscrupulous hackers can gain access to private personal data revealed in the course of such transactions. They then make use of the data to steal people’s money and even take over their identity.

People also use the Internet to provide entertainment. Some make a hobby out of surfing the Net while some download games, music, movies or other entertainment software.

Others use the Internet to extend their social network. They visit online chat rooms in order to make contact with new and interesting people, but there are serious problems connected with chat rooms.

Some people can become so dependent on these relationships that they neglect their friends and family and become rather separated from the real world. However, the main problem is that bad people hide their real identities when they are visiting chat rooms. They deceive the innocent people they are chatting with. Sometimes these innocent people are children.

There is no doubt that the Internet provides us with a treasure house of information and entertainment. However, we must guard against the harm it can do, particularly to our children.