Search engines
Introduction
Due to the advanced technology nowadays, the use of computer is getting more popular in addition to that of the Internet. The age of users is also becoming younger. Most adolescents tend to stick to their computers everyday without caring the surrounding.
Recently, a piece of news mentioned that the post 80s are having the symptom of relying too much on web search engines which help users find specific information by typing keywords only1. They think that searching by engines can obtain accurate data and save time. They are said to have ‘search engines dependence’ which means that they rely on searching every word without thinking nowadays. According to the survey conducted by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Centre, nearly one-tenth of people surveyed thought that they are at the severe level of the symptom. It also pointed out that people cannot think independently when they abusively use the search engines.
From the article in a famous online magazine also explained that search engines will have effects on one’s memory and thinking ability2. In the article, Psychologist Betsy Sparrow found that people treat the Internet like their personal memory bank. Teenagers are not willing to memorize information they need simply because they can look it up in the net easily by using a search engine. It lowers their ability of memory. It is also predicted that widely use in search engines will affect teens thinking ability. They tend to directly copy and paste the data they found after using search engines without any deeper understanding and integration. They are lack of independent thinking. They will not grasp the ideas and knowledge that already present in their mind.
Needless to say, the attitude of young adults will definitely affect the younger generation. In light of this, the problem of web search engines to teenagers is greatly concerned. Are teens having the same symptom? How severe the problem is among Hong Kong students? What can be
Due to the advanced technology nowadays, the use of computer is getting more popular in addition to that of the Internet. The age of users is also becoming younger. Most adolescents tend to stick to their computers everyday without caring the surrounding.
Recently, a piece of news mentioned that the post 80s are having the symptom of relying too much on web search engines which help users find specific information by typing keywords only1. They think that searching by engines can obtain accurate data and save time. They are said to have ‘search engines dependence’ which means that they rely on searching every word without thinking nowadays. According to the survey conducted by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Centre, nearly one-tenth of people surveyed thought that they are at the severe level of the symptom. It also pointed out that people cannot think independently when they abusively use the search engines.
From the article in a famous online magazine also explained that search engines will have effects on one’s memory and thinking ability2. In the article, Psychologist Betsy Sparrow found that people treat the Internet like their personal memory bank. Teenagers are not willing to memorize information they need simply because they can look it up in the net easily by using a search engine. It lowers their ability of memory. It is also predicted that widely use in search engines will affect teens thinking ability. They tend to directly copy and paste the data they found after using search engines without any deeper understanding and integration. They are lack of independent thinking. They will not grasp the ideas and knowledge that already present in their mind.
Needless to say, the attitude of young adults will definitely affect the younger generation. In light of this, the problem of web search engines to teenagers is greatly concerned. Are teens having the same symptom? How severe the problem is among Hong Kong students? What can be