Preview

Why the Positive Effects of Internet Use Outweigh the Bad

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2083 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why the Positive Effects of Internet Use Outweigh the Bad
As with any new technology, everyone is always talking about the negative side effects of the internet and saying how it ruins real face to face relationship, fills our minds with filth and damages our eyes and melts our brains. As usual it’s the panic mongers whose voices are most heard in the media and it’s gotten to such a point that people begin to feel guilty when they boot up their computer. The same things were said about rock music when records were at their most popular, and about televisions when they were first invented. The fact of the matter remains however that we still use both music players and televisions and that the internet isn’t going anywhere either. The reason for this is that although all these things do have a few downsides (like anything), they also have a plethora of upsides. The positive effects of internet use far outweigh the negatives, whether you’re a child, a pensioner or a business man and to say otherwise is not only small minded but destructive.

Before we get onto the positive effects of internet use, let’s start with these much touted negative side effects. The naysayers would have us believe that the internet prevents us from interacting on a face to face basis and destroys old fashioned pursuits of writing letters and speaking on the phone; people even meet their spouses online these days! With business and finance now handled online we’re also far too dependent on the internet and would be at a loss should it break down. With the internet in our pocket we’re now never ‘disconnected’ and are at our boss’ beck and call 24 hours a day. Our bank cards are also more susceptible than ever to fraud and theft… And through all this we’re getting addicting and neglecting our real relationships, stuck inside in a more and more hermit like existence. They also say that sitting in front of a computer prevents us from getting outside and basking in fresh air and instead gives us repetitive strain injuries, hunched over spines and square

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    This comical take on the socialization of the Internet is extreme. Today, we need both pond-skaters and scuba divers; we need to master the ability to access facts while reserving time and space to do something meaningful with them. It is true our technologies are changing us, but in ways we can neither anticipate nor control. Because of the instant access to the Internet, we are able to get answers faster and more efficiently; this gives us an advantage toward learning, and in return can affect us. Overall I feel that if the Internet is being overused, therefore there may be long term gradual effects. I’m willing to take risk the chance, if I’m learning; soaking up new information in the process. Lastly, Carr says: "As we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence." This may be true, if you wrongly abuse your sources of information; just as anything can be misused. Take and use what we have when we need it, not just only when we want it and have to have…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Overall the internet has many pros and many cons. Some people believe that it is a good thing, some people believe it is a bad thing, and some people think it is both. I feel like we are blaming the internet for this problem when really it is the human's decision to be obsessed and attached to the internet and…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are more cons than pros for the Internet. Nicholas Carr has many great pieces of evidence to support his thesis. I agree because the Internet can take you down many wrong paths but at the same time technology is our future. Today people are not focusing on trying to improve our future, they are worried about today’s fashion or video games or celebrities. One of the studies Carr looked at was by Cornell which figured out that web surfing does distract students. This is good information for schools on how to help their students learn in the best way, and stay on track. The neuroscientist named Michael Merzenich made a very dramatic reason what the long-term effects of the Internet. Merzenich said the Internet could lead to death, which could be right but we don’t have any proof at the moment. At the same time, I think the Internet is a great source for information. I wish Carr talked a little about how the Internet also has important information…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    We are so reliant on the internet to deliver us basically everything. It’s rare that a household wont have WI-FI. As a society we rely too much the internet. This causes people to go out in the world less. Why go see a movie in a theater when its available to stream right in the living room. We are becoming lazy, this is also a cause of depression. The internet is also changing the way people think, as well as their cognitive thinking process. Our generation does not have as much advanced thinking skills as the generation before us. When a question is asked, or when research is being conducted; people use search engines to find all of the information as quickly as possible. This creates a mindset that the internet will do all of the thinking for a person. Essentially making the person lazy, and have the mindset that they can just look everything up online. This type of thinking is not productive, before the internet; when books were used as the main source of information, the person must read the book to find the desired information, which intern, could result in learning more information. More opportunities for deep thought are presented, therefore the person might understand and actually take in the information. With the internet people have the easy way out, they can look up answers for assignments or try and cheat off someone else’s essay. People are lazy, and the internet helps them become even lazier. The internet…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Today the Internet has created some really bad issues. First of all, viruses are a problem for the web and its users because they cause damage to their computers. A virus is sent and received as an e-mail through the Internet, and if a computer receives a virus, it is expensive to fix. Therefore, people will have to buy a new mother board in order to get the computer to work again. Another bad thing that often occurs on the Internet is fraud. Frauds are most likely to happen online; therefore, people should avoid giving any personal information for example credit card numbers, debit card numbers, home addresses, and especially not social security numbers. When shoppers are buying merchandise through the Internet with a debit or a credit card, they may have a good chance of getting fraud. People don't only lose money, but they can also get their identity stolen. Pornography is also a negative side of the Internet because a kid can get to it just by clicking the mouse. Pornography pages do say "Adults Only"; however, this does not stop an underage children from looking through the pornography pages. The Internet is the easiest way for a child to get to pornography; in fact, pornography causes serious damages to a child. A child can become addicted to sex, distract him/her from his/her normal school activities, and can grow up with a perverted mind. Viruses, frauds, and pornography are a few examples…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pathos And Logos

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The author’s main goal is not to create hate nor to create fear against the use of the Internet in our society. I believe the objective of the author is to simply inform the audience about the disadvantages of frequently using the Web. Just like any other things in this world, no matter how great they are, they will all have some sort of a…

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    carr

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Internet and other forms of technology have been involved in the reformation of our lives. The article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid," by Nicholas Carr primarily focuses on the influence of the internet on our thinking behaviors, while in the article "Another Look Back, and a Look Ahead," by Edward Tenner mainly focuses on advances and setbacks of that go hand in hand with technology. In the modern world, technology has been an extremely vital well of knowledge that contributes to our lives. The internet includes all sorts of information on all topics one can think of. It allows for us to answer all of our questions with a very simple steps. Even though the internet and technology are undeniably important assets of the modern world, people should rely more on their skills rather than relying on technology for all their necessities. The ability to socialize with others is more important than the internet. It is the basis of our lives and the only method of communication between human beings. There have been more cases of social awkwardness than ever before, and it is believed to be connected with the internet. Simply sitting down in front of a monitor and searching for all that we need isolates us from those around us and takes away some of our social abilities, thus making it harder and more awkward to get back into society.…

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our planet is ruled by technology. For many people texting is as natural as breathing and children know how to use a computer properly by the age of ten. Letters are only written at Christmas and even then many people prefer an e-letter. Technology has changed our lives entirely. It often can have a bad influence. Kids don’t spend as much time outside anymore because they prefer playing videogames. Social contacts are often made through the internet rather than in person. But this can also be a benefit. Last year one out of eight married couples in the U.S. met on the internet. The internet has brought us boundless possibilities. We can communicate with friends that are miles away, without having to wait months for a letter to arrive. We can…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The internet/computer only took an astonishing four year to reach 50 million users while it took the television 13 years and the radio 38 years (Shrivastav, "Interesting Facts about Computers"). Everyday more and more people are starting to use their computer for all kinds of different reasons. The use of a computer is appealing to everyone because it is so easy to do anything on it. Adults can read news for free and children can play games on it. Computers are putting the health of our society at risk. The constant use of computers leads to poor posture, childhood obesity, and dangerous radiation.…

    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The positive effects of this technological change are that it affords the individuals of this country the ability to save time and participate in things that would not necessarily be able to accomplish if you did not have the ability to access the internet. The internet saves us time by allowing us to buy gifts if you are in a hurry and do not have the ability to go into a store to purchase a gift. The internet allows you to pay your bills online, if forgotten allows you to get the payment in a little more quickly then by traditional postage. The internet even allows you to check your bank account balance online and transfer funds between accounts as needed. The internet allows you to save time, by purchasing gifts, paying bills or checking your account balances on line it allows you to save time in your life and reduce stress. In addition to the internet saving you time it also affords you the ability to participate in and accomplish things that you would not necessarily be able to, such as the ability to achieve your Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Phoenix online. I, as a retail store manager, do not have the time to attend a traditional four year University. The internet allows me to accomplish goals that I would not have been able to do without it.…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Internet Credibility

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I work in an industry filled with people who claim “the internet was the worst thing to happen to the second oldest industry”. This people are not dumb by any stretch of the imagination they all have well over 30 years’ experience and have been in the trenches. This men and woman are veterans in their own right and have been credited for helping pave the way for all the new gladiators of our profession. So, why would intelligent hard working people claim the internet, one of the most powerful and useful media is not for them? The answer is simple, fear of the unknown, but to these naysayers, I say “I am a speeding train, you are either onboard or you are lying on the tracts, either I am coming through.”…

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Although we want it to, nothing will ever be perfect in the world. Yes, the internet has some awful disadvantages that can really hurt some people, but it also has amazing advantages that really help people from day to day. It isn’t fair for people to pick a side about the internet without first looking at all of the pros and cons. They weigh each other out in the long run. As Joshua Green states in his essay, “Through these websites, smiles can be brought to people’s faces, or lives can be completely destroyed.”…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The era of the Internet is giving people many tools and advantages that help them been available at any time and place and they are been more productive. It has also helped corporations becoming efficient and increased their exposure to the public. All pros come with cons, and the Internet cons are affecting people and corporations as well. People and companies are been exposed to the dark side of the Internet with security breaches.…

    • 533 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ever since its inception in 1982, the internet has become an essential part of the average person’s life. Many people see the internet as a place for entertainment, research, and communication. Although the invention of the internet allows for easy access to information and communication, there are some negative effects, such as encouraging cheating, corrupting children, and hindering development of social skills as well.…

    • 670 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    4) Information at various levels of study. Everything from scholarly articles to ones directed at children.…

    • 1366 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics