The Internet so far has influenced society in so many different ways. It has immense effect on the culture, social, political and economic values and advancement of recent times.
The impact of the Internet on society could be positive or negative.
In this article, I will be discussing the various impact of the Internet on individuals and society at large.
The Internet can be defined as a global system of interconnected computer networks that allows users to communicate between networks and computer devices.
It was launched in 1991 by Tim Berners, the inventor of the World Wide Web (www). Since its launch till date, it has been recorded that the Internet is been used by about 65.6% of the world’s population.
The Internet has made communication with people in various parts of the world at the same time possible. It has changed the pace of things and developed numerous means of thinking, working and connecting.
It has provided access to unlimited sources of information from various sites and individuals across the globe.
The Internet has become the voice of young individuals who love to express their opinion on political liberation, culture, social activities and even conspiracy theories.
The Internet is filled with limitless amounts of knowledge, both good and bad.
The positive impact of the Internet on the society are:
Communication made easy
The Internet has procured numerous and effective ways of reaching out to loved ones, friends and business partners, irrespective of their location. These means include email and instant messaging applications like WeChat, WhatsApp, Google can’t, Signal, etc.
Online shopping/banking
The Internet has made it possible for individuals to buy things online and carry out different transactions without moving an inch from their comfort zones.
Educational purpose
There are millions of books, journals and articles published on the Internet that can be very helpful to students. People can now register and participate in courses and attend lectures without having to step into an actual school building. A lot of videos and materials have been and are being made available on the Internet to make research easier for students.
Job opportunities
The Internet has granted its users access to a vast amount of job opportunities and means through which they can earn money with their skills, e.g. Fiverr and Upwork. It also made the advertisement of job opportunities easier and more global. Interested individuals can now apply for jobs of interest and even undergo interviews/screenings without having to be physically present at the company’s location.
The negative effects of the Internet on the society are:
Inappropriate content
The Internet is a wild space where there are lots of toxic and inappropriate stuff with no restrictions for under-aged individuals.
Addiction
The inability to properly manage the use of the Internet can lead to addiction which can destroy one’s personal and professional life.
Criminal activities
The Internet is used by criminals to either lure innocent victims for horrendous purposes or to hack into people’s accounts to commit all sorts of illegal activities.
Unchecked screen time
Inasmuch as the Internet helps with studying, it often causes addiction leading to long screen time which in turn causes a lot of health issues such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, eye sprain, suicide attempt, etc.
The impact of the Internet on individuals and society is unending. As it continues to evolve, its usage and impact intensifes for good or bad. We should note that it is in our place to use the Internet for our benefit and for those around us.
It is possible to allow the Internet to use you, or allow yourself to use it. Your best bet will be to follow the latter, evolve with the Internet for good, and do not let its impact on you be scarry.