We all love being on our laptop, smart phones and ipads, the internet is the big reason behind us spending so much time on these gadgets. The internet is probably one of the greatest inventions of the century. Before this invention we had to go to the library to do our research but now, all we have to do is go to Google and do our research. We can do many things with the internet; we can shop, chat with your friends in Facebook or Skype, watch videos in YouTube, earn money from blogging, and many more!
The internet is really useful and has a lot of advantages, but there are also some disadvantages of using it. Ones need to be very alert when using the internet. Check out this list of advantages and disadvantages of the internet:
Advantages
Faster Communication
The foremost target of Internet has always been speedy communication and it has excelled way beyond the expectations. New innovations are only going to make it faster and more reliable. Now, you can communicate in a fraction of second with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. With the help of such services, it has become very easy to establish a kind of global friendship where you can share your thoughts and explore other cultures.
Information Resources
Information is probably the biggest advantage that Internet offers. Internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of information on any topic under the sun is available on the Internet. The search engines like Google, Yahoo are at your service on the Internet. There is a huge amount of information available on the Internet for just about every subject known to man, ranging from government law and services, market information, new ideas and technical support. Today, it is almost required that students should use it for research or the purpose of gathering resources.
Entertainment
Entertainment is another popular reason why many people prefer to surf the Internet. In fact, the Internet has become quite successful in trapping the multifaceted entertainment industry. Downloading games or just surfing the celebrity websites are some of the uses people have discovered. Even celebrities are using the Internet effectively for promotional campaigns.
One cannot imagine an online life without Facebook or Twitter. Social networking has become so popular amongst youth that it might one day replace physical networking. It has evolved as a great medium to connect with millions of people with similar interests. Apart from finding long-lost friends, you can also look for a job, business opportunities.
Online Services
The Internet has made life very convenient. With numerous online services you can now perform all your transactions online. You can book tickets for a movie, transfer funds, pay utility bills, taxes etc., and right from your home.
Disadvantages
Theft of Personal Information
If you use the Internet for online banking, social networking or other services, you may risk a theft to your personal information such as name, address, credit card number etc. People can access this information through unsecured connections or by planting software and then use your personal details for their benefit. Needless to say, this may land you in serious trouble.
Virus Threat
Internet users are often plagued by virus attacks on their systems. Virus programs are inconspicuous and may get activated if you click a seemingly harmless link. Computers connected to the Internet are very prone to targeted virus attacks and may end up crashing.
Pornography is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the Internet. Internet allows you to access and download millions of pornographic photos, videos and other X-rated stuff. Such unrestricted access to porn can be detrimental for children and teenagers.
Social Disconnect
Thanks to the Internet, people now only meet on social networks. More and more people are getting are drifting apart from their friends and family. Even children prefer to play online games rather than going out and mingling with other kids.
With all its falls the internet has the potential to make your life simple and convenient, as well as wreak havoc in your life. Its influence is mostly dictated by the choices you make while you are online. With clever use, you can manage to harness its unlimited potential.
