How the internet has affected our lifestyles
The Internet is ranked among the greatest inventions of all time. Undoubtedly, this innovative communication medium has had an impact on almost every individual on the planet. The Internet has significantly changed the way in which people communicate with one another, how they shop and how they acquire information. The influence of this technology is not only felt within the boundaries of the online world, but also in all aspect of our lives. The Internet’s primary purpose is to pass on information. This medium of communication has made it possible to convey information across the globe almost in a flash. This has had an impact on the physical constraints of many, if not all the industries in the world. The structure of administration has changed and the time required to move documents from one place to another has been shortened hence making industries more productive.
The internet has drastically changed the way people consume information. Anyone can instantly access information and news and information can from any place in the world. This means that people can get information faster. Additionally, conventional sources information such as television and newspapers have been obliged to adjust to a new role of including context instead of news. The communication between people has been greatly affected by the introduction of the internet. This communication medium has fundamentally democratized mass communication as anybody can post content on the Internet and it can be accessed by everyone else. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace have transformed the organization of our social lives. Also, websites such as iPlayer and Youtube have revolutionized the shape of entertainment.
Through the internet, we have access to vast sources of knowledge and learning from the entire world. Apart from getting instant access to new, students are able to do research in a better way. They are able to get diverse views about different topics from the information that is readily available. The availability of information from different sources makes it possible for students and everyone else to make smarter decisions. Additionally, more people are changing from the traditional ways of working where people had to go to the office. Presently, with the introduction of the internet, it is possible to work from home. Also employees in organizations are able to work remotely on projects and work jointly even when they are in different location by use of software such as groupware which are dependent on the internet.
Online shopping is a trend that is quickly becoming popular in the world today. This has been made possible by the presence of the internet that is transforming the retail experience and our shopping tendencies. Today, we can buy books, clothes, electronics, and much more from online stores, without having to leave our living rooms. Before, we had to go into a local shopping centre or into town but now we have the option of staying at home and surfing the Internet. With the internet, more retailers are offering their goods online hence creating a shopping revolution.
Despite the positive impacts of the internet, it has also had a negative impact on our lifestyles. First, this medium of communication has contributed to the poor health of most people. People in today’s world spend a considerable amount of time in front of their computers. Computer related diseases such as obesity, back pain and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) have become common today more than ever. Secondly, the internet encourages a personality that is individualistic and results to selfishness.
Thirdly, social media, e-mail and other means of communication that has been made possible by the internet, has negatively affected the way we interact with people. Most people do not see the need to physically interact with friends, especially those in different geographical locations, when they can simply communicate over the internet. The loss of physical contact has been a major cause of failed relationships and friendships. In this way, although the internet has made it convenient for people to communicate, it has created a distance between people due to minimized of personal contact.
Weighing the positive and negative impacts of the internet, I can safely conclude that the internet has tremendously transformed our lifestyles in a positive way. We are able to communicate more conveniently and access information and news at an instant. The internet has also come with the capacity to shop online and work from home. These are definitely attributes that have made our lives so much better and convenient, and outweigh the negative impact of the internet. As regards the negative impact of the internet on our lifestyles, we should just ensure that we use the internet responsibly, and take precaution while using computers.
Works Cited
Luedtke, Pehr. Shopping as We Know It Will Disappear. 2010. 17 May 2012
Marcus, Bess and LeighAnn Forsyth. Motivating People to Be Physically Active. 2, illustrated. Illinois: Human Kinetics, 2008.
Rees, Paul. How Has The Internet Changed Our Lives? 2010. 17 May 2012
Thurlow, Crispin and Laura B Lengel. Computer Mediated Communication: Social Interaction and the Internet. illustrated, reprint. London: SAGE, 2004.
