Position Paper
Introduction
Gone the days when people had to move to the library to find out the desired page of some specific book kept on a particular shelf in order to access the required information. The modern age is the age of technology, and everything is made available on one’s fingertips through the internet. However, pros and cons of this revolutionary technology have been a controversial debate ever since its inception. The writer (of this paper) based on his insight into the matter has the following take on this matter:
“Access to an expanding amount of information on the Internet yields greater good than harm.”
Mostly, the harms are considered to be centered on youth due to their immature approach. Here, it is important to refer to the recent research conducted by Anderson and Raine (2012), where 55% of total participants anticipate better cognitive growth of children by 2020 due to easy availability of information, while 42% opposed this idea. This paper sets out to conduct a logical comparison to show how the axis is tipped in favor of benefits of the vast information available on the internet.
Arguments in Favor
Despite all the criticism, the fact that Web 2.00 has contributed a lot to bring social and cultural harmony among different nations of the world cannot be denied. Earlier, people used to get information about the approach to different religious and traditional matters of other ethnic groups from their forefathers, religious authorities, books, or some other sources that were not free from favoritism and bias. Now they, without exposing their identity, can get information relating to any dimension of any religion or culture from neutral sources to remove their doubts lying at the base of deep rooted prejudice. Thus, growing social and cultural understanding can put the idea of “making this world a better place to live in” to life.
The contribution of the internet to education is also appreciable. Having gone through a process of evolution, it has almost grown into an essential part of the educational system. It is evident that it is far easier to memorize and remember a thing that is seen than that is heard. Use of multimedia technology to display infographics relevant to each lecture is not only a source of grabbing the attention of students in an interesting way but also help them learn in a more productive way than otherwise (Deore, 2012). Based on that the writer has conceived the following equation:
Education + Internet = Real Education
Growing trends of internationalization and multinationals also necessitate easy access to information available on the internet to stay updated about the trends and tradition in each and every targeted geographic segment. Marketing managers owe a great deal to the underlying technology for the successful implementation of their international modes of entry and marketing strategies, especially, in the case of culturally distant areas. That is the reason why the majority of analysts recommends China to soften its censorship relating to the use of the internet. Even though it has been beneficial in some areas, especially, while seen from the perspective of the mental development of juveniles, it has widespread negative implications. It obstructs the inflow of potential foreign investment, as a vast percentage of investors are reluctant to invest in a country that does not provide easy access to internet data. Such censorship creates challenges for strategic managers that need to stay updated on emerging trends and changing preferences to shape their strategies accordingly (Gibbs, 2016).
Opposing Arguments
Easy access to information on the internet has always been the target of criticism by different schools of though. Some of them vituperate it for its being a source of spreading vulgarity by stuffing immature minds with adult information, while other condemn it for an easy way to learn criminal techniques. More than 500 cases of critical hacking mainly involving government cooperates is an evident example of that (Cohen, 2016). However, the benefits in terms of education and business discussed above not only offset but also exceed these negative implications.
However, the most compelling argument, as identified by the writer, comes from a theoretical take on the matter dating 2000 years back and stated by Carr (2010) in his journal. According to that, the excess of information “makes one dumb”. In other words, there is vast information about each idea available on the internet of various types and extending into different directions. It has made even harder to determine which part of it is more reliable than others making it even more difficult for people to conclude confidently.
Conclusion
The writer has conducted a critical analysis of the merits and demerits of the internet by keeping different dimensions in view. According to empirical evidence covered in this paper, the benefits of the internet on corporate and education level, as well as those relating to cognitive learning fairly, outweigh its disadvantages. Therefore, the ancient philosophical idea (relating to excessive of information) loses its application when it comes to the internet. Therefore, the growth of information available on the internet should be encouraged. However, some practical measures should also be introduced to prevent the negative use of this blessing. References
Anderson, J., and Raine, L. (2015). Tension Pair on Youth and Tech Effects. Pew Internet. Retrieved September 4, 2016, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/29/main-findings-teens-technology-and-human-potential-in-2020/
Carr, N. (2010). Does the Internet Make You Dumber? WSJ. Retrieved September 4, 2016, from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704025304575284981644790098
Cohen, J. (2016). The Internet Is Your Worst Enemy if You’re a Criminal Informant. Vice. Retrieved September 4, 2016, from http://www.vice.com/read/internet-criminal-informants-snitches-lawyers-cops
Deore, M. K. (2012). The Educational Advantages of Using Internet. International Journal E-Journal, 1(2), 110-112.
Gibbs, K. (2016). Why a rising China needs to raise its internet shutters. G20. Retrieved September 4, 2016, from http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2011158/why-rising-china-needs-raise-its-internet-shutters
Teichmann, R. (2008). The Philosophy of Elizabeth Anscombe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
