Internet, It’s Meaning And Effects
The first prototype of the Internet in workable form came in the late 1960s with the creation of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). This was originally funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. ARPANET used certain packets that included switching to allow multiple computers to communicate on a single network. The Internet was started as the World Wide Web in its primary form and was formed by Tim Berner Lee.
Pros Of The Internet
- It provides effective communication and provides email and instant message services all around the world.
- It improves business transactions and interactions, saves a lot of important time.
- Online banking and online shopping have made life easier.
- The latest news can be accessed from anywhere without a newspaper or magazine.
- Various e-books are available that have made studying and access to online courses easier for children.
- Job Applications and interviews have also become easier as most companies advertise their vacancies online, with online applications becoming the norm. For faraway places, online interviews encourage a wide range of applicants to apply.
- Research professionals may exchange material online with each other, thus making exploring new possibilities way easier.
Cons Of Overusing The Internet :
- Facile availability of illegal or inappropriate materials online that isn’t age-suitable, also the availability of extremely treacherous websites such as dark web which include sale and purchase of drugs and other illegal possibilities.
- Addiction to social networking sites can disrupt an individual’s life, both personally and professionally. That may have minacious effects on a teenager’s life or even in an adult’s life. It may lead to anxiety, nervousness, even depression at times and may additionally give them Internet Addiction Disorder(IAD).
- Some miscreants use the internet to hack into people’s accounts for spurious activities, including stealing data or banking information. Some hackers might create chaos by hacking into some people’s accounts, or some might find confidential information and may lead to blackmail, while some of them might seek some revenge.
- Hate crime is no news. While it may be fueled enough by the widespread internet, people today are enabled to share their views with others that may not just be the good part but also may prove hazardous to others. People may create about others on Social media platforms and threaten that community or religion.
Advantages Vs. Disadvantages Of Electronic Gadgets
Electronic Gadgets like phones, laptops, computers, and tablets are today in the hands of everyone. It is funny how some people may not get food to eat, but their phone is a must-have. This might sound amusing at first but is taking more serious surfacing in current times.
People have forgotten to live without their phones. They cannot even spend a single day without any digital interaction. Gadgets may look all fun and interesting, to begin with, but comes with hidden shortcomings like causing both physical and mental damage to a person’s health.
If a child spends too much time on gadgets, he is more likely to become overweight, develop vision problems, and develop seizures in the future. A report by the National Nutrition Committee of the Philippines suggested that if a kid under the age of five spends more than two hours on any electronic device like television, phone, or tablet, it will create trouble with his mental development and may lead to cognitive difficulties and attention deficit and the damage occurred will be irreversible in nature.
So it is advised that children indulge in physical games as much as possible instead of watching their favourite cartoon or youtube channel. However, Adults and teenagers face difficulties such as text neck, iPad elbow, computer vision syndrome, etc. Yes, these names might sound phoney, but they are equally realistic and painful.
Text neck is a condition where our neck permanently gains a downward bending shape caused by looking at a device under the neck for hours, and the beginning phase may be cured by simple exercises. Still, if the problem gets serious, physiotherapy may be a better approach.
Computer vision syndrome is when eyes start hurting due to looking at the fluorescent light from the computer for hours, and eyes become tired by looking at the smaller size of the text. This may be cured by taking short breaks during using a computer or laptop and relaxing eyes for a while like splashing cold water might help.
Internet Is A Double-Edged Sword
However, the list of benefits from the internet is long, but the list of backdrops, the internet, and these gadgets are neverending. As the old people say, “Enough of everything is hazardous in nature.” These gadgets might be used only for the use and not just as a part of enjoying all the time. Instead, we should develop healthy habits that might benefit the body and mind like exercise, reading books, bonding with friends and family, and focusing on study or career.
These habits prove more beneficial as compared to sitting there and wasting time on any gadget. So, it is your choice to make, whether you prefer to be healthy, experienced, or just some ill or socially awkward person who just interacts with technology.
This article is an opinion piece and does not intend to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings.