The Effect of the Internet on People’s Lives

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The Effect of the Internet on People’s Lives

Introduction

Today, approximately 4.5 billion people across the world use the internet. The Internet is the most innovative and population creation of modern-day. The web is a place where all kinds of data are readily available, and it makes the communication process feasible. Because of its vast benefits, the planet has become reliant on the internet. In my opinion, the internet has more benefits than disadvantages in people’s lives. While some people hold that the internet is beneficial, naysayers insist that the internet is detrimental. This essay highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the internet and provides a position to the argument.

The Internet Keeps People Informed

One of the ways through which the internet has benefited people’s lives is by keeping people informed. It is a no-brainer that the internet is the largest source of the latest news that exists today. With the emergence of various social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Reddit, news is now travelling fast. The internet has also led to the development of thousands of news services and groups that keep people informed round-the-clock. People that like to read about politics, news, weather, and emerging issues can do so with the touch of a button (Abi Sen, Eassa, Jambi, & Yamin, 2018). The internet has played a huge role in keeping people informed about emerging issues like the global pandemic that is currently ongoing. Were it not for the internet, countries across the world would never have known about the disease in the first place.

The Internet is a Source of Entertainment

Another benefit of the internet is that it keeps people entertained. The internet paved the way for various entertainment activities, including online games, surfing, chatting, dramas, movies, and television shows. Additionally, games have now become readily available, with some being free. Chat rooms have also increased over time because of development of new interaction platforms. This has made it possible for people to discuss various issues ranging from personal matters, politics, news from different corners of the world. Online movies have also become readily available and accessible because of the emergence of the internet.

Online Shopping

The third benefit of the internet is that it has made online shopping easier. Online shopping has become more popular in the last few years than in-person shopping. There are many virtual shops where people can buy products they want without having to leave the comfort of their homes. Clothes shopping particularly has slowly become popular for women. By logging on to a website, a person can shop whatever items they like. Additionally, the internet has also made it easier for people to shop for household items and groceries, making life more convenient.

Countergaument

The Internet Creates Room for Fraud

One of the main arguments concerning the use of the internet has to do with increased fraud cases. The internet led to online business and virtual shops and the use of credit cards for purchases. This has made it possible for frauds to steal from unsuspecting customers. It is getting increasingly difficult to tell legitimate businesses from illegitimate ones with increased social media advertising. Some people will try to steal their clients, personal information and credit card information and use them to commit fraud (Rayan, Dadoul, Jabareen, Sulieman, Alzayyat, & Baker, 2017). There is no denying that this is a possibility, however, it is the duty of the client to carry out background checks to avoid the possibility of being scammed.

Conclusion

In closing, the emergence of the internet has its fair share of benefits and disadvantages. The internet has made it possible for people to shop online without having to leave their homes. It is also a source of entertainment and it helps keeping people informed. In future, people that use the internet should run a background check on the websites they intend to purchase from to reduce the possibility of being scammed.

References

Abi Sen, A. A., Eassa, F. A., Jambi, K., & Yamin, M. (2018). Preserving privacy in internet of things: a survey. International Journal of Information Technology, 10(2), 189-200.

Rayan, A., Dadoul, A. M., Jabareen, H., Sulieman, Z., Alzayyat, A., & Baker, O. (2017). Internet use among university students in south West Bank: prevalence, advantages and disadvantages, and association with psychological health. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 15(1), 118-129.