Influence of Internet on the Society (Essay Sample)

Influence of Internet on the Society Insert Name {} Institution {} Influence of Internet on the Society Introduction The internet is one of the most important and fastest growing mediums for disseminating information in the society and world at large; the internet makes the world appear just like a small global village. It has brought about a complete revolution in the way that things were done in the past by coming up with new ways of doing the same. However in adopting the use of the internet as a means of communication and a source of information the various members of the society have been affected both positively and negatively. There is therefore a need to explore these effects so as to determine how the internet can be used to benefit the society. The internet and the Society The internet is a powerful tool and its impacts differently on people of various walks of life in a societal setting. It has also created a channel of communication that is easy, fast and convenient to the users. There are various types of information that can be accessed over the internet; this information can have a positive or negative impact depending on the content and the purpose for which it is used (Norman & Erbring, 2000). One of the groups in the society that interacts to a large extent with the internet is the youth; for this group, the internet presents a perfect opportunity for them to be able to relax as well as to interact with their friends. There is a general uproar in the society over the rate at which the youth are being affected negatively by the internet; this arises from the fact that most of the youth spend long hours on the social networking sites chatting to people who might even be total strangers to them. Some of the sites that are readily available on the internet can end up having a negative impact on those who have access to them; indeed some members of the society have become addicted to vices like pornography and crime as a result of regularly visiting sites that portray these vices as just a normal means of lifestyle. On the other hand, there are very many ways in which the internet contributes positively to societal welfare and development. It is important to note that the internet is a rich source of information and with information knowledge is attained which leads to a societal enlightenment (Wellman et al., 2001). Professionals use the internet as a forum whereby they can be able to share their views and information on their professions that can help to advance their careers. Scholars use the internet to publish their research findings and the entire academic world can be in a position to access this information and remain up to date with the recent developments in research and technology (Rheingold, 2000). The social networking sites such as facebook and twitter can also be used positively to pass on information that can be helpful to the society at large; the members of the society can be able to seek for help on any pressing issues as well as popularize events to all the other m...