Written by: Muna Gautam - 25085, Grade XI
Posted on: 15 February, 2024
Introduction
Internet is the interconnected wave of networks that connects computers all around the world. Internet allows us to interact with everything all round the world in a short period of time. The Internet is an essential tool for modern civilization since it makes cross-border communication, information sharing, and collaboration accessible to all. Computer scientists Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf are known as the inventors of the internet as they came up with an idea of Transmission Internet Protocol and Internet Protocol in the 1970s. They are also known as the "Father of internet". Before the 1970s, Larry Robert from MIT invented "Package switching" in 1967 which allowed a way of sending information. Even though the internet was there to communicate and send information, it was not available everywhere. So in the 1990s, Tim Berners Lee created the world wide web and HTML was made the basic building of the computers. It transformed the internet into a user-friendly platform for information access. The Internet has made everything possible in the world of computers like instant messaging, internet relay chat, and electronic communications through the internet. The internet has both positive and negative impacts on our society. It is true that positive impacts overrule the negative. Talking about the bright side, we find many benefits.
Connectivity and communication
The internet has connected the world now. It is possible to communicate to and from anywhere in the world via this hub of networks. More than ever, communication is now more convenient. Thanks to the Internet. The internet has connected us through different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and many others. Social media sites, email, and messaging apps have completely changed how people interact with one another, bridging geographical gaps in relationships.
Information
Through the means of internet, on social media platforms we can get live news from all around the world. Information about almost any topic is available on the internet. It is a helpful resource for communicating and conducting research on a wide range of subjects. You can obtain directions to practically any location in a city, nation by using GPS technology. Nearby services such as restaurants and shopping centers are easily accessible. We can know the real time events around the world by sitting at our home. We can learn about anything through the internet in ChatGPT, YouTube and different platforms. With the development of e-learning platforms, online courses, and educational resources, the internet has completely changed the way people learn. A wide range of information is available to students, which improves their educational experience.
Entertainment
Internet has made our lives much easier. It has become the source of income for many people. It has made it possible to make money online by selling goods or services. It expands the consumer base, which boosts revenue and profit. We can now work from home. Many businesses now permit their staff members to work from home. We can listen to online music, watch movies, videos of our choices and play video games. By sitting at our office we can check everything happening at our home. By creating entertaining videos or about any content now we can earn a lot of money. This can learn about the vacancies and about anything through the internet.
Digital Divide
However, the internet also has some dark sides. The term "digital divide" refers to the unseen gap that exists between those who have easy access to the internet and others who find it difficult to use it. People from the richer background have access to everything but the marginalized people can face many problems as they are not introduced to the world of internet. They find it hard to get computers, phones as they are expensive. So, the internet has also divided the world into two halves where one has access to knowledge about the e world and the other one is still left behind making it hard to get job opportunities, education and information.
Privacy concerns
The internet poses privacy risks. Cybercriminals attempt to steal passwords, do Cyber bullying credential numbers and so much digital information. Third-party apps that are linked to social network accounts may also have access to user data. Businesses track user behavior online, build user profiles, and target you with customized advertisements using cookies and other tracking technologies. Loss of identity and violation of privacy may result from this. Personal information like name, email address, and browsing history is frequently collected by websites and online services. This information may be sold to unaffiliated parties, used for targeted advertising, or even made public through hacking.
Conclusion
Therefore, the internet has numerous other disadvantages like Social isolation, spread of misinformation and it leads to addiction and distraction. It has both positive and negative impacts on our society. So, it must be used wisely in order to learn new things. The internet has countless benefits if it is used wisely. We must be aware of the disadvantages and digital literacy, security measures and mindful behaviors should be applied while using the internet.
