Is Being “Plugged-In” Bad for Us?
The internet has changed daily life in so many aspects, and still is. The way people communicate, do work, share information, and even travel has all been digitalized. Everyone seems to be connected nowadays. Some one in India can get in touch with someone in America with the click of a button. Even small things like Scrapbooking albums have changed, instead of Scrapbooking on paper, people scrapbook internet collections. The internet can be used by virtually all people. There are users as young as four years old to senor citizens. This openness in the world can also be dangerous. In the past five years we have seen a climb in inter-net related crimes. It is a very sharp double sided sword, extreme good and extreme bad can come from the internet.
If used constructively, the internet is a powerful instrument. It can be a great mean to get in touch with with distant loved ones. Sites such as my space and face book connect people. Personally, I wouldn’t have one if it weren’t for the fact that it allows me to keep in touch with relatives in Maryland and friends in Minnesota and Palestine. I have a family friend whose son visited Chile and they used face book to keep in touch, send photos and document his journey. If it weren’t for the internet, he would have barely been able to talk to his son for three months because there was no cell phone service in Chile.
However, if used inappropriately or in a dangerous fashion, the internet is dangerous. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to completely control predators on the internet. So, allowing children on the internet can be dangerous if they misuse it. Learning proper internet safety guidelines is pivotal to using the internet wisely. Also, parents need to block inappropriate or unfit sites from their children.
The internet can also be dangerous for adults. Sites such as Craig’s list and eBay are playgrounds for scams, con artist and predators. On eBay, being fooled is easy and you may end up buying a faulty product or something that you never get. Ebay scams have become an art, however it’s completely avoidable if careful. In the news recently, there have been murderers and inappropriate users rampant on Craig’s list. The Police can’t patrol this site, so these things can occur. Millions of people are selling and buying on this site, it is easy to get away unnoticed. Children should not have access websites like this, and adults should be careful.
When used correctly, the internet is an amazing invention. Sometimes however, our plugged in world can be for the worse. Cyber space is a huge place that can’t be patrolled easily, so lots of predators and con artists make their way into it. It is easy to fall into their traps too. However, if you practice simple safety rules, it is also a piece of cake to avoid them. When communicating on the internet, never talk to someone you don’t recognize. Never post personal information for websites that aren’t confidential. If you follow these simple guidelines, {the internet can be a fun, useful pace for you|you will only gain positive things from the internet
