Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet

Ten years ago, the Internet was practically unheard of by

most people. Today, the Internet is one of the most powerful
tools throughout the world. The Internet is a collection of
various services and resources. The Internets main components
are E-mail and the World Wide Web. Actually, theres a lot more
to the Internet than E-mail, search engines, celebrity web sites,
up-to-the-second sports scores, and chat rooms full of
discussions. The Net also ranks as one of todays best business
tools. Almost all households contain the Internet; however,
before people connect to the Internet, they need to be aware of
its disadvantages and advantages.
2
Many people fear the Internet because of its
disadvantages. They claim to not use the Internet because they
are afraid of the possible consequences or are simply not
interested. People who have yet connected to the Internet claim
they are not missing anything. Todays technological society
must realize that it is up to them to protect themselves on the
Internet.
3
Children using the Internet have become a big concern.
Most parents do not realize the dangers involved when their
children connect to the Internet. When children are online, they
can easily be lured into something dangerous. For example,
children may receive pornography online by mistake; therefore,
causing concern among parents everywhere. Whether surfing
the Web, reading newsgroups, or using email, children can be
exposed to extremely inappropriate material. To keep children
safe, parents and teachers must be aware of the dangers. They
must actively guide and guard their children online. There are a
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number of tools available today that may help keep the Internet
environment safer for children.
4
Musicians are also concerned with disadvantages to the
Net such as, accessibility and freedom. They are upset because
the Internet provides their music online at no charge to
consumers. File-sharing services, such as Napster, provide
copyrighted songs to all Internet users. The main concern is the
music is free! Musicians feel they are not getting paid for their
work. Because of Napster, it is almost impossible to close down
all file-sharing services because there are too many of them to
count.
5
Another major disadvantage of the Internet is privacy.
Electronic messages sent over the Internet can be easily tracked,
revealing who is talking to whom and what they are talking
about. As people surf the Internet, they are constantly giving
information to web sites. People should become aware that the
collection, selling, or sharing of the information they provide
online increases the chances that their information will fall into
the wrong hands. When giving personal information on the
Internet, people should make sure the Web site is protected with
a recognizable security symbol. On the other hand, this does not
mean they are fully protected because anyone may obtain a
users information. In other words, the most common Internet
crimes are frauds.
6
Today, not only humans getting viruses, but computers
are also. Computers are mainly getting these viruses from the
Internet, yet viruses may also be transferred through floppy
disks. However, people should mainly be concerned about
receiving viruses from the Internet. Some of these dangerous
viruses destroy the computers entire hard drive, meaning that

the user can no longer access the computer. Virus protection is

highly recommended.
7
Despite all of the terrible disadvantages of the Internet,
there are numerous advantages. In fact, the advantages weigh
out the disadvantages. The most common thing the Internet is
used for is research. Children and students are among the top
people who use the Internet for research. Nowadays, it is almost
required that students use the Internet for research. The Internet
has become one of the biggest sources for research. Almost
everyday, research on medical issues becomes easier to locate.
Web sites have become available for people to research diseases
and talk to doctors online at sites such as, Americas Doctor.
8
Entertainment is another popular reason why many people
surf the Internet. Downloading games, going into chat rooms or
just surfing the Web are some of the uses people have
discovered. There are numerous games that may be downloaded
from the Internet at no charge. Chat rooms are popular because
users can meet new and interesting people. In fact, the Internet
has been used by people to find life long partners. When people
surf the Web, there are numerous things that can be found.
Music, hobbies, news and more can be found on the Internet.
9
Another popular thing to do on the Internet is to check
out the news. Almost all local news can be obtained through the
Internet. Up to date sports scores are probably the most popular
looked at news. Sports scores are updated on the Internet as
soon as the game ends. Weather is also a popular source to look
up on the Internet. Using the Internet to get the weather allows
people to view weather all over the world. Live radar all over
the country and local forecasts are just to name a few of the
things that may be obtained for weather information on the
Internet.

Shopping online has also become a huge success and is

considered a great advantage of the Internet. No matter what
people are shopping for, it can be found on the Internet. People
do not even have to leave their homes. A few companies have
collected millions of dollars using the Internet for selling.
Clothing is probably one of the most bought items online.
Almost every major clothing store has its on Web site. In fact, In
US, people can even go grocery shopping online using such
sites as Priceline.com. Just one click of the mouse on the items
they want to purchase and the items are delivered to their front
door. Unfortunately, this kind of service is not yet available in
Malaysia for the time being. Groceries and clothing are only a
few of the items that may be bought on the Internet.
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In conclusion, todays society is in the middle of a
technological boom. People can either choose to take advantage
of this era, or simply let it pass them by. The Internet is a very
powerful tool. It has many advantages; however, people need to
be extremely aware of the disadvantages as well.
10

12

What is a computer? And what is the

internet?

A computer is, etymologically speaking, anything that makes calculations. So, it has been argued
that the abacus is a primitive form of computer. In the modern sense, though, the word
computer is most usually used to refer to an electronic device which can send and receive data,
and process that data so that it is meaningful to humans!
Many computers are connected to the internet in the present day. The internet was actually first
invented by the US military as a method for sending and receiving information securely and
electronically. Nowadays, though, the internet is used worldwide, by both private individuals and
corporations, and for both business and leisure. The internet is a global network of
interconnected computers, which allows these computers to share information with each other.
So, when you send an email for instance, you are using this network to share information with
the recipient!

13 10 Advantages of Computers and the

Internet.
1. Storing data.
The hard drives on computers, and the virtual storage facilities on the Internet (such as cloud
based storage systems) enable us to store huge amounts of data, safely and securely. All those
precious holiday photos, and that novel you have been typing away at, will all be kept
indefinitely for you to access whenever you need them.
2. Staying in touch.
The internet is a wonderful way to stay in touch. Use an email, social media, or video chat
service to communicate instantly with people all over the world.
3. Staying informed.
All of the worlds knowledge (well, most of it) is accessible via the internet. All it takes is a few
clicks and you could be reading about anything from the temples of ancient India and China to
the search for equations for squaring the circle.
4. Essential for study.
More and more universities and more and more schools, too are demanding that students
study, write-up their essays, and submit their work using computers and the internet.
5. Unleash your creativity.
Painting programs and music editing software are just two of the ways that computer software
can enhance your creativity. More and more artists are incorporating digital aspects into their
work with stunning results.
6. Sharing your ideas.
Start a video blog, or a written blog, and you can share your thoughts, ideas, and research with
people all over the world. Build up a fan base in countries that you have never visited and
become an internet sensation!
7. Staying informed.
The internet news is now updated more quickly than printed newspapers are. So, if people want
to get up to the minute information about current events, the internet is the place to go.
8. Winding down.
Use your computer to watch a DVD or stream a video, to listen to a podcast or tune in to your
favorite radio show. There are plenty of opportunities for rest and relaxation here.
9. Speeding up calculations.
The first computers, designed by Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace were used to perform
complex calculations at a fraction of the speed that it takes humans to perform them. Computers

are very handy for modeling difficult engineering equations or just for totting up your budget
for the month ahead.
10. Staying organized.
A typed document, a handy file, and a neat spreadsheet: all of these computer based tools are
wonderful for keeping your life organized!

14 10 Disadvantages of Computers and the

Internet.
1. Tricky to learn.
IT skills can pose a challenge for some people. What is known as computer literacy may be
something that you find it hard to get to grips with, and it may seem like a waste of time to try to
learn.
2. Being disconnected.
When you rely on computers and the internet, and do not cultivate traditional skills like keeping
handwritten accounts or learning how to search for information in a library rather than online, a
simple power cut or lack of internet supply can spell disaster for your day!
3. Isolation.
The internet is supposed to keep us connected with other people. But, ironically, staring at a
computer screen all day can feel terribly isolating.
4. Eye strain.
Using computers for long periods of time can result in eye strain. This is especially true if our
device has a small screen, or if we are using it in a dark room.
5. RSI.
Tapping away at a keyboard with our arms and wrists in the same position for a long period of
time can lead to a painful condition known as repetitive strain injury (RSI).
6. Poor posture.
Hunching over our computers can really damage our posture!
7. The loss of traditional arts.
When we spend all our time typing emails, we may forget how beautiful a handwritten letter is.
We may never feel the urge to make a sketch or send a postcard to a loved one, as we feel that we
can do it all online!
8. Privileging people in rich or urban areas.
Not everyone can afford a computer, and not everyone (especially not people in remote rural
areas) have good access to the internet. Making our society dependent on computers and the
internet privileges people in rich or urban areas.

9. Poor quality information.

Not everything on the internet is true! But, it can be hard to tell which online articles are good
quality and which ones are full of lies. In this way, the internet is a level playing field and
dangerously so.
10. Difficulty in shutting off.
When computers are clamoring for our attention at all hours of the day, it can be hard for us to
wind down and relax.

15 Conclusion
Computers and the internet represent what is possibly the biggest technological advance of our
age. With them, they have brought many benefits, including wonderful opportunities for
business, education, and social life.
However, computers have also threatened to privilege some groups of people over others, and to
take control of the way that we think! So, it is important to use computers and the internet wisely
ensuring that we make them work to improve our lives whilst also relaxing and enjoying some
of the traditional pleasures this world has to offer, such as appreciating natural beauty or taking
the time to write a hand written letter.