ADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

Communication via the Web

One of the main debates is over whether or not communication on the internet is psychologically healthy or unhealthy. As more and more people become web savvy, communication through email, online chats and instant messaging increases. Because people are communicating more online, face-to-face interactions are not as commonplace as they were in times before the web.

Decreased inhibitions

One way in which increased communication on the internet is advantageous is by allowing people, especially those who are less personable and outgoing, to feel less inhibited to communicate. The disinhibition effect, termed by John Suler, Ph.D., is characterized by elements such as anonymity, neutralizing of status and decreased social anxiety.

When people can’t be seen or identified, sometimes they are more willing to open up and share true feelings. When there is a personal, face to face relationship and possibly unequal status, people have something to lose by sharing their feelings. In personal relationships, there is a level of vulnerability. The person receiving the information is more likely to pass judgment and the person giving the information is more likely to get hurt.

Communicating by means of the internet removes this level of vulnerability while still allowing people to express themselves. On the other hand, some say people cannot truly emotionally express themselves over the internet, which is one of the argued disadvantages of communication on the internet.

Increased interaction in established relationships

Some studies have found another advantage to be increased interaction with already established friends and family members. The results of these studies showed that internet communication was a supplement to face-to-face interactions with friends and family as opposed to a replacement. Most people reported increased intimacy in relationships with close friends and family as a result of the internet.

The Internet has helped some specific groups of people

The Internet has also increased opportunities for isolated and disabled people to have relationships that they wouldn’t otherwise have. The main reason for this is that the Internet eliminates the physical aspect of relationships, which is a barrier for many disabled people.

The same study, which is an ongoing project of Carnegie Mellon University, also found that shy people who are reluctant to socialize and draw back from contact intimacy are more likely to have intimate Internet communication. The web adds a level of security that does not exist in face-to-face communication. 

DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

Communication via the Web

Although there are many advantages, researchers argue some disadvantages of an internet based society. Most of these drawbacks are a result of decreased face-to-face communication and the ability to escape identity.

Negative effects on family communication

Although there are conflicting research findings on this topic, an article published by Science Daily reported that time spent on the Internet was associated with later declines in within house family communication and a decrease in the number of friends and acquaintances with which they kept ties.

Lack of conflict resolution

The same article suggests that communication on the web is taking away necessary human conflict. For example, if an Internet conversation starts getting heated or if someone gets angry, it is too easy to just sign off and not deal with the issue. Resolving conflict is a part of life that shouldn’t be avoided and is usually psychologically helpful.

Lonliness

Another proposed disadvantage is that a couple of studies have found strong correlations between frequency of Internet use and loneliness. People that use the Internet often are more likely to become lonely and depressed than those that don’t. One proposal as to why this is the case is because of a potential reduced social support system as a result of the Internet.

Internet addiction

There is some controversy over whether it is possible to actually be addicted to the Internet or not. Some researchers, like John M. Grohol, claim that it is simply people trying to escape their problems in an online world and cannot be classified as an addiction. He demonstrates his theory with this model and states that what some people call an addiction is just someone that is caught in stage one.

Other psychologists, including Jennifer R. Ferris, believe that Internet addiction is a true psychological disorder with definable symptoms. The symptoms are comparable to any addiction, withdrawal, loss of relationships or job and significant time consumption.

If an actual addiction exists or doesn’t exist, the underlying themes that support the addiction theory are still an issue. Whether people are trying to escape problems and reality or they will go through withdrawal if they aren’t surfing the net or chatting, it is still psychologically unhealthy.

The advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet

 Thanks to the growth of information technology, we now live in the ‘Computer Age’. The Internet has many uniquely modern functions. Yet, there are risks and bad effects when using it. Four pros are going to fight against four cons below.Widely used in offices, research institutes, information centers and education, the Internet has greatly raised the accuracy and efficiency of work, and saved much money and manpower for human beings. This multi-medium assists us in our work in so many ways. It can centralize updated data and backup documents without copying by hand. We can check available balance, make transfer payment, pay bills and buy insurance or stock through the internet. It makes our life so much easier.
On the other hand, the Internet represents an opportunity for students to explore the incredible wealth of information which enhances our learning. The low cost and nearly instantaneous sharing of ideas, knowledge, and skills have made collaborative work dramatically easier. It allows us to conveniently and professionally do researches, prepare projects, and do other work. This really can enable us to acquire more knowledge and equip ourselves.
The Internet provides us with new chances to widen communication and deepen relationships. We can stay in touch with family and friends across the globe via using chat-rooms and messaging tools such as MSN and facebook, a very popular site which allows people to share photos with others. Moreover, you can meet friends worldwide and exchange different cultures.
Fun and entertainment can also be offered by the Internet. Shopping on line no longer sounds strange. It is handy and comfortable to get what you want on web sites and wait at home for the goods delivered. Children can play various kinds of on-line games. Indeed, the Internet has become a companion of man.
Despite the numerous advantages of using the Internet, there are some disadvantages we should admit.
The use of the Internet may have bad effects upon the economic fields and society. A sudden and undesirable change in a program of a computer system can cause a bank to lose thousands of million dollars within one day. Work of months or even years may be destroyed within one minute by computer viruses. People have to bear the pain of facing by sudden power cut or failures of function.
Crimes committed with the help of computers are not rare. As the regulations of uploading information or photos via the internet are not strictly revised, one's privacy may not be highly protected.  Along with the rise in broadband internet connections, people can easily share and download illegal pirated files such as movies and music. The classified documents of the Hong Kong Police Department and ICAC have been exposed to the public because of the guarantee-free file-sharing program on the Internet. Such an incident reflects that Internet crime can be so serious that it can threaten governments and businesses.

  In addition, computers provide no direct communication among people. Conversations are mostly expressed in written words rather than spoken language. The lack of personal interaction may result in a loss of social skills. One’s way of getting along with people cannot be practiced simply through the Internet.
  The internet somehow behaves like drugs and alcohol. Being addicted to it, people sometimes don’t know when to stop accessing it. Such behavior is regarded as a kind of illness nowadays. Overuse may result in neglect of other aspects of life, such as work and study. Unless one has the real need to use computers for a period of time, it is particularly time-consuming to surf most of the time. Moreover, some people may get their eyes hurt by sitting for too long in front of computers. These actions should not be encouraged.
Despite these facts, the Internet has been a major source of information and leisure, and we should use it wisely and discreetly. I personally think the benefits outweigh the harm. With a few clicks on the keyboard, we can virtually visit everywhere in the world. I believe the Internet will bring us more surprises and offer us a promising tomorrow