2. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNET
INTRODUCTION:
Internet is defined as a collection of various services and resources. Although, many people still think e-
mail and World Wide Web as the principle constituents of Internet, there is a lot more in store than e-
mail, chat rooms, celebrity web sites and search engines. It has also become the best business tool in the
modern scenario. Today, Internet has brought a globe in a single room. Right from getting news across
the corner of the world to accessing knowledge resources to shopping, everything is at your fingertips.
Internet has tremendous potential and a lot to offer in terms of services. However, like every single
innovation in science and technology, Internet has its own advantages and disadvantages.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. Faster Communication 1. Theft of Personal Information
The foremost target of Internet has If you use the Internet for online
always been speedy communication banking, social networking or other
and it has excelled way beyond the services, you may risk a theft to your
expectations. Newer innovations are personal information such as name,
only going to make it faster and more address, credit card number etc.
reliable. Now, you can communicate in Unscrupulous people can access this
a fraction of second with a person who information through unsecured
is sitting in the other part of the world. connections or by planting software and
For more personal and interactive then use your personal details for their
communication, you can avail the benefit. Needless to say, this may land
facilities of chat services, video you in serious trouble.
conferencing and so on. Besides, there
are plenty of messenger services in
offering. With the help of such
services, it has become very easy to
establish a kind of global friendship
where you can share your thoughts and
explore other cultures.
2. Information Resources 2. Spamming
Information is probably the biggest Spamming refers to sending unwanted
advantage that Internet offers. Internet e-mails in bulk, which provide no
is a virtual treasure trove of purpose and needlessly obstruct the
information. Any kind of information entire system. Such illegal activities
on any topic under the sun is available can be very frustrating for you as it
on the Internet. The search engines like makes your Internet slower and less
Google, Yahoo are at your service on reliable.
the Internet. There is a huge amount of
3. information available on the Internet
for just about every subject known to
man, ranging from government law and
services, trade fairs and conferences,
market information, new ideas and
technical support, the list is simply
endless.
Students and children are among the
top users who surf the Internet for
research. Today, it is almost required
that students should use it for research
or the purpose of gathering resources.
Even teachers have started giving
assignments that require extensive
research on the Internet. Besides, you
can have an access to latest researches
in the field of medicine, technology and
so on. Numerous web sites such as
America's Doctor also allow you to talk
to the doctors online.
3. Online Services 3. Virus Threat
The Internet has made life very Internet users are often plagued by
convenient. With numerous online virus attacks on their systems. Virus
services you can now perform all your programs are inconspicuous and may
transactions online. You can book get activated if you click a seemingly
tickets for a movie, transfer funds, pay harmless link. Computers connected to
utility bills, taxes etc., right from your the Internet are very prone to targeted
home. Some travel websites even plan virus attacks and may end up crashing.
an Itinerary as per your preferences and
take care of airline tickets, hotel
reservations etc.
4. Social Networking 4. Pornography
One cannot imagine an online life Pornography is perhaps the biggest
without Facebook or Twitter. Social disadvantage of the Internet. Internet
networking has become so popular allows you to access and download
amongst youth that it might one day millions of pornographic photos, videos
replace physical networking. It has and other X-rated stuff. Such
evolved as a great medium to connect unrestricted access to porn can be
with millions of people with similar detrimental for children and teenagers.
interests. Apart from finding long-lost It can even play a havoc in marital and
friends, you can also look for job, social lives of adults.
business opportunities on forums,
communities etc. Besides, there are
chat rooms where users can meet new
4. and interesting people. Some of them
may even end up finding their life
partners.
5. Entertainment 5. Social Disconnect
Entertainment is another popular raison Thanks to the Internet, people now only
d'être why many people prefer to surf meet on social networks. More and
the Internet. In fact, the Internet has more people are getting engulfed in
become quite successful in trapping the virtual world and drifting apart from
multifaceted entertainment industry. their friends and family. Even children
Downloading games or just surfing the prefer to play online games rather than
celebrity websites are some of the uses going out and mingling with other kids.
people have discovered. Even This may hamper a healthy social
celebrities are using the Internet development in children.
effectively for promotional campaigns.
Besides, there are numerous games that
can be downloaded for free. The
industry of online gaming has tasted
dramatic and phenomenal attention by
game lovers.
CONCLUSION:
Thus, the Internet has the potential to make your life simple and convenient, as well as wreak
havoc in your life. Its influence is mostly dictated by the choices you make while you are online.
With clever use, you can manage to harness its unlimited potential.
