POSITIVE IMPACT
Ø It is easier to do research
Before
electronic means of gathering information, students or researchers need to pay
a visit to libraries to access materials relevant to their research topics.
Nowadays, it will take just a subscription to a journal online or just browsing
online to search for literature required to develop one’s conceptual
framework. Preparing the review
of literature is easier and faster. Thus, more research
gets published and knowledge generation is greatly facilitated.
Ø Communication with family, friends and
relatives is faster
Gone
are the homesick days because a son or daughter can now easily contact their
parents online. Services such as that of Skype and Gmail enable a loved one to
communicate with another in almost any part of the globe where internet
services are available.
Ø There is a great possibility to earn while
working from home
It is
now possible to earn online through writing, filling up forms, or even just
clicking away on advertisements in the internet. Information is a valuable
thing that people are willing to pay. Through advertisements posted online,
manufacturers and sellers are able to increase the possibility of having their
products purchased.
Ø Faster business transactions and cheaper
products
Sellers
and buyers can now transact through online paying facilities like Paypal or
credit cards. Buyers can surf online and select the products they want to buy.
There is no need to have a physical store to maintain as the products can be
shipped directly from the factory.
Ø Savings on travel cost
Through
the use of the internet, it is possible for executives or business managers to
do teleconferencing. They do not need to meet physically just to discuss matters.
This could save a lot on travel cost.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Ø Children, young adults and even adults get
addicted to games online
Online
games can be addictive to children, young adults and even adults. This can rob
away precious time which otherwise should have been used for something more
productive
Ø Pornography is rampant
Anybody
can easily upload pornographic material for commercial purposes or just for
fun. The young minds of children will be corrupted through their exposure to
things which are reserved for adults. Many well-known personalities are also
victimized by opportunistic and malicious people who want to discredit others
using their personal encounters.
Ø Loss of the human touch
People
absorbed in their activities online tend to forget that there are real people
in their surroundings who need their attention or have socialization needs.
Social networking gives more importance to virtual friends than real ones.
Ø Criminal elements use information to
advance their malicious intents
Unsuspecting
internet users can fall victim to criminal elements who meddle with their
emails or do something nasty with their credit card information. Phishing or
fooling other people into believing that criminal-owned websites are legitimate
led to millions of money lost to misleading business transactions.
Ø Abandonment of family
In one
instance, a couple in Korea was preoccupied with their virtual baby forgetting
to feed their real baby who died of hunger. People become insensitive as they
are absorbed by the hidden hand of the internet into its lair.