It goes beyond dispute that there exist a nook in the global societies where the term “internet” remains unfamiliar. This is because the integral part of its properties is “networking” that is, the entire universe is connected thanks to the (internet) service. In other words, it brings the globe together just as you can place pebbles on your palms.
However, this technology-driven action has brought in its wake significant changes in almost all aspects of life. Some of which can easily be felt as concretes, while others remain in abstract forms. A common precept goes: “everything with advantage goes along side the disadvantages” and of course, the proliferation of the internet is no exception. It’s now up to you to judge after going through the two conflicting ideas evident in the following points:
THE ADVANTAGES:
Every tunnel of a coin has two sides. The good thing about the internet can never be over-emphasized. Its advent has witnessed a rapid development of information. With the speed of light, researchers and information seekers can obtain an array of ideas about technology, aviation, agriculture, finance and communication.
-Today, a colossal amount of money can be transferred to the other end of the world by mere pressing of a botton. Thanks to it also, business and all forms of commercial activities are made easy that you can survey markets, purchase goods as commodities and place orders in few seconds.
-Communication and interpersonal relationships are simplified between individuals or groups. Online dating and friendship are classical examples regardless of location or distance.
-Thanks to its services, cultures in diversity, both at national or international levels are taking all forms of integration.
THE DISADVANTAGES:
The dark place of the internet has is its harmful effects on the society and the individual as it can be simplified in these points:
-In its preponderance, the internet has negatively launched an attack on the reading culture, be it for research or leisure purposes. This is why books are no more seeing the light of the day because they are replaced by files in the computer. No one with internet access can visit libraries, and that’s why, perhaps, libraries take suit by rendering any readable material online.
-Immoral, if not criminal acts now flourish thanks to this development. Fraud and money extortion gain more grounds and take newer dimension thanks to the internet.
“Yahoo boys” in Nigeria typify these fraudsters. You must have received an email from an unidentified persons or undisclosed locations introducing you to a business partnership so that you eventually share the dividends of the transaction.
-Sex and sexy websites have inundated the whole system, some for commercial purposes, while others for free. Nudity, half-dressed, the best of the undressed or revealing clothes are the common attributes of the perpetrators. The internet phonography comes in different versions (motion and motionless pictures) just to satisfy the satanic needs of the target audience. This is staggering, odd and strange that previous societies claim no knowledge of. You must have heard about some countries that now place censorship in order to safeguard their citizens.
At last, convinced or confused, the similitude of the internet is that of a double-edged knife: you either use it to cut the right thing for righteousness, or the wrong thing for wrong doing.
HUSAIN MOHAMMED TIKAU
ELKANEM COLLEGE
MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA.
