Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet

The Internet is so far one of the greatest inventions of all time. The Internet has made it possible for us to do lots of things. People can shop in online stores like eBay, communicate with family and friends via Skype or Facebook, watch the latest videos on YouTube, blog and make money from it, and so much more.

The Internet has proven to be very useful and has come with lots of advantages. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.

Advantages of Internet

1

Unlimited Communication

The Internet has made it easy for people to communicate with others because it is cheap and convenient. The only costs incurred are those paid to the Internet service provider. If you want to talk to someone who is in another part of the globe, you can just fire up Skype or any other communication app and hold a video chat.

Services such as Skype have helped people from geographically segmented countries to interact and share ideas. As such, people are able to share their thoughts and views on matters affecting the globe. The Internet acts as common global platform where people explore ideologies and cultures without limitation.

2

Abundant Information and Resources

The Internet is swamped with information about anything and everything. There are multiple search engines that have made it easier for Internet users to find information. For example, it is now common for people to look for free advice from the Internet on all sorts of issues. The premise here is that whatever problem you are experiencing, someone somewhere has experienced it and probably solved it.

You can also get the latest news, breakthroughs in all fields including medicine and even research publications at the click of a button. The Internet is basically a globally accessible repository of knowledge, and the best part is everyone gets to chip in.

3

Easy Sharing

Thanks to the Internet, sharing information is fast and seamless. If you want to tell your 30 friends about your latest promotion, you can do so in an instant. You can use social media sites such as Facebook or an IM app. They will all get the news at the same time. You can also share music, videos and any other file.

4

Online Services and E-commerce

Today it is possible to carry out financial transactions online. You can transfer funds, pay taxes and utility bills or book movie tickets over the Internet in the comfort of your office or home.

The growth of e-commerce has made it possible for people to shop for most things online. This has seen the emergence of retail giants such as Amazon, Ebay and Alibaba. They sell consumer goods globally. Such a feat was virtually impossible before the Internet.

5

Entertainment

This is one of the major reasons why many people enjoy surfing the Internet – entertainment. You can watch movies, listen to music, read your favorite celebrity gossip columns and play games over the Internet. The Internet has become a mammoth amusement park that never closes.

Disadvantages of the Internet

1

Spam Mail

Spamming is the sending of unwanted and useless emails to random people. These emails obstruct the recipient needlessly. They are illegal and can cause frustration because they make it hard for people to access their email accounts. Bots are used to bombard your inbox with endless advertisements. This is quite perplexing as it always gets mixed up with important emails. Luckily, most email service providers have a security system in place to prevent spam emails from going to your inbox. All emails that are deemed suspicious get their email ID or IP address blocked or sent to the Spam folder.

2

Virus, Trojan & Other Malware

These are malicious programs that plague the Internet time and again. They attack a computer with the sole intent of causing harm. They can make the computer malfunction or even this can be very costly especially if you lose important data. Worse yet is the fact that you can easily fall victim to malicious software by clicking on a link on the Internet that appears genuine. Internet viruses can be categorized to three types - those that harm your executable boot files and system, those that affect a specific file by destroying it and those that keep changing things in your computer like Word files. You can protect yourself by installing a reliable anti-virus program on your computer before accessing the Internet.

3

Leakage of Private Information

The fact that the Internet has become a market place has also seen a rise in fraud cases. Credit/debit card details are particularly vulnerable. This calls for extreme caution when transacting online. Make sure to use a reliable payment processor instead of sending your details directly to an individual or business.

4

Addiction to Internet

Just like everything else, people also get addicted to the Internet. This may sound bizarre, but some people spend more than their fair amount of time on the Internet. This affects their social interactions a great deal. Internet addiction has been known to be a major cause of obesity and has, in some cases, led to some diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome. With some help, people addicted to the Internet can overcome this challenge.

5

Kids Exposed to Adults-Only Content

The fact that Internet has all information you could ever need is both a good thing and a bad things. This is because it contains age-inappropriate content like pornography. Unfortunately, such content can be accessed by children as young as ten. All guardians and parents can do about it is lock out harmful sites to keep their children safe. Nevertheless, this is not a full proof strategy as children can still access the Internet from other devices.