Since
the creation of the internet over thirty years ago, our culture has been greatly
impacted. We have access to massive amounts of information at our fingertips
and we can access this information faster than ever before. Instead of sitting
in a library for hours on end, we are able to use search engines with access to
endless websites. Whether one is doing scholarly research or just using yelp to
find a new restaurant in your town, acquiring information has never been
easier. This change has made us a more educated society. I believe that people
are also more interested in learning new things because me have access to so
much information.
Since the creation of the internet
we are able to communicate at faster speeds than ever before. Not only is
communication faster and easier, it is far more cost effective than it ever has
been. This makes it easier to talk with family and friends across the country.
We can also communicate with people on the other side of the planet nearly
instantly. According to the socialnomics.net, we are able to talk to people who
we never otherwise would have come into contact with. Instead of only
socializing with people in our immediate geographical area, people are able to
broaden their social circles and meet people from all over the world
(Harrison socialnomics.net). Because of easy access to communication, as a
culture, we are more understanding of people from other places.
Companies are able to globalize.
Many stores that were limited to selling products in their small communities
are now able to do business anywhere in the world. Consumers are also able to
shop more cost effectively by being able to compare prices of similar products
from the comfort of their own homes. In the past, people who made specialty
items had a hard time staying in business because it was difficult to keep up
the costs of running a store by selling items that were not highly sought after
by the public. Now however, artists and craftsman are able to sell specialty
items online through cites like Etsy. Large retail chains have benefited from
online business as well because people find it more comfortable to shop from
the convenience of their own electronic devices. Only ten years ago, one would
have to the bank, the department store and then to the grocery store. Now, one day’s
worth of errands can be completed in less than half the time and from the
comfort of one’s own home.
Work Cited
Harrison,
Laura. "25 Years of the Internet: How It Has Changed the Way We
Interact." Socialnomics. N.p., 24 Mar. 2016. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.
<http://socialnomics.net/2014/07/28/25-years-of-the-internet-how-it-has-changed-the-way-we-interact/>.
In response to Andrew’s “The Influence Of The Internet On Our Culture”, I disagree because of some of the negatives I’ve found. According to “Listverse… Technology”, the Internet can be addicting. They also state people can end up conforming to a “Variable interval reinforcement schedule”, which is where you're addicted to checking something Internet based (News, Social media, Online shopping). This is also the same process that people who have gambling addictions face (Churchill, 2014).
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I have to disagree that the change is positive is because of some of the negative correlations social media has on people. People can occasionally compare their unsatisfied lives with someone who has more. This contrast is a direct negative impact on their self-esteem. I also personally realized how un-empathetic social media made us as a culture. We seem to make everything more of a joke even in serious situations. I’ve come across meme’s (Jokes) involving ISIS, race, and education, which probably wouldn’t have been said in person. In retrospect people are given these platforms to say as they please. But because of that we are much more desensitized as beings.
In response to Andrews. “The Influence of the Internet on our Culture”. I would have to disagree that internet is helping people socialize as much as it is allowing them to allocate their ideas on others as well as blow events out of proportion E.g. the recent clown events that have erupted through social media. According to Matheus Siagian, “People should have to be at least 17 years of age to join social media, because maybe people will be able to determine what’s good and what’s not.” In terms of information, the previous quote even was provided by a University Student. This only shows just how much of the information is actually fact vs the percent is opinion per individual. The internet is highly convoluted and isn’t actually used to the extent many believe it to be. Although one individual may use the internet to connect to other countries or individuals outside of their geographic region, another individual can and might possibly be using the internet to degrade and flaunt another individuals culture.
ReplyDeleteSource:
Siagian, Mathius. The Use and Misuse of Social Media. 22 July 2015. 4 October 2016. .