The Internet Decreases Socialization - Research Paper Example

They are extremely tempted by the numerous ideas, ideologies, and options, to which they are exposed over the Internet. This pushes those young people to spend hours and hours either to navigate the Internet, searching for ideas, news, and products, or chatting with their friends as well as strangers. Therefore, young people may spend a lot of time online without they feel tired or bored. However, the long time spent on the Internet is seen by many people as a disadvantage, because this time is usually taken from the actual time spent face to face with other people.

That is, the Internet leaves its negative impact on the experience of social interaction. In this context, many modern social analysts argue that "today, people spend more time using communication technology than they did twenty years ago" (Degord). Accordingly, a heated controversy has started to emerge about the probable negative impacts of the Internet over the process of socialization of young people. While some social analysts undermine the negative effects that may be caused by the relatively long time spent on the Internet, there are other analysts who raise serious concerns regarding the minimization of physical socialization because of the Internet.

In spite of the various advantages of the Internet, yet it minimizes social interaction and promotes isolation among young people. Undoubtedly, the Internet has revolutionized the lives of people in many aspects. The Internet represents an open window on the world for young people, through which they can do a variety of activities, such as reading news, chatting with friends, and learning new ideas and opinions. Some of the significant activities that young people can do online include reading books and articles, looking for information about any topic, and being involved in discussions on newsgroups and billboards.

In this regard, a professor in the School of Law, University of Glasgow, called Thomas B. Riley, claims that "the Internet is a revolutionary medium that has afforded the opportunity for millions of people to open themselves to a rich panoply of information and services" (Riley). Consequently, the Internet has become a significant source of information for all kinds of people, especially young and educated ones. The Internet plays an important enlightenment role for navigators and researchers, especially those who work or study in the academic field.

In additions, some social and political analysts believes that the Internet can also create a net of social relations among users. For instance, Jeffrey Boase, professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto, argues that “the internet and email play an important role in maintaining the dispersed social networks” (Boase). Thus, if used properly and insightfully, the Internet can be a valid important technology that may widen the scope of our knowledge and prepare young generations for their future careers in their lives.

Nevertheless, the excessive use of the Internet by young people may minimize physical social interaction, negative impact the process of socialization, and promotes isolation and loneliness among people. Those who spend hours and hours chatting with other people over the Internet are actually getting away from their social surrounding and creating a lonely world of their own (Snook). This is mainly because they do not physically and socially interact with other people and involve