Whether the Internet or the Web Is Altering the Way People Think - Essay Example

One of the questions asked by intellectuals and social critics is whether the internet makes people smarter (Greenblatt 777). Thompson agrees that the internet makes information accessible but is concerned about how this information is being filtered by Google (Greenblatt 777). On the other hand, Levy is worried that the information overload of the internet no longer gives people time to think and process the data that they learn (Greenblatt 778).

The second question raised by the critics regarding the internet is whether it shortens the attention span. Some people have observed that they cannot read long documents anymore because they are distracted by different graphics, hyperlinks, email alerts, and audio or videos that pop out while reading documents (Greenblatt 778). Lehrer meanwhile states that the internet helps develop the skill of paying attention to different things at the same time (Greenblatt 780). He goes on further to say that the internet “allows all sorts of new connections” (Greenblatt 780).

The third issue brought up about the web is whether people are addicted to the internet. For Thompson, it is not an addiction to the internet; rather, it is more of a need to communicate at any time (Greenblatt 781). Staudenmaier states that excessive use of the internet cannot be considered an addiction because it does not involve drugs and alcohol use (Greenblatt 781). On the other Cash argues that internet use can be an addiction that can result in health, relationships, and work problems. (Greenblatt 780).

She goes on further to say that in China and Korea internet addiction is already a primary health concern. When logging off becomes an extreme difficulty for individuals, it can be considered an addiction already. A significant statistic that strikes one is that which showed that youngsters who are not heavy internet users get better grades, relate well with their parents, and are generally happier than those who are heavy users (Greenblatt 780). An interesting quote from the article is how Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman, and CEO described the huge information that one can gain from the web when he said, “the world is now generating as much information every two days as it did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003” (Greenblatt 790).

Another significant quote from the article is how Carr, author of “The Shallows” summed up the impact of the internet on the lives of people, “Our use of the net will only grow, and its impact on us will only strengthen, as it becomes more present in our lives.” (Greenblatt 791). At the end of the article, one can say that Greenblatt believes that the internet has indeed a great impact on people’s lives. But in the end, it is up to the person to decide the extent he wants the internet to affect his life.

A specific passage that points to answer of Greenblatt's on how the internet will alter people’s way of thinking is when he quotes Google’s Schmidt when he stated, “Turn off your computer. You’re going to have to turn off your phone and discover all that is human around us” (Greenblatt 791). In short, Greenblatt wants to let his readers realize that the internet does not have the answers to all the questions of mankind. There are things left to be discovered without the aid of the web.

According to Bullock and Weinberg in Chapter 8 of the Guide, there are five key features of writing a report such as: using a tightly focused topic, utilizing accurate well researched information, using various writing strategies, containing clear definitions, and presenting the report with appropriate design (217-218). Greenblatt effectively used and integrated all the key features required in writing the article which enabled the readers to appreciate and comprehend the message that the author intended for the defined target audience.