The Role of the Internet in Shaping the Lives of Individuals in Society - Essay Example

Communication and the Media Introduction It has become habitual for individuals to turn to the internet for assistance considering that the current society which is characterized by modernity and in improvement of technology has high demand for information (Bradley 2009, p. 1). The internet has made it possible for individuals to quickly access information, engage in numerous research initiatives and infinitely expand on the available information. As the internet becomes a common and essential phenomenon in the daily lives of individuals it is important to ask questions regarding the consequences of increased dependence on the internet and the possible impact that too much dependence on the internet may have on the collective intelligence of the society (Ciarcia 2010, p. 11). This paper seeks to support the argument by Nicholas Carr that the internet is not only shaping the lives of individuals but it is also physically altering brains. The role of the internet in shaping the lives of individuals in the society It is common knowledge that the internet has made a considerable impact on the lives of members of different societies. This is especially on the benefits associated with the use of this technology (Ciarcia 2010, p. 13). The internet has the capacity of supplying individuals with a vast spectrum of information and this has given individuals the freedom to quickly access information and have answers to various challenges (Carr 2010, p. 5). The internet has also been used in the automation of systems and this technique has been beneficial in the improvement of productivity, the exploration of interests and the ability to explore more opportunities and innovate ways through which life can be made comfortable through automation of systems via the internet (Green 2002, p. 7). According to recent studies by Pew Research Centre, the impact of the internet on the lives of individuals can be understood through the role of the internet in the academic field (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 4). Different stakeholders in this sector such as the teachers and the students have quick and increased access to information that is not available to everyone this has also increased the opportunities for mutual learning experiences between teachers and their students (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 4). This research also analyses the role of the internet in the workplaces. According to the research the internet has played a role in assisting different organizations with techniques on how to develop and substantiate products and services. With more than 2 billion people subscribed as users of the internet on a global scale, the internet influences both social and physical lives of these users (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 4). Despite the benefits that have been associated with the internet, the studies by Pew Research Centre the internet also has a negative influence on the lives of individual. This is especially on the use of social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter among others (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 6). These have degraded confidentiality of information and the promotion of privacy. Informational about people is currently available in the internet this information is easily accessible and this provides an explanation why there is a high level of personal insecurity (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 8). It is also important to note that social networking sites have also provided platforms where individuals can post and share information about other propel without the possibility of any form of punishment (Ciarcia 2010, p. 11). Communication is considered as a way of passing information from one source to another. The internet is a way of enhancing communication between different entities. The internet has played a role in ensuring fast and reliable communication (Gladwell 2005, p. 13). In addition, it has made individuals who were separated by geographical barriers such as mountains and seas to find a platform of sharing information and ideas, despite the revolutionary impact of the internet in the communication sector, different media platforms that are accessible virtually have continued to grow at the expense of other form of communication (Carlson 2010, p. 1). The use of the internet as a form of communication between individuals in the same location or those in the same place has altered social relationships (Gladwell 2005, p. 17). It has become common for members of the family, according to the studies by Pew Research Centre to engage each other in communication via social media while sitting at the same table over dinner. Families are continuing to be dysfunctional considering that the internet has replaced family time as members of the family prefer communicating with fiends on the virtual platform rather than those in the physical location (Green 2002, p. 8). Non-verbal form of communication that has been used in accessing the recipient of information is currently diminishing since virtual communication does not provide a technique that enhances non-verbal communication (Carr 2010, p. 5). It is also important to note that the increase in the use of internet technology and the need among the young generation to be online has affected the socialization process and the acquisition of important social and family values (Carlson 2010, p. 2). The role of the internet in altering human brain According to recent a study by the Pew Research Centre, the thinking capacity of the current generation is declining compared that of the past generation. With the increase in the availability of the internet, it has become easier to acquire solutions to problems (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 10). Individuals especially students in schools often take the information available in the internet without engaging in further analysis of the topic that is presented (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 11). This has reduced the ability of different individuals especially those who engage in the internet in a continuous manner to decline in their ability to engage in critical thinking (Ciarcia 2010, p. 14). High reliance on researching the ideas of other people as it is available in the internet jeopardizes the originality of thought and the ability to engage in higher order of thinking (Bradley 2009, p. 1). The society in the view of Nicholas Carr is evolving from a group of cultivators of essential knowledge and information into a society of hunter and gathers of information that is easily available at the click of a button in ta forest known as the internet (Carr 2010, p. 2). This means that through the internet, individuals have become fact finders and reporters who are too apt in sharing information as presented by other people rather than presenting their perspective of a given set of information (Gladwell 2005, p. 13). This has negatively impacted on the academic standards considering that academic institutions are producing individuals who are less curious and are inclined into shallow thinking. This means that the brain is not able to perform according to its expected potential dies to limited engagement in the development of constrictive thoughts (Carlson 2010, p. 2). The studies by the Pew Research Centre argue that extensive and recurrent use of the internet have systematic implications on the short term attention plan of individuals and in some situations it may lead to scattered thinking (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 18). It is important to note that whenever individual engage in online studies and work, their brains experience constant pressure to consume large amounts of information (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 18). This is because eth internet provides numerous links on a single page that connects a webpage to other pages; these are considered as playing a contributing factor in the distraction of the brain seeking information (Pew Research Centre et al 2012, p. 19). The eventual result is the reduction of an individual’s attention span and this can possibly instigate significant cognitive complications (Bradley 2009, p. 3). Though these interruptions and distraction, human brain is often incapable of forging strong and expansive neural connections which play a role in giving depth and distinctiveness to an individual’s way of thinking. This means that too much exposure on online information and the distracting factors may turn human brain into more of signal processing units (Gladwell 2005, p. 14). These shepherd disjointed bit of information in and out of the short term memory slots in the brain. Such continuous exposure corresponds to the ways by which an individual is able to obtain and process information that is acquired through the internet (Gladwell 2005, p. 14). There have been thoughts by different scholars the availability of accessible information in the internet is a contributing increase the intelligence of those who can access and read the information (Ciarcia 2010, p. 14). This argument has been met by criticisms that consider the web as making the society less smart every time individual engage acquisition of information from its sources (Carlson 2010, p. 3). In the current society, whenever, tough or complicated subjects come up in any conversations, individuals are always willing to draw their smart phones and Google information in the internet (Carr 2010, p. 3). This makes it hard to know the amount of knowledge that such individuals possess or how food they have become and seeking and finding information compiled by someone else and uploaded in the internet. People are currently turning to the internet to seek information instead of thinking through questions and finding connections of their own (Bradley 2009, p. 3). Through these initiatives it is possible to realize that such individuals are superficially smarter when in reality they are not (Carlson 2010, p. 4). The use human brain in the development of solutions is diminishing especially when individuals think that they know when in actuality it is the internet that has the knowledge and information (Bradley 2009, p. 3). Conclusion The evolution of the internet as a tool of communication has revolutionized the art of sharing information through social networking sites and different media channels. Despite this benefit it has also affected interpersonal relationships and communication. In addition, frequent use of the internet has demised human ability to think individually and objectively. References Bradley, Erica, 2009, "Technology Is Making Us Lazy." Computers and Technology. Helium Publications. Web. 04 Nov. 2014 Carlson, Benjamin F, 2010, "Nicholas Carr on the 'Superficial' Webby Mind." The Atlantic Wire The Atlantic Wire National. Web. 04 Nov. 2014 Carr, Nicholas, 2010, "Does the Internet Make You Dumber." The Wall Street Journal Business News & Financial News. Web. 04 Nov. 2014. 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