The Internet: Tool or Foe?

Editor’s introduction: This article is part of an upcoming series of articles on takes about the internet and whether people should embrace analog devices or adapt to current technological developments. Each writer gives their own perspective on the matter. Enjoy reading!
— Ideas Editor

The internet is one of the most transformative technologies in human history. It serves as a vast source of information, with a variety of different websites, communication tools, entertainment, and an endless list more. However, it raises the question whether the internet, at this point in time, is still a helpful tool that enhances human life, or has it become a foe that undermines our well-being? To answer this question, we must consider how the internet affects different aspects of human experience. This includes education, social relationships, mental health, and the way we work. In my opinion, I don’t think it is fair to consider the internet inherently good or bad, but what power it brings to the table that can be used in either way.

Let’s look at how the internet has affected education. A 2023 Hart Research study of US teachers found that 85% of teachers use online learning management systems “occasionally or daily”. While the use of the internet in the classroom is growing dramatically, there is a concerning tradeoff. For starters, teachers have commented that the internet is a huge distraction. Even their best students fall victim to using the internet when they should be working. Also, the internet fuels cheating and misinformation. Websites that assist with education fraud are all too easy to access, unfortunately, and younger students may not be aware of the information/sites that are reliable when looking up information. In my own experience, constant internet access can make it more difficult to stay focused, even when intentions are good.

However, the internet does bring a new dimension to learning. There are some great uses that, centuries ago, were not made available to flourishing minds. The internet allows young people to pursue their interests. While teachers are amazing in their expertise, there may be some other areas that students are interested in. Before the internet, students had to walk over to their local library, which often cost more time and money and required extra effort. Today, the internet allows these young individuals to access the information they need to help them make informed decisions or just understand more about a certain subject that piques their interest. This is especially helpful for teachers who can now curate relevant resources for their students when needed. While access to information is empowering, I believe the classroom has not yet adapted well enough to prevent misuse.

Besides education, it cannot be ignored the social impact that the internet has had on many lives. Before the internet, it was a lot more difficult for a person to communicate with their loved ones across the sea, or internationally, for that matter. Now, it is fairly well established that older folks are in regular contact with their children. Also, studies show that using the internet is associated with higher levels of perceived support among older adults and lower levels of loneliness and isolation. While the high-speed internet has progressed and allowed people to keep in touch more often, ultimately facilitating that human connection, the negative side effects on social relationships cannot be ignored. 

Whether we like to admit it or not, the internet has had a huge impact on how we communicate with one another. A new term was developed in 2019 as the “online brain.” The online brain refers to individuals who are constantly online, which results in a change to cognitive brain function. This leads to a shift in memory, attention and social processing. When you put this person in a social setting, they may experience poor listening skills or a lack of engagement with the conversation. The decline in social skills, researchers argue, may stem from the lack of face-to-face interaction. Thus, it can be inferred that the internet is not the primary issue, but rather patterns of use and excessive time spent online. I find it alarming that a technology meant to help us connect may be weakening basic social skills.

The last significant impact of the internet worth noting is the way it has transformed how we work. It is no secret that working online has increased in popularity exponentially. After COVID, working remotely has become the norm. The internet allows businesses to grow on multiple platforms and advance with the ability to communicate with coworkers on multiple sites. This ultimately increases productivity and efficiency. However, even though the internet provides this accessibility, the expectation of constant connectivity has blurred the boundaries between work and personal life. This leads to stress and burnout. Employees feel the need to be available all the time, reducing the ability to rest or face-to-face professional communication. In my view, this consequence outweighs the benefits.

To conclude, I personally cannot envision a world without the internet because the internet has been relevant ever since I was a kid. I know this does make me a bit more biased than perhaps an individual who has been around before the big internet boom, and misses the old way of life. Even so, after weighing the advantages and disadvantages, a complete return to analog living and getting rid of the internet altogether does not seem like the most suitable option for society. I do, nonetheless, believe that there should be more restrictions on the internet for safety, mental well-being and overall social health.