Top 10 Psychological Effects of Internet on Humans
Cool Top 10s
Sparked by internet giants like Google making large profits, many scholars have turned to Marx to argue that internet and social media users are exploited. While some argue that exploitation is too strong of a word, others argue for a moralizing perspective. Much of this debate surrounds a very provocative essay by Terranova (2000) where she used the phrase “free labor” to signify the internet usage outside of wage earners regular working times.
There’s no question about it, the internet empowers people to engage in a range of socially desirable and progressive activities. These activities can range from disaster recovery through to articulating so social movement demands and promoting political organizations. Facebook was an important forum for activists trying to support the 2011 Egyptian uprising. Sometimes the effects are desirable and sometimes the consequences are not so desirable and causes tensions in the real life.
Argument:
If the world we live in is growing at an enormous speed, then the rate at which the internet usage grows is much faster. It is no secret that the internet itself has revolutionized the information age and thus made our lives easier and more applicable. The internet has far-reaching effects and also negative effect as stipulated by Terranova in her controversial essay. It’s not just the online wealth of knowledge that it always is, but it also has its tendencies to influence the minds of human beings. Our mental, physical and social needs are ultimately also altered with internet addiction that can often over-take us.
Here are top 10 psychological effects that internet, both positive and negative:
10. Spoon-feeding:
If you were born in an era where the internet was existent, then you might have had to go that extra mile to get information about something. Perhaps a project or an assignment that you had to research on? You would have to go to the public library or school library and look up books, periodicals, archives. Who can forget the large machine that held all newspaper clippings from 20+ years ago. Research, research and research till you’ve had enough information. However, if you had to research in today’s time, Wikipedia or a Google search would probably answer your questions in less than 5 minutes. It is true, that with the internet at our disposal we have so many easier ways to research and dig information. Psychologically, this very aspect affects the youth as they are being led to believe that life is extremely easy. Essentially, the information is being spoon food right into your mouth, without any strings attached.
9. Negative exposure:
What isn’t there on the internet? Well, it would take you a generation to find that out. With the internet revolution, one can find almost everything on the internet. To add to this factoid, the internet is easily accessible by everybody now! Including 10 and 11 year olds! Negative exposure gained via the internet proves to be heavy on the psychology of millions of people worldwide, children included. Violence, pornography etc are very easily accessed on the internet and is often perceived by the wrong set of people. This takes a toll on the mannerism of their thinking and the way they look at reality. Thus, this leads them into the wrong habits and they undertake unwanted wrong-doings. Their minds have altered and take over their actions. They become the “mis-led” people in the society, and their reputation is ruined.
8. Time Spent Social Networking:
Have you ever heard of the phrase: “Time is money”?: Countless of times, right? However true this three-word sentence maybe, it is quickly losing its significance in a world that is racing against time. With the internet in its full existence, people have new ways of spending time. Studies suggest that the number of people between the ages 15-25 accessing social media has tripled in the past three years. My point here is that, people tend to spend too much time on Facebook and chatting on the internet. Yes a little leisure time is always good, but then the over-dosage of time spent tends to keep the mind away from other important things for longer.
According to Rachel Needle, a psychology as the Centre for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida, social media such as Facebook changing the way we relate to one another, many are also confusing digital intimacy with true intimacy. 20% of divorces have occurred because of the negative effects of social media.
The Media multiplexity theory was developed in 2005, that was before social media websites like Facebook and Twitter began to overtake email, online chat, and phone conversations as major modes of communication. The theory suggested that the more media channels people use to communicate with each other, and the more often they use them, the stronger their relationships are. Now that Facebook and Twitter have taken over, the impact is the exact opposite.
Studies have now suggested that Facebook damages relationships for people with low self-esteem, that having too many Facebook friends can increase anxiety and lower self-control, and that constant usage breeds narcissism and encourages frustration, envy and low self-esteem in certain users. Oh, and the urge to check Facebook can be more tempting than alcohol, cigarettes, or sex.
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