Sociology Essay: Analyzing the Internet's Societal Impact

This essay examines the multifaceted impact of the internet on society. It begins by highlighting the internet's contributions to education, global business, and social connectedness, emphasizing its role in facilitating access to information, promoting international trade, and fostering communication across geographical boundaries. The essay then delves into the negative consequences, including the erosion of critical thinking, the decline of social interaction, the manipulation of public opinion through online platforms, the risks associated with digital banking, and the threats to intellectual property. The author concludes by acknowledging the dual nature of the internet, recognizing its potential for both positive societal development and negative impacts on individuals and communities. The essay uses references to support its arguments.

Running head: INTERNET
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Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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The aim of this paper is to discuss the impact of the new technology especially
internet in the growth of the human society and other related development. This paper will be
analysing how internet has made the operation of the polity, economy, society and other
pillars of growth easy. Like every other new technologies, internet has created impact on the
social and personal life of the people. Therefore, this essay will be discussing how internet
has created both positive and negative impact on the minds of the people.
In this highly digitalised world, internet is used by everyone in order to achieve their
personal and professional goals. The usage if internet has made the daily life easier and
successful if used properly. Internet provides useful data, knowledge and information that
help for the economic, personal and social development depending upon the utility of time in
productive manner. The functionalism of the entire world is completely dependent upon the
worldwide web for production that supported the revolution of information technology.
Firstly it has enormously contributed to the online education aspect. In this regard it has made
easy for the students of different parts of the world to gain knowledge of variety of subjects
and topics. The persons who cannot afford offline course, internet has helped them
accordingly to access the sites relevant and important for their educational support.
Secondly, global business does not have any existence without internet. This
technological development has made the international products available in the local market.
In addition to this, the local unique and handmade products are also being promoted through
online business. The producers whether operating in the agricultural industry or corporate
business can gain exposure through their unique products in any part of the world with
perfect handling of this magical tool.
Thirdly, internet has changed the lives of the people across the globe tremendously
making them hungry for using internet at their nest. As customers, or consumers they are

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connected with various information as well as lifestyle activities. In this respect, changing
nature of social connectedness through hospitality and tourism that connect the entire world
through different attractive destinations. The quality of service and product has increased
where the people can access to the information about their facilities whether it is the health or
legislation.
Fourthly, the internet has make the knowledge of the human rights ore revealing. As
the media has gained power to access the information about the incidents of different places
over the internet, people from around the world has become more informative about the
global problems. In addition to this, the quick and free communication have increased the
depth of communication system both written as well as verbal (Cerniglia et al., 2017).
Through different social networks and chat messengers people around the world are well
connected both personally as well as professionally.
Finally, everyday politics is also being promoted by the use of internet around the
world. It is a great tool for the politicians to get connected with one another (Salahuddin &
Gow, 2016). The politician re using different methods to influence their vote bank and being
the citizens of the country the people are showing interest and favour to the parties.
Despite having such important positive impact on the society, internet has some
negative effect on the people which include the reduction of analysis power of the people.
Secondly, as the social networks have gained popularity in the recent times, people have
stopped thinking about their neighbours and caring about their physical environment around
them (Montag & Reuter, 2017). Thirdly, the internet politics has been manipulating the
society by dividing the unity of the people though the production of communalism as well as
castism on the internet to get votes from the people. Fourthly, as the banking system has
become digitalised therefore, the economic safety of the people has become risky. This is dye

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to the fact, the internet hackers are getting active in hacking personal information of the
persons as well as of the organostions. This is the reason why the incidents of cybercrime in
constantly growing. Moreover, the privacy of the users and the citizens have become
problematic for the governments also (Kuss & Lopez-Fernandez, 2016). Finally, through the
internet has given the creative people scope to sale their products or services online to a huge
customer base, it has also created threats for these small business to get entangled in the
privacy if they do not the perfect knowledge about intellectual property acts of the countries.
Thus internet has both positive as well s negative impact on the society and social growth.

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Reference:
Cerniglia, L., Zoratto, F., Cimino, S., Laviola, G., Ammaniti, M., & Adriani, W. (2017).
Internet Addiction in adolescence: Neurobiological, psychosocial and clinical
issues. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 76, 174-184.
Kuss, D. J., & Lopez-Fernandez, O. (2016). Internet addiction and problematic Internet use:
A systematic review of clinical research. World journal of psychiatry, 6(1), 143.
Montag, C., & Reuter, M. (2017). Internet Addiction (pp. 143-150). Springer International
Publishing.
Salahuddin, M., & Gow, J. (2016). The effects of internet usage, financial development and
trade openness on economic growth in South Africa: A time series analysis.
Telematics and Informatics, 33(4), 1141-1154.