The Advantages & Disadvantages of The Internet:We all love being on our laptop, smart phones and ipads, the internet is the big reason behind us spending so much time on these gadgets. The internet is probably one of the greatest inventions of the century. Before this invention we had to go to the library to do our research but now, all we have to do is go to Google and do our research. We can do many things with the internet; we can shop, chat with your friends in Facebook or Skype, watch videos in YouTube, earn money from blogging, and many more!

The internet is really useful and has a lot of advantages, but there are also some disadvantages of using it. Ones need to be very alert when using the internet. Check out this list of advantages and disadvantages of the internet:

AdvantagesFaster CommunicationThe foremost target of Internet has always been speedy communication and it has excelled way beyond the expectations. New innovations are only going to make it faster and more reliable. Now, you can communicate in a fraction of second with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. With the help of such services, it has become very easy to establish a kind of global friendship where you can share your thoughts and explore other cultures.

Information ResourcesInformation is probably the biggest advantage that Internet offers. Internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of information on any topic under the sun is available on the Internet. The search engines like Google, Yahoo are at your service on the Internet. There is a huge amount of information available on the Internet for just about every subject known to man, ranging from government law and services, market information, new ideas and technical support. Today, it is almost required that students should use it for research or the purpose of gathering resources.

EntertainmentEntertainment is another popular reason why many people prefer to surf the Internet. In fact, the Internet has become quite successful in trapping the multifaceted entertainment industry. Downloading games or just surfing the celebrity websites are some of the uses people have discovered. Even celebrities are using the Internet effectively for promotional campaigns.

Social NetworkingOne cannot imagine an online life without Facebook or Twitter. Social networking has become so popular amongst youth that it might one day replace physical networking. It has evolved as a great medium to connect with millions of people with similar interests. Apart from finding long-lost friends, you can also look for a job, business opportunities.Online ServicesThe Internet has made life very convenient. With numerous online services you can now perform all your transactions online. You can book tickets for a movie, transfer funds, pay utility bills, taxes etc., and right from your home.

DisadvantagesTheft of Personal InformationIf you use the Internet for online banking, social networking or other services, you may risk a theft to your personal information such as name, address, credit card number etc. People can access this information through unsecured connections or by planting software and then use your personal details for their benefit. Needless to say, this may land you in serious trouble.

Virus ThreatInternet users are often plagued by virus attacks on their systems. Virus programs are inconspicuous and may get activated if you click a seemingly harmless link. Computers connected to the Internet are very prone to targeted virus attacks and may end up crashing.

PornographyPornography is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the Internet. Internet allows you to access and download millions of pornographic photos, videos and other X-rated stuff. Such unrestricted access to porn can be detrimental for children and teenagers.

Social DisconnectThanks to the Internet, people now only meet on social networks. More and more people are getting are drifting apart from their friends and family. Even children prefer to play online games rather than going out and mingling with other kids.With all its falls the internet has the potential to make your life simple and convenient, as well as wreak havoc in your life. Its influence is mostly dictated by the choices you make while you are online. With clever use, you can manage to harness its unlimited potential.

Personal Information: If you use the Internet, your personal information such as your name, address, etc. can be accessed by other people. If you use a credit card to shop online, then your credit card information can also be ‘stolen’ which could be akin to giving someone a blank check.

Spamming: This refers to sending unsolicited e-mails in bulk, which serve no purpose and unnecessarily clog up the entire system.

If you come across any illegal activity on the Internet, such as child pornography or even spammers, then you should report these people and their activities so that they can be controlled and other people deterred from carrying them out. Child pornography can be reported to:

Your Internet service provider Local police station Cyber Angels (program to report cyber crime)

Such illegal activities are frustrating for all Internet users, and so instead of just ignoring it, we should make an effort to try and stop these activities so that using the Internet can become that much safer. That said, the advantages of the Internet far outweigh the disadvantages, and millions of people each day benefit from using the Internet for work and for pleasure.