Pros and Cons of the Internet Essay

Ever since the World Wide electronic ne cardinalrk was invented by Tim Bernes Lee in 1989, the net has enceinte by leaps and bounds, and today ranks as one of the primaeval phenomena in human life. Even though it offers a lot of benefits, its benefits argon not purely unalloyed, just now it is withal associated with several unintended solvents (Otfinoski, 2007). On the affirmatory side, the cyberspace has been equal to(p) to expand entryway to educational opportunities finished e-learning or distance learning. This is because it offers enhanced glide path to educational opportunities both at a court that is highly affordable, as well as in a manner that is highly convenient.For example, it al pitifuls those with busy schedules to conveniently schedule their classes. apart from enhancing access to educational opportunities, Fairlie (2004) writes that individuals with access to the net profit generally exhibit higher groom enrolment and completion rates compared to tho se with let on access to internet technology. The internet to a fault offers a huge bank deposit of entropy and knowledge, resources which researchers toilet tap into. Secondly, the internet has ferment an important channel through which employment opportunities stern be accessed.Sites much(prenominal) as Monster. com are chance(a) fortune to connect thousands of jobseekers with available job opportunities. Additionally, the internet is a powerful communication tool. through with(predicate) the e-mail, blink messaging, and online chatting forums, people from many another(prenominal) different parts of the globe are able to send and receive messages and feedback from each(prenominal) other. The internet offers social networking forums such(prenominal)(prenominal) as Facebook and Twitter, through which millions of people worldwide share ideas and resources (Buchanan, 2002).The internet also provides huge entertainment value for millions of people worldwide. Through the inte rnet, it is possible to watch and download ones favourite videos, music, and TV shows. One can also play or download ones favourite game. It offers a platform through which users can shop online, which enhances convenience in buying and foodstuffing (Buchanan, 2002). The internet has also made significant contributions to business, with e-commerce helping businesses create innovative sources of competitive advantage.Through contain marketing, organizations are able to cut out intermediation costs and lower costs. They are also able to access new markets without the added hassles of travelling across geographic boundaries. With more than one billion people machine-accessible to the internet, organizations have a dominancely huge market made of billions of people, unlimited by space or time, which can be tapped into at the touch of a button (Rahman and Rasinghani, 2000). The internet has additionally brought about new opportunities that have birthed entirely new businesses and industries.Some of these businesses that outright spring to mind include the so-called dotcoms, whatever examples of which include Amazon. com and EBay. These have created employment opportunities, and become a source of livelihood for thousands of people (Rahman and Rasinghani, 2000). Even though the internet provides a lot of benefits to users, it also has a grim underside associated with it. Security risks related to the time out of data security and confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation exist.For example, by apply sniffer programs, hackers can collect personal information such as passwords or credit card amount from their unwitting victims, which they can use to carry out fraud. This is known as identity theft (Cheswick, Bellovin, and Rubin, 2003). away from the theft of sensitive personal data, data existence transmitted over the internet is prone to creation compromised, by for example being modified by malicious users. Other threats incl ude spoofing, where one electronic computer can sidestep the authentication of a corpse by impersonating it, thus gaining unauthorized access to data carried in that system.Bugs in software and hardware resulting from introduction vulnerabilities, as well as malicious programs such as viruses, Trojan horses, and worms also present potential security threats that internet users are faced with (Cheswick, Bellovin, and Rubin, 2003). Apart from security threats that internet users face, the internet has also been associated with change magnitude the rate of sexual immorality, more specifically by exposing underage users to sexually explicit or fully grown material.According to Rovou (2007), there are some 4. 2 million pornography sites, and that every second, 28, 258 people are viewing pornography. Yet another adverse consequence that has been associated with the internet is that it has led the creation of the digital sort, which is with child(p) to widen the disparities between marginalized groups (such as minorities and those with lower incomes) and the inner ones.For example, the internet offers educational opportunities (through distance learning), employment opportunities (through sites such as monster. com), and in recent times citizens of many country have been able to participate in many important national events through the internet thanks to e-governance initiatives. The fact that many people from the low income brackets and those from minority racial and ethnic groups have not been able to effectively access the internet as their counterparts from the dominant group has brought about concerns that the disparities between the two groups are likely to widen further, with the risk of the increase inequality causing social strife (Fairlie, 2004).References Buchanan, W. 2002. The jazz handbook of the internet. Springer. ISBN 1402072368, 9781402072369. Cheswick, RW, Bellovin, SM, and Rubin AD. 2003. Firewalls and Internet security repelling the gui leful hacker. Addison-Wesley. ISBN020163466X, 9780201634662 Fairlie RW, Pastor M, London R and Rosner R. 2004. Race, youth, and the digital divide a research and policy initiative. Center for justice, gross profit and community.Retrieved on 220 June 2009 from http//cjtc. ucsc. edu/PowerPoints/dd_wtgrant_slide_show_204. pdf. Otfinoski, S. 2007. Computers. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 0761425977, 9780761425977 Rahman SM, and Rasinghani, MS. 2000. Electronic commerce luck and challenges. Idea Group Inc. ISBN 1878289764, 9781878289766. Rovou, J. 2007. Porn & Pancakes fights X-rated addictions. Retrieved on 20 June 2009 from http//www. cnn. com/2007/US/04/04/porn. addiction/