How Does the Internet Influence Society?

The internet has really taken a toll on society nowadays. Many people are basically controlled by the influence of social media. We have people basing their future off of their zodiac signs and even simple surveys seen on Facebook or twitter. The internet in general has such a huge impact on our daily lives, though it mostly influences us to become more indolent.

As a teenager living in today’s society, I have become a victim of this effect. Although I don’t use many social networking sites, I still get very easily distracted by the internet. As much as I try to keep a distance, I always end up back on my phone. Especially during times when I need to focus specifically on one thing, like my homework. Due to the fact that most of my homework is online, it offers a greater opportunity to procrastinate. Whether it be just a small ad on the sidebar or a suggested link, I always manage to get distracted. Thus, I barely complete my work, or even finish it at all. In fact, not only does it affect my work, but  also my social life in a very peculiar way. Although social media is meant for people to communicate more with others, hence the word “social” in the term, it actually distracts me when I hang out with friends. I find myself just sitting there, scrolling through snapchat, twitter, or Facebook instead of socializing when I’m accompanied by my friends. In some cases, I don’t even go out. I end up cancelling plans just to stay home to watch Netflix, YouTube, or videos on Facebook or twitter. The constant occurrence of this distraction has made it become more of a bad habit for me, making me put less effort into the valuable things in life.

The internet isn’t only distracting, it is also very time consuming. Because the internet contains so many openings for a variety of entertainments, it is very easy to get caught up. On average, a teenager spends about 7 hours daily on the internet, mostly scrolling through social media of course. Not only does this waste valuable time, but it also makes us even more languid. We spend hours sitting on our phones, computers, and even tablets, literally moving just our fingers to complete the easy pattern; poke, type, scroll, and repeat. This precious time could be used to go for a run, walk, or just anything more productive than just sitting in front of a screen.

Although the internet does provide us with many useful resources like diet plans, workout instructions, and health guidelines, it lacks the necessary motivation that our society needs. Even though these benefits are given to us, many of us will not physically work for it. Many people struggle to have the proper motivation and self-conscience to work out or eat healthier. All they need is that constant shove to encourage them to actually achieve their goals. Unfortunately, the internet does not deliver enough of that to the them.

The internet was sought to be useful and beneficial to society, however, it ended up being quite the opposite. In the end, society is responsible for the impact the internet has on itself. We constantly abuse the advancements that were initially there to help us.