Internet adoption and declining face-to-face communication in America

Internet Changes Lives

How the Internet Changes People's Lives:

A Fantastic Story of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery

How Internet Changes Lifestyles

The Internet technology revolution has been the single greatest story for the success of capitalism and innovation in the post-Cold War world. Beginning in the 1990s and until today, the Internet has affected nearly every human being on Earth, whether through his or her own direct interaction with it, or through the effect of globalization, which was expanded dramatically as a result of instant communication. Remote villages and islands that had previously been inaccessible by telephone lines are now patched into satellite television and Internet communications.

While there are many advantages to having an open communication channel to all the world's citizens, there are many downsides as well. Terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda now have an easy propaganda channel accessible around the world. Wicked governments are now able to cut off their citizens' voices at will, and spend millions of dollars each year providing misinformation to the outside world, covering up their intentions even while reporting encouraging statistics to the West.

There are domestic problems with the use of the Internet as well, as it has dramatically changed how most Americans live their lives by creating distractions and disorder. Obesity is on the rise, and although smartphones may allow one to move around while using the Internet, the restrictions placed on data usage actually promotes the use of one's cell phone on a Wi-Fi network, which discourages treks outside populated areas. The Internet has worsened the lives of an entire generation of Americans, by extending unwanted relationships, by inviting an inactive lifestyle, and by replacing face-to-face communication with electronic communication. Though it has been an important advancement in humankind, the Internet has forever altered the way in which humanity 'connects.' The paper below will explore this concept further, and provide scholarly justifications for its descriptions, as well as its opinions.

History:

Argumentation of Previously Explored Concepts

The Internet has changed people's ability to be up-to-date on the status of distant friends and relatives. The desire to be constantly 'updated' has backfired for many of us who value our privacy, however. The return of friends from youth is indeed a great benefit of social networks, but one must note that with the return of old friends comes the return of difficult relationships, and unlikable people.

The 'Facebook effect,' as it is called is not just an American phenomenon; it has reached worldwide proportions. The internet and with it social networking has made the world incredibly small, as moving across the globe does not even mean one has to be out of touch for more than a few seconds any more. Video chat has even removed the need to see family members face-to-face, as smartphones have completely changed how this technology is disseminated.

The Internet has reduced the desire for individuals to leave their homes in search of companionship or excitement. Teenagers, the traditional pack roamers of urban and suburban America, are just as likely to sit at home and communicate through twitter or text messages as they are to go interact with their friends in person. In some instances, technological linkages completely replace face-to-face interactions. Society, in its quest to become more closely linked, is also becoming quieter and quieter, at least in its physicality. Whereas once youth would be found in parks, in cafes and dive bars, now many places are empty or are going out of business due to the fact that many choose to interact inside, watch films, or surf the internet. This particular facet has rendered the internet's influence quite negative on today's physical interactions.

For instance, listening to music and buying the latest record was once a hobby in which every child partook. In fact, this was almost like a ritual. One could go to the record store and browse for several hours, as well as talk to other people of one's age and finally buy a record. This would be an event someone could look forward to and for which one would plan. Yet today music has been digitized and the gratification received by buying a new song is far less impactful than it had been even in the days of CDs.

Another negative aspect of the internet is its tendency to keep individuals sedentary. Statistics show that Americans keep gaining weight and being less proactive as to having an active lifestyle. Whereas adult obesity rates have always been present, they have never been so high. What is more worrisome is that youth is becoming increasingly obese. The American Heart & Stroke Association conducted a study, for instance, in which it found the following data to be true:

"Among children ages 2 -- 19, about 1 in 3 are overweight and obese (BMI-for-age at or above the 85th percentile of the 2000 CDC growth charts.):

- 32.1% of all boys, and - 31.3% of all girls, and Among children ages 2 -- 19, about 1 in 6 are obese (BMI-for-age at or above e 95th percentile of the CDC growth charts.):

- 17.8% of all boys, and - 15.9% of all girls."

With the aid of the internet, staying home has become much easier and just as mind stimulating as actual human interaction. The most prevalent example of such instances is the ease through which the Internet has made ordering food to be delivered, rather than going to a restaurant and enjoying a meal there with friends or family. The ease of orders has also contributed to the above-mentioned obesity statistics. The ordering process takes only a few moments, and has made restaurants extremely happy, as they are able to take far more orders this way, but again, this contributes to the sedentary lifestyle that Americans have adopted.

Safety of financial and personal information is another problem that has blown open as millions of credit card numbers have been stolen from credible businesses. Sony, a tech giant that seemed unstoppable through the 1980s and 1990s, was hacked, an act which revealed all of its PlayStation users' credit card data in 2011.

This disruption brought down the network for six weeks and greatly injured Sony's reputation for safety and privacy. Countless more cases of consumer credit card theft have taken place over the past decade, and it is incredibly difficult for authorities to find the hackers who are committing this sort of fraud.

The threat of cyber terrorism or cyber warfare, whether it is non-state actors or an actual states going to war with the United States over the Internet space, has worried the United States intelligence community enough to invest millions of dollars into security measures. Cyber wars are truly a major threat, as evidenced by the many books written on the topic as well. One author, Richard Clarke, lays out an important thesis in his book, Cyber War, and states that there have actually been many instances in which these kinds of attacks took place. Among them are the Estonia attacks of 2007, for instance, on which the author focuses by elucidating the fact that such 'attacks' are meant to enhance conventional warfare, and further offers detailed discussions on American policies on such warfare, as well as development, such as those mentioned above, that are meant to curb the effects of cyber attacks.

Perhaps one of the most frightening examples of how the Internet makes everyone vulnerable is Operation Aurora. This 'hack attack' originating from mainland China sought to steal source code from Google, Adobe and "dozens of other high-profile companies" and "used unprecedented tactics that combined encryption, stealth programming and an unknown hole in Internet Explorer."

Even the anti-virus firm McAfee was shocked at how sophisticated the attack actually was, and how much intellectual property the hackers were able to steal. While this section has provided much evidence against the freedoms that the Internet offers, the subsequent section will offer some counterarguments to all the above information.

Counter Arguments

Firstly, as aforementioned, it is clear that the Internet has made people more aware of their friends past and present as well as made global communication a ubiquitous occurrence. Once upon a time, the telephone was the only mode of communication between individuals, but now with such applications as Facebook, friendships can flourish and pictures can be seen between friends and family in a much easier style than via the showing of slides. Relatives from across the globe can keep in contact daily, if not hourly, and relationships between strangers can flourish in business environments and otherwise. Educationally speaking, the internet has allowed for countless opportunities, such as various programs of online learning, which help individuals become better acquainted with the environments in which they live, and also which allows more and more people to attain the kinds of lifestyles that they wish.

Politically speaking, the Internet has been tremendously successful in spreading the best qualities of Capitalism and Democracy around the world, most recently present in the Middle East. The protests in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen all depose the longtime dictators, and a more representative government has taken their place. The youth of the world have embraced wireless technology and the Internet in ways in which their parents could never have dreamed.

Reporting has also been improved as a result of smartphone technology, as video footage of events in motion, as well as pictures and testimonials have all contributed to the free speaking idealists present around the world. Despite the fact that a small minority terrorist groups are given speakerphones due to the Internet, the vast majority of people in the world have also been given similar speakerphones, and the oppressed are now able to reveal their problems instantly, which has contributed to great changes in the world, both politically and socially.

Issues such as various genocide-like events can now be seen by the world, and can be counteracted by fast-acting political measures, with the West thereby often ensuring, through its involvement, that horrendous events and such large scale events as the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide will never again take place.

The use of smartphones has helped people be aware of basic information that they need to know, such as maps and GPS guidance systems. Getting lost used to be a commonplace occurrence in the days before smartphones. Every vehicle needed to have a paper foldout map in order to best guide the driver. Now that smartphones mostly all have GPS systems built inside, not only can a driver download a map, but they can even get active directions on how to get to their destination. This system used to cost hundreds of dollars in the 1990s when the technology was brand new, but time has made the requirement of GPS systems in cars and boats obsolete, except as backup tools and has led to much better travel experiences.

Summary and Conclusions

In summary, there are four ways in which the Internet and the rapidly changing world of technology are affecting our lives, whether adversely or positively. The first is in friendships and relationships, the most personal connections people hold with them in their lives. Social networking and the Internet has brought more people together than ever before from different places around the world, but along with it has made terminating relationships difficult, and has overextended any one person's capacity for friendships at any one time. Those with 1,000+ Facebook friends are an example of a social life which is not just erratic, but nearly impossible to manage. Meaningful friendship requires personal contact, which mobile devices and Internet technology simply cannot provide on its own. Americans need to find a way to use their new electronic devices to enhance their daily interactions, rather than hinder them.

The second way that the Internet has changed our lives is in our diets, mobility, and general laziness. The ease with which the Internet has made commercial transactions has caused Americans to become more obese than ever before. Dangerous habits are formed that discourage a healthy and active lifestyle. Antisocial behavior results in a lessening of leadership skills, and removes much of the nonverbal communication that is essential in carrying out meaningful conversations. Increasingly children who have been raised on smartphones and social media devices have displayed tendencies to not want to play with their friends and to be far less active during school recess, contributing further to health problems. Children increasingly would prefer to go to school computer labs during their downtime rather than enjoy the outdoor spaces available to them.

The third way that the Internet has changed our lives is through politics. In many ways the Internet has improved things around the world, by exposing coverups and expanding public access to knowledge of candidates and campaigns. The United States has experienced this as recently as the 2008 Presidential elections and the mobilization of then candidate Barack Obama. In 2010, the Republicans struck back and regained control of Congress. Thus far, the 2012 election has been no exception, and this campaign season will see two contenders face off who have equally skilled technology teams working for them. On the other hand, the Internet has allowed dangerous extremist groups to flourish and spread their message worldwide, with Al-Qaeda taking the charge in this regard. The daily life of Americans is disrupted by threats of cyber attacks, and the general state of not knowing what sort of strike may come and by who it would be made against.

Our finances are the fourth way that the Internet has changed our lives, by digitizing our bank accounts, and moving much of our daily purchases into the realm of e-commerce. Websites like Amazon and eBay have transformed entire markets, and continue to threaten the traditional brick and mortar establishment like Best Buy. The small town mom and pop shops cannot survive because they are not able to keep up with the technology that is required of them to be able to sell their goods at a competitive price against a large scale retailer, and therefore small town downtowns are hurting as a result. In embracing the easy access to commercial websites, consumers have left traditional establishments in the dust.

I believe that the Internet has broadened human possibility immensely, but has been done in a way that is misunderstood and possibly even dangerous to a healthy society. The problems of the Internet presented need to be addressed before it can be seen as a complete benefit to mankind without question.

In conclusion, the Internet has created constant stress for those who are addicted to its power and ease of use; and society has still had trouble trying to fully cope with the ramifications of a digitized world. The problem of constantly recurring relationships and the result of decreased real world interaction has caused for a changed relationship between children and parents, business and customer, and government and citizen. The positive aspects of the Internet certainly outweigh the negative, but as far as social behavior is concerned, the Internet has been a disaster. In the future, further progress needs to be made in adopting a healthy lifestyle alongside the rise of technology. Otherwise, Americans will find themselves once again in a slow economy without the kind of creativity and social interaction skills necessary to fully take advantage of all that the future has in store.