The Internet is a natural part of our lives, and contributes, among other things, to us being able to find correct information within seconds, use entertainment services such as Netflix and SVT Play and use communication apps such as Facebook Messenger. But there are also disadvantages, such as loss of privacy and piracy.
BENEFITS OF INTERNET
1. THE INTERNET IS A GREAT INFORMATION PORTAL
The Internet is made up of millions of websites that deal with everything between heaven and earth. You can easily find information on almost anything via a search engine, whose task is to present the most accurate information in the top view. The Internet contributes to a so-called wealth of information, which, among other things, contributes to the population becoming more educated and enlightened.
2. COMMUNICATION BENEFITS
You can communicate with whomever you want thanks to messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Viber, and Skype. This has contributed to people as a group becoming increasingly accepting of other cultures and worldviews.
3. COMPANIES CAN OPERATE IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY
The Internet of Things contributes to efficiency benefits for manufacturing industries, and software apps like Skype for Business allow organizations to talk to each other in real-time, no matter where the meeting participants are.
In addition to this, companies and organizations can find the right talent in a more efficient way, thanks to social media services like LinkedIn.
4. EVERYONE HAS BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE
No one needs to go down to a post office anymore, or fill out postal giro checks, to be able to pay their bills. We now handle payments and transfers via banking applications within a few seconds.
In addition to this, e-mail functionality has contributed to increased efficiency, as well as environmental benefits. Being able to send digital documents containing thousands of A4 pages, which the recipient can access directly, should be described as revolutionary.
5. ENTERTAINMENT BENEFITS
Netflix, Viaplay, HBO and a number of additional streaming services for movies and TV series are available at a relatively low monthly cost. Spotify and Pandora offer free music streaming in at least as effective a way. In addition to this, all conceivable books can be downloaded on the internet, as well as games for platforms such as Playstation, Windows 10, and Xbox.
Thanks to the fact that many have access to the internet, the competition for users’ time (and money) is extensive. This has contributed to the entertainment services found on the internet being of very high quality, both in terms of the range and the user experience that is offered.
6. YOU CAN MAKE MONEY ONLINE
It is not easy to make money on the internet, but with patience and knowledge, you can support yourself with the help of an online job. For example, you can write texts for a blog, work on customer service, or design web pages via web services such as Upwork and Fiverr, which offer a large customer base.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET
1. THE INTERNET CAN LEAD TO POORER PRIVACY
IT giants like Facebook and Google collect sensitive data, which means a hacker attack or a data leak is more than enough for criminals to be able to find out about your personal data.
These privacy breaches are common, even in the celebrity world: First, Kim Kardashian was robbed in Paris because the criminals mapped her phone’s GPS data, and in 2014, pictures of hundreds of celebrities were leaked because hackers outwitted Apple’s cloud service iCloud via so-called social engineering.
THE INTERNET CAN BE ADDICTIVE
Many people choose to use the internet to chat with strangers as well as friends and acquaintances, as well as to play and/or watch TV series and movies. The Internet can therefore be addictive, and if you let your Internet habits affect your family, friends, or your job, you should seek professional help.
3. IT COSTS MONEY TO CONNECT
You need more than one internet subscription to connect online. A computer, smartphone, or tablet must usually be purchased, and these usually cost between 1,000 and 20,000 kronor.
In addition to this, you have to pay money if you want to register a web address, and in many cases, you also need to pay for the operation of the website by purchasing a web hosting or VPS solution.
4. THE INTERNET CAN BE A DANGEROUS PLACE
On the internet, there are web forums that are intended for young people, but once there, adults with disgusting intentions can nestle under false aliases. In addition to this, fraudsters, who call and ask you to transfer money via Swish, are common on Facebook and Instagram, among others.
In recent years, cryptocurrencies have also become increasingly common. These types of programs lock your device and then request a ransom so that you can regain control of your phone, computer, or tablet. In some cases, the cryptovirus can be outwitted using web services, but many, especially business users, choose to pay the blackmailers.