The internet - An asset or a Liability? You decide.

The Internet - An asset or a Liability? You Decide.

The internet has become a global phenomenon. Children nowadays spend more time on the internet than on anything else. Many would argue that it is beneficial that children, our future leaders learn how to be technologically-savy from a young age. But others would argue that it could do them more harm than good.

It is a known fact that the teenage population in Singapore today has developed an unassuming dependency on the internet; many are suffering from symptoms of internet addiction, and those who are classified as the more serious cases may even spend up to 20 hours daily on the internet.

One might say that the increasing amount of internet addiction cases can be attributed to the youth culture in Singapore, in which a teenager has to expose himself/herself to the various tools that the internet provides in order to kep 'up-to-date'. Such tools include social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter.

Facebook has a phenomenon ever since its introduction. A recent study by The Nielsen Company, found that 52 per cent of the Singapore population are participating in at least one social networking website, with the most popular being Facebook — at 42 per cent.

The features that Facebook boasts captivate and intrigue both the young and old alike. Games and 'kiddish' elements aside, it is undeniable that this social media platform is an important channel for sharing information, communication and interection. With a myriad of games, activities and gimmicks that Facebook has to offer, it comes as no surprise how people can spend up to 20 hours a day on it.

“ Every time I switch on my computer, I log in to facebook first.” exclaims Victoria Lynn Tan, a 18 year-old Singapore Polytechnic student. Royston Tan, a 38 – year old marketing executive confesses that he's so addicted to the Facebook that he “ has to check it when he wakes up, in between breaks, and before he goes to bed, just to see if there are any updates.”

Not even the young teenagers are spared from the pervasiveness of the internet which may explain why the number of internet addiction cases are getting higher but the ages of those affected are getting lower. However, most will argue that these children are not to be blamed. They have been exposed to the wonders of the internet from such a young age from parents, siblings, friends, society and even school.

Nowadays, there has been great emphasis of on-line learning. Even primary school children are taught the importance of being technologically-savy. No doubt, Kayla Lim, a Primary 1 student already has a facebook account which she updates 5 times a day since November 2009 when her older sister introduced her to it. With so much exposure, it is no wonder why these young children are starting at a tender age.

Social Media platforms and learning, research material are one thing, the other thing that has captivated hordes of teenagers’ attention on the internet is gaming.

Warcraft, Left4 Dead, Dota, Maple story among many others dominate the online gaming world. These games require gamers to spend large amount of time on them in order to succeed. There are parents who feel that gaming is beneficial to children because it trains them to think strategically and that it helps to hone concentration. However the dangers could very well far out-number the advantages. “ These children may take the game too seriously and harm themselves if they fair badly in the game” explains Julie Tan, a private child psychiatrist. “They might also get too involved in the game, placing it at top priority and abandon school work amongst other more important things.” She adds.

In this day and age, everyone is so hooked on the internet that Online Dating has become extremely popular. Photo credits: www. alessiotrei.it

Gone are the days where one has to sift through a huge pile of books to find information. Now, With one click of a mouse, a world of information is at your disposal. Physical bonding and interaction has been replaced by online bonding. With the advancement in technology, human beings are getting lazier because with technology, almost everything is at the tip of your fingers and as easy as 1,2, 3. It is no wonder why everyone is so hooked on the internet.

As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to the internet. Whether it will be a greater asset or disadvantage, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide how the internet impacts his or her life.