The Internet. A marvel or menace?

Authors Avatar

The Internet.  A marvel or menace?

Is there anything we can’t do on the Internet?  From doing our shopping in Tescos to finding a house on the other side of the world – the possibilities are endless!  Throughout the world a generation of P.C widows has emerged.  Everyday thousands of pupils log-on to the Internet and enter a world of the wonderful and weird- but is the Internet really so marvellous or is it the number one threat to our kids in the 21st century.

The Internet is unquestionably the biggest invention in the last 20 years.  For a start it makes it easy and convenient to get in touch with people all over the world, from Britain to Brazil, Vietnam to Venice- thousands, millions of possible friends and spouses are waiting at the other end of the mouse for you to log on and get connected.

However, children and adults who use the Internet chat rooms are in constant danger.  Over the past few years many incidents have been reported of people of all ages being conned.  Not all of these stories have happy ending.  It is not an exaggeration to talk about the Internet being used as a way for paedophiles to prey on innocent and naïve children; it is a reality of the 21st century.  Let’s face it, we have no way to prove that the 15 year old boy you are romancing on-line is not a 45 year old man waiting to take advantage of a trusting, lover-sick teen.  According to recent statistics, 53% of children admitted to discussing sex in chat rooms on the Internet.  Likewise, 49% have said that they had on-line sexually explicit conversations with complete strangers they had ‘met’ over the Internet.  The shocking statistics don’t stop there.  With 2 out of 5 children encountering scenes of violence on the net and 1 in 7 parents admitting that they have no idea what their kids are doing when they’re glued to the net, surely we must agree that the Internet has the potential to be a dangerous menace.

Join now!

As well as chatting on-line the other huge pastime must be shopping on the net.  Can you think of any shop or business that doesn’t have a website or e-mail address these days?  The Internet has dramatically changed the way we spend our money.  We can sit in the comfort of our own home and buy anything from books, C.Ds and the weekly shopping to clothes, cars, houses and all the furniture to go with it.  As well as that we can book and pay for cinema tickets, holidays and flights.  Fantastic…no more queues, no more sore feet, no ...

This is a preview of the whole essay