I have just looked at the positive impact that it has on my life and there are many negative effects of the internet such as phishing, security, privacy and computer viruses. In my experience I have never had any problems due to safe use and browsing of the internet and computer software to stop virus damaging my computer and the information stored on it. Many people who are unfamiliar with the internet and electronic information may not be aware of such problems and are more likely to feel the negative effects the internet can have.
What impact has electronic information had on my family/the old/ the young/ businesses and other groups in society
My family
In recent years the internet has had a huge impact on my family’s lives and other families throughout the world. One of the biggest impact it has had on my family is through internet sites such as Facebook and software such as Windows Live Messenger which allow easy communication on a daily basis wherever they may be, allowing such communication with family in this way will decrease the use of phones and letters which in turn could save money.
The internet supplies families with a new means of communication through the sharing of not only general information but photos, videos etc. My family has also used the internet for online shopping especially for birthdays and Christmas as it supplies items for a cheaper price and saves a lot of time, as opposed to going buying all your presents in shops. Sites like Amazon allow you to buy all your gifts in one place and most major retailers have their own personal section were you can purchase their goods. Online banking is another impact on my family’s life, with most of them able to see their details and make payments online. Other families may use the internet and electronic information to do such things as booking holidays, booking tickets and general research (family tree etc.) Overall it has had a positive impact my family as it has aided them in important areas in life such as shopping and banking.
The old
The internet has been a great tool and has had a huge impact on the lives of many older people in society. The vast choice of social networking sites helps them to get in touch with people they may have other wise have lost all contact with, through sites such Friendsreunited. There is also a variety of game sites aimed at the older generation, and one of these biggest growing games on the internet is Bingo, where users are able to win real money. The internet has not only helped older people on a social level it has also been used to educate them allowing them training to gain skills of how to use computers, the internet has also aided older people, (mainly OAPS) through finance sites to check their pension and pension details through sites such as the official DWP website.
The young
Most young people have grown up with access to the electronic information and as a result don’t really see what sort of impact it has on their day to day life, but if this information was not available to them, their lives would be very different. Revision sites such as BBC Bitesize have become crucial to students sitting exams with all relevant information in one space, the internet has also helped at a higher level of education with the UCAS site set up to help and advise students planning to go to university, with league tables and information about what different courses may entail. The younger generation use the electronic information available to them through the use of video websites such as Youtube where they are able to share and view videos from around the world. As well as music which is becoming bigger and bigger on the internet through the popularity if iPods and mp3’s.
Businesses
Electronic information has probably had the biggest impact on the world of business, assisting them immensely and allowing them to run more efficiently. The introduction of WAN’s has allowing communication within and between businesses a lot easy thus saving them time and money. Businesses find it useful to advertise not only on TV but on the internet as well, this extra advertising has helped businesses become more productive worldwide.
Other groups
Other people in society may have more general uses for the internet such as online debating (forums) such as the BBC 606 forums where anything from news to sport can be discussed on a moderated forum. Many people electronic information available to them to further their hobbies, through reading up on current hobbies or searching for new hobbies via the internet. Youtube is another huge internationally used website that most people use fairly regularly, sites like this that encourage sharing of videos and information allow and encourage people to engage with others and educate themselves about certain issues.
Does this make you more aware of different cultures and does it help you understand what’s going on around the world
All of this electronic information has enabled people from all over the world to come together and share information, views, videos etc. It has certainly made people more aware of certain issues and cultures as more information is available on sites such as Wikipedia, with search engines also supplying thousands of results from a specific search, it is now easier than ever to contact people from the other side of the world, which many would argue can only be a good thing. Although it may raise awareness to a certain degree the information available may not be reliable or cause conflict between cultures and countries. It is difficult to avoid such conflict when the internet holds information about sensitive issues such as religion and prejudice. On a personal level however I believe the information available to me has helped to educate and make me more aware of the world around me. The news sites such as Sky News and BBC News, contain international news stories and without the use of these sites many people may not be as aware of different cultures as they are now.
What impact does it have on people without access to electronic information
People without access to this electronic information are at a serious disadvantage in today’s society where the internet and other electronic information play a huge role in businesses and many people’s lives on a daily basis, the main areas in society without access to the information are over 55’s, those with little or no computer experience, those on a low income and disabled people. People without this information may find it hard to communicate with people and may be disadvantaged in terms of education, work etc. People without this information are less likely to be employed as a basic knowledge of it is generally needed in almost all well-paid jobs in society, this is especially relevant to say an over 55 that may not have the skills to use a computer or search the internet or because they can simply not afford to purchase equipment such as a PC/laptop. The large majority of people in the UK have some form of access to this electronic information but in less developed countries, this information is scarce and many people will never experience the use of it meaning they may struggle during their school life and when they are later looking for work. Disabled people are another group in society that may be without such information, such people may wish to access this information but may struggle due to severe disabilities such as blindness.
