Social Impacts and Threats of IT

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Social Impacts and Threats of IT

Over the last 40-50 years the impact IT has had on our lives and our society is astonishing! There are many different impacts associated with this topic, a few of which are Social, Economical, Legal and Ethnical. We rely on IT systems to do the simple things we take for granted in our day-to-day lives such as: media, entertainment (gaming and television), advertising (products and services) etc.

IT has developed more than ever over the past decade and although we may not notice how IT has changed, it is constantly altering everything we do in our everyday lives. Many people nowadays take the use of IT for granted.

Social Impacts

How we spend out extra time

Currently in the U.K a staggering 97% of people in the U.K have a PC or a computer of some sort in their homes. However, in this day and age most people use a computer as part of everyday life, whether it is for work or socialising.

Nowadays most young people in the U.K spend a large quantity of their time on the computer. It is thought that on average a normal teenager spends around 31 hours a week on the computer alone and a mind-blowing nine of these hours are on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc.

Although for many of our Grandparents and even our Parents this was very different!

Nowadays young people are constantly being nagged by Grandparents and Parents about spending too much time indoors and not enough outdoors.

We are told that we spend far too much of our time inside (playing computer games or watching television) and that we do not spend nearly enough time outside getting the fresh air that our body needs.

It is thought that this younger generation seems to have a lot more recreational time than the older, previous generations. It is obvious that people of the older generations did not have nearly as much free time on their hands as we do today. As nearly all of their time was taken up by working, chores and other tasks and duties. However, for us many of these chores have been made easier by various IT solutions throughout the years. Saving time and effort for us today and as a result leaving us much more free time.

Effects on local communities

Now as a result of internet development, there are 1000’s of new and diversified websites that are available to consumers, offering them a wider and larger selection of goods and services online. Consequently some traditional facilities, such as local clothing shops, continue to lose customers and are subsequently forced to close down as they are no longer needed within the society.

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Another prime reason for this reoccurring problem is that people are becoming increasingly laid-back and don’t want to have to take a trip into the shops when they can just order everything they need to their doorstep from the comfort of their own homes. As more local shops close down there is less work within this industry and the immediate area. This can have a very negative effect on the local community.

Economic Impacts

Employment structure and working practices

IT has changed the foundation of how people work in many different occupations. Good examples of occupations that have been transformed ...

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Here's what a teacher thought of this essay

A very good overview of some of the social, ethical, moral and economic (and environmental) factors that are borne out of IT and its ever growing use. There is a good range of examples and some use of data to justify statements - although it would be good for more of these to raise the level of the essay. This work would help other students looking to get a broad understanding of the implication of the use of IT as it is factually accurate but also includes examples that are relevant and students can relate to. Overall this is a four star piece of work.