Switched-On Magazine

As the internet is more widely accessed due to advances in technology, its use for entertainment as well as schoolwork is becoming increasingly popular. Some issues arise that most of us don't think about.  For instance, there is the matter of pricing. Yes, the internet allows for easy and quick access to a great variety of resources but this may not be as credible or accessible to everyone. Families in a more difficult financial condition may find it problematic because computers are rather pricey.  Of course, internet plans require a monthly payment and often there's a commitment for a long period of time. There are also many dangers lurking on the internet that require attention from the parents, who might not always be available when the children need it.

In addition, resources from other sources are becoming more scarce as things are moving toward the digital world. With the increasing demand for use of email, online learning centers, and discussion boards in relation to school, it is highly disadvantageous to those who do not have stable access to these things. Even if they can go to the library or use a friend's computer, the inability to access it at any time will prevent them from keeping up with what's happening as easily. Personally, professors at college often send out emails to remind students of online quizzes and notify them of canceled classes at miscellaneous times.  Without the internet, contacting the professors or teachers when you need help is also more difficult. This can cause a problem for students who don't have the internet, yet still need help with their schoolwork when the teachers are not at school anymore. The problem of the increasing dependency on the internet can also pose a problem to the at-risk youth who might want to seek help, but are hindered by the limited amount of resources in phone books or 411 as compared to the internet. Although most crisis intervention programs do have contacts via phone, it requires more searching to find one that would fit their needs without the internet.

Of course, I'm not saying that the internet is indispensable but at one point, if this dependency on the internet continues to grow, this may become the case. Considering the fact that not everyone can access the internet or a computer at any time, this may cause problems for some people and should be an issue to take into consideration. And even if they can, problems with the credibility of sources on the Internet as well as the possible dangers of predators or scams are also problems that can come with the increased use of Internet in society.