The Good: Research
https://www.tigweb.org/youth-media/panorama/article.html?ContentID=6336
When a student is given an assignment where research is required, their first instinct is to open the Google search engine and type in key words pertaining to their topic. Before the digital age, these students would have to seek information from library books and magazines. One can argue that written sources provide more credible information than the Internet, but when you consider the time consumption that comes with a library visit, the Internet has become a wonderful convenience. Through extensive research via the Internet, people can quickly and effectively retrieve limitless information. Curious about how many days it would take you to walk from one end of the United States to the other? Looking for a restaurant location nearest you? Google it. The expediency of having numerous webpages at our fingertips has been life changing.
The Bad: Pornography
http://www.protectkids.com/dangers/childaccess.htm
When considering the benefits of the Internet, it is important to remember that not all webpages are created equal. With the convenience of research that I had previously mentioned, it is likely for someone to come across inappropriate material. There exist countless pornographic sites, hate sites, and blogs where people share racist or distasteful opinions. It is often difficult to distinguish a decent website from an offensive one prior to clicking the link. Key words typed into search engines can also commonly be misinterpreted, leading to the unintentional viewing of harmful material. These misleading tendencies are poisoning to the mind, particularly with young children who are incapable of suppressing their curiosity when it comes to the Internet.
The Ugly: Cyber Bullying
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html
With the many disadvantages that the Internet introduces, I would say that cyber bullying is by far the ugliest aspect. The Internet has taken bullying to a whole new level. It is easier for children to say hurtful things when hiding behind a computer screen, and even more so with the option to remain completely anonymous. Without constant Internet monitoring on children by their parents, the problem is not easily detected. In some instances, adults engage themselves in cyber bullying, which then is considered cyber stalking and involves legal consequences. Cyber bullying has resulted in depression, and in more severe cases, suicide. The Internet has brought so many advantages to the world, and knowing that it is being misused for the harassment of children is unsettling.
