10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet in Education
This well-researched article aims to make students and parents aware of the advantages and disadvantages of Internet for students.
The Internet has been around here since 1960. Maybe it didn’t start out in the state we see today, but everything evolves slowly and gradually to bring the best picture at the end. People benefit from the facility in different ways worldwide, but let’s focus here on the academic fraternity and the most integral part of it; Students.
Is this something unknown that students have been using for a long? There is a precedent being set in which our lives are much dependent upon the Internet. Be it the assignment or a presentation. The homework seems incomplete without taking any help from the Internet. This virtual world has reached our lives, by and large, giving us options that we had never thought of.
Due to the rapid increase in the use of the Internet, we can see the paradigm shift. And with the insurgence of COVID-19, there are more beneficial faces of the Internet. Especially in students’ lives, we can see a major shift from the regular on-campus classes to virtual rooms.
Nonetheless, our lives are governed by the Internet, and options for students are countless when it comes to the usage of the Internet.
10 Disadvantages of Internet for students and solutions
Internet was introduced to facilitate people, but unfortunately, it came with perks and became a double-edged sword.
The uses of the Internet had been for entertainment also, which drifted the students away from taking the benefit from it. That is why it is essential to discuss the problems associated with it as well.
1. Cyber bullying
You know when you the difference between saying something face to face and online. It is hard to face the consequences through the virtual world, so people can come up with remarks called trolls, and bullying others while hiding behind the screen is cyber bullying.
These are the growing issues faced by students or children. Unfortunately, they only have negative effects on both sides. Although research supports that there are more forms of traditional bullying than cyberbullying, data also shows that both victims and perpetuator have low self-esteem. In India, 1 out of 10 people face cyberbullying, showing the intensity.
Solution:
- It is essential to know the extent of sharing and keeping the private life private by showing minimal content
- Try not to respond to someone unkind, for it may make way for further attacks
- Know the privacy settings of the particular website
- In case of facing cyberbullying, block the person and know the proper means of reporting them
2. Violence and pornography
Internet usage somewhat does expose students to violent images or pornography. Both of them have long a lasting negating impact on them. Boys have been found to be more indulged in pornography than girls, and its association is found with some specific video games, gambling, cannabis, alcohol, and poor psychosocial functioning.
This means that exposure to such content can bring entertainment, but it is not constructive. A study in 2018 also revealed that people engaged in pornography feel being out of control and dissatisfied in their relationship.
Solution:
- Parents/adults should know about the hazards of pornography and violent content
- Parents/adults should have sound communication with their children to be aware of the content
- Elaborate on the age limits for specific content.
- Teach positive ways for using the technology.
Related article: Top 13 Advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones for Students
3. Causes distraction
Internet addiction is an intense preoccupation and an urge to use the Internet, which causes distress, and a person is unable to perform the daily routine task. This is not just a term but actually, a psychological disorder that is seen prevalent among people from late 20s to 30 years of age.
When a student is using the Internet too much, then it is not only causing addiction but also wasting their valuable time. Research clearly suggests that students are the most vulnerable group and the associated problems are substance use, impulse control, anxiety, and mood disorders. All of these only aggravate the situation.
Although it is used for entertainment or communication, it dramatically affects the students’ concentration and academic performance, as depicted in the research.
4. Criminal activities
Cybercrime is fraudulent or criminal activities through the Internet. All of these are increasing. As suggested by 2003 research that 43% of the public in the United Kingdom considered it a real problem. The more public depends on the Internet for their day-to-day activities, there are increasing criminal activities.
Symantec is the company that is producing the software line Norton, and according to their statistics, the annual loss faced by the company in terms of cybercrime is around $114 billion. In addition, the amount of time lost is $274 billion in dealing with them.
When talking about the students’ Undergraduate students, they are the most at risk of being victims of cybercrime because they are most involved in the technology. According to a 2017 report, people who are in their 30s are more susceptible to identity theft. The risks and threats especially increase when the police do not show much interest in cybercrime cases, and people do not know how to report the case through proper means.
Solution:
- Use strong passwords to protect against invasion
- Keep the software updated to stop criminals from breaching it, knowing the tactics
- Try to manage your social media setting by not giving away too much personal information
- Keep yourself knowledgeable regarding the security breaches
5. Students avoiding outdoor activities
It is a known fact that physical activities are essential for all ages. However, especially for students, it is more critical because that Increases their Intellectual capabilities. A study on 493 students revealed that men were more involved in physical activities than women and that the major culprit depriving them of exercise is computers and watching television.
Another study showing similar results is upon medical students showing that internet addiction and physical activity have an inverse relation. This shows loud and clear that excessive use of the Internet only leads to a sedentary lifestyle, and that can cause health problems.
Solution:
- Try finding more engaging activities outdoor for students
- Teach limited use of the Internet and keep it majorly for entertainment purposes.
6. Depression, loneliness, and social isolation
Internet is engaging for students, and they can use it for entertainment or communication. However, if the usage increased more than required, then it will leave some marks. Mental health, commonly ignored, is severely affected by the Internet, with its addiction causing moderate to severe depression.
The studies do not reveal any weak, relatively strong associations between depression and internet addiction. Human beings are prone to interact with others because they are social beings. Still, the captivating nature of the internet world has also deprived people of their friends, and loneliness is associated with internet addiction, and the research studies clearly state it. Furthermore, adolescents are reported to have a better relationship with their mothers and friends about less Internet use. So this means internet use can affect socialization as well.
Solution:
- The number of hours being spent on the Internet should be kept in the account
- See for where the time is being wasted most
- Cut out activities that are causing waste of time as well.
- Find activities that lead to psychological well-being.
7. Addiction, time wastage, and causes distraction
Internet addiction is not a term. Instead, it is a full-blown disorder that can lead to many problems as well. It is classified as excessive preoccupation and urges to use the Internet. This leads to too much usage and is associated with substance use, impulse control, anxiety, and mood disorders.
Among 2257 English University students, 3.5% were reported to have inter web addiction. Several factors can lead to internet addiction: anxiety, depression, the age of first exposure to the Internet, homesickness, etc.
Therefore, when students are not utilizing their time to benefit from the Internet, their precious time is wasted. In addition, studies suggest that psychological well-being is reported negative in those with depression, anxiety, social discomfort, or distraction. Similarly, internet addiction leads to less psychological well-being, which means internet addiction causes distraction.
8. Health issues and obesity
The Internet can provide valuable information to the students, but unfortunately, its too much use can also lead to health problems. In addition, the excess use can cause the students to lead to a sedentary lifestyle which can have health issues.
Research on 337 adolescents revealed that internet use more than 2 hours a day could lead to high blood pressure. Among these issues, another important risk is getting obese. The immobility resulting from internet use leads to gaining more fat. 38,537 participants from different countries reveal that their chances of gaining weight and becoming obese are 47% increased when using the Internet too much.
Solution:
- Physical activity should be essential for internet users
- Students should be taught to keep a balance in internet study and exercise or physical activities
- A constant check on body mass index and overall health is a must for internet users.
10 Advantages of the Internet for Students in Education
On average, a college student spends 100 minutes on the Internet every day, so that’s plenty of time to get to know the good side of the Internet and how to use it.
1. For Online Education
This term of online education had marked its importance in the current era when the deadly virus had surrounded the entire world, and all the educational institutes had switched to online education. But, of course, none of this could be possible if there was no internet. And it is this virtual education that has enrolled more than 6 million students worldwide, and 85% favoring the similar mode to match their schedule.
Related article: 21 Advantages and Disadvantages of technology in education
1. Internet has made the Research Easy
Being a student, you must be very familiar with how important it is to get your homework and projects done at the right time. Not just that, but it has to be good enough.
Go to the search engines and find out how it answers everything and the bulk of its contents. Every student must have been to the Internet at least once and would know the power of using a search engine.
2. Counseling and Education Assessment
Students have to make career choices at some point in their lives, and we all know it can be challenging to look out for a worthy career counselor. And not to forget the time and energy spent overlooking for such a person. Again, the Internet provides the facility well.
A paper discussed how the Internet helps counselors and clients in making the process smooth. For example, it shows that it is 10% effective to use a career counseling website. Well, not just in career counseling but also in the job search. Just go online.
3. For connecting and communicating
The Internet plays a significant role in connecting people because they have been part of social media sites that indicate their connection. For example, college students use Facebook for songs, picture sharing, news, and communication entertainment.
And the hours mainly spent on the Internet go from 2 hours a day to 6 to 8 hours which is pretty much of time to connect with friends.
4. For earning money
It may be difficult for students to attend their classes and work part-time in a physical place and earn money. However, thanks to the blessing of the Internet for it has made work easy from opportunities like freelancing or blogging, which is an option of working online on a contract basis and expressing your views on specific topics respectively.
Research has found that it brings more job responsibility, higher wage effects, short duration in the searching job, and lower risk of unemployment.
5. For getting faster information and staying updated
What do you think is the fastest source of getting information related to anything. Well, the answer simply is the Internet. Because it is the Internet that contains all the information and is updated according to the latest news. So for students to stay informed and updated, they turn to the Internet.
Research on Chinese students at St. Petersburg University has been revealed to use the Internet or mainly Google as their source for understanding and learning the Russian language. However, this depicts that the Internet is used as a primary source for obtaining information.
6. Internet saved money
Internet is cost-effective, but how come? Just go through the points given and think when you are doing everything at the disposal of your home, then there is a saving of money on transportation and other things.
This is how the Internet is helping in saving money.
Conclusion
The Internet has been serving humankind for decades, and we have seen the many advantages it has given. However, it has been accused of things that are increasing its hazards day by day. No wonder the modern world is incomplete without the Internet.
You cannot be sure for your children if leaving them unsupervised is OK. However, we have seen students from all disciplines seeing a clear difference in their academics before and after getting access to the Internet. No doubt their performance will be much better when exposed to the Internet to attain knowledge.
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