The Effect of the Internet on People

As an intensely technological world, we are connected to people everywhere we go, using the Internet. However, what people say on the Internet has consequences, just like what people say in person. The Internet gives the impression that because the world is so big, people can write whatever they want and no one will ever read it. But the Internet itself shrinks the world and connects everything. It connects people to people, words to people, and most importantly, ideas to people. Someone may write or say something online just to vent, when really that outburst has been sent to hundreds if not thousands of people through social networking, and maybe those people send it to more people. Eventually that thought will reach people who don’t know the writer, and those people will judge him/her only according to one comment.

Because the Internet promotes angry outbursts, it is infinitely more important to refrain from doing so. Technology has reduced the size of the world, and the Internet especially endorses that a small comment has minimal effect. It gets angry people to ignore fellow Internet users, and see them only as the devices they use. This is wrong: people are your audience. Computers/cell phones are not responding to your comment; people are. Beyond that, there is an audience. Saying something on the Internet which you may regret does not come without consequences. Regardless of whether you know that person or not, someone will see your comment online. This cannot be avoided.

In conclusion, it is best to be cautious about what you post on the Internet. Your attitude and tone of voice cannot be deduced from anything on social networking, only your words can. If something you say may be misconstrued as something different, either do not post it or find a better way to say what you mean.