Due to the constant evolution of technology electronic media has become the way of doing everything. This has transformed the way of journalism and news consumption, because over the years consumers have gradually descended towards the internet for their information. The information provided on the internet is in much more detail then is it were to be written in a newspaper or broadcasted on a news channel. The way the internet is set up there is such a platform for reporters and journalist to include so many different elements into their writings or news reports that they would not be able to do if it weren’t for the internet. The way that the American culture is in this current time every aspect of life is somehow connected to the internet and the consumption of news and reports are no different.
The Internet is a technology that changed the way we read. The Internet causes us to loose focus or to just skim through information really quickly. The need to get information quickly, rather than spending the time to read a book, is due to the Internet. When I need to read something for a class I would much rather go to Spark Notes on the Internet, rather than read a complete book. The Internet has helped reading to evolve.
He compares and contrasts how his life was with the Web and without it. For example, “Just as Microsoft Word had turned me into a flesh-and-blood word processor, the Internet, I sensed, was turning me into something like a high-speed data-processing machine, a human HAL (325). The Web has changed him in such a way that he felt like a machine. He wanted to stay connected, therefore, he would yearn to check his e-mail, click links, or explore on Google. He noticed the Net was having a much stronger influence over him than his PC ever had (324).
In other words, as we get older, we have a harder time with distractions online with the Internet, Facebook, and such. Finally, some people say that using Google will make a person stupid, which is true for some, but others like me, actually use it for research and to learn as well. Experienced Internet users actually showed increased brain activity, with more advanced decision-making skills and complex reasoning. In simple terms, the inexperienced Internet users lagged behind. This is either a win or lose for using Google, it help some, but also fails others.
More and more companies are using the internet to promote new products and services. Online communities such as forums allow consumers to post questions, give their opinion, and research products. Marketers can use this as an advantage to improve, customize and create new products based on consumer want and need. The internet has adversely affected many organizations since its inception; many people are turning to the web for their local and world news which has caused declining sales in newspapers forcing many to go under. Magazine sales have seen a decline as well with information being so readily available consumers can search just about anything from entertainment, sports, fashion, and automobiles.
His primary arguments seemed to be examples of his own difficulties. He states “Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy…That’s rarely the case anymore.” He continues to write of how his mind starts to wander after a few pages, and he looks for something else to do; reading has become a struggle. Carr says the culprit is the Internet itself, basing his accusation on how in today’s society we can obtain information after just a few minutes on the Net. The media today has started to give us information in as limited amount of words they can allow, so we as users can skim the information we desire then move onto the next sliver of info. He believes our minds have been altered to expect all information the way the Net hands it out: “in a swiftly stream of moving particles,” as he put it.
Tevin Hutchinson 11/10/2012 English 102 Technology plays a huge role in our everyday life. I do believe that technology has made our lives easier, but it also has made us more dependent on the technology itself. When using the internet for a dictionary you could easily get distracted. Anyone can put anything on the internet, so what you find might not be accurate. Most people find that looking things up on the internet is distracting because you are already on the web so why not check YouTube for a funny video, or update your status on the social network.
However, college students need to understand that using social networking sites religiously is not just an issue about the amount of time devoted towards schoolwork, but that it can literally change how they think. Social networking sites, along with Google and Wikipedia, are influencing how college students process information. Facebook is a great tool to keep in touch with friends, but the Internet needs to be used for educational purposes. Although the Internet can be used for educational purposes, the usage of sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, and Google have negatively changed the way college students think. Some credit can be laid upon the student, but ultimately we as a society need to fundamentally change how people use the Internet.
Kirsten Laman ENGL 1301-61507 Professor Jackson 30 October 2014 Cognitive Effects of the Internet The book The Shallows by Nicholas Carr states that the introduction of the internet into society has had a profound effect on our culture. In other words, the internet has affected the way people think, read, and remember. The rapid access to tons of information has also affected people’s behavior making them less patient and less productive. According to Carr, “The Net commands our attention with far greater insistency than our television, or radio or morning newspaper ever did” (117). In today’s world, the internet has become essential to work, school and entertainment.
Life has distinctly undergone some very dramatic changes ever since the dawn of the Internet era and with each passing day there is a growing dependence on it. People start to rely on the accessibility of information on social media, we rely on the internet to give us answers and retain information. Social networking including Facebook, twitter, blogs and even You Tube play a role in our education. Students who attempt to multi-task, checking their social media sites while there are studying or working on a paper lose their ability to perform the task on hand and their concentration by these distractions, I know this to be true because I can admit that I too have looked at Facebook and the internet for distractions while writing this paper. Another problem that social media creates another way for people to bully or have access to emotionally abuse others.