How does the internet affect an individual? Well when one thinks about it, it's easy to understand. The internet is full of many toxic people, so it is prone to leading to depression or anxiety, and it can make people feel isolated and overwhelmed. The many short videos on countless apps can be watched for hours on end and cause a rapid switch of attention. This constant stream of information can overload the brain as it tries to concentrate on many concepts at a time, which can lead to problems with long-term focus. The internet is also known for spreading false information which can lead individuals to believe in things that are not true and could be harmful. In order to avoid these issues, it is important to limit oneself as much as possible on the internet.
In current times, people online can have severe impacts on others. Cyberbullying is a problem that can lead to depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, and in some cases, suicide. When faced with the situation of online harassment, it is important to stop the situation from escalating as quickly as possible. Notifying a trusted person might help to guide someone through the ordeal. It is necessary to avoid any leaks of information from the victim’s end to prevent a case of online humiliation, an occurance that has led to the drastic measure of suicide in order to keep away from facing others. If the perpetrator of the issue continues to pursue someone, report and block the behavior on any platform being used. Keeping private on the internet would be a great way to prevent a problem like this from starting.
A recent feature of numerous social media and internet platforms is a “short” video format that individuals use to create countless minute-long or less clips of their lives. Due to the decreased amount of time required to process these reels, it is common for people to spend hours scrolling through thousands of them. It is incredibly simple to wake up, grab one’s phone, and start scrolling. The constant influx of information keeps many entertained and the new content in each reel after the next engages them for hours. However, the overload of material in such a short amount of time puts the brain in overtime as it tries to keep up with processing everything. The lessened duration also causes attention spans to decrease, which could lead to issues with concentration on tasks that require a long time period. A way to combat this is adding a timer to addicting apps, shortening the time spent to the recommended 30 minutes per day for social media.
Another problem with the internet is the surplus of false information that floats around. Fake news mainly works to change people’s beliefs, attitudes, or perceptions so that they eventually change their behavior. Individuals usually only believe what they wish to, and for those obscure beliefs, websites can be created that solely feed them fake news that pleases them. Unfortunately, these sites are commonly used by hackers as means of access to one’s information. They could use this data to manipulate, dox, or take advantage of someone, all which are severely harmful. Measures such as wiping one’s digital footprint, getting a password manager, and encrypting/updating everything can be taken in order to prevent being affected by fake news hackers. Make sure to only click on trusted sites to avoid fake news and the risk of being scammed.
Being active on the internet is a risk that holds the dangerous consequences listed above. That said, being online does not have to be a fear filled task. The precautions mentioned should be kept in mind when on social media.
Resources
"The Impact of Cyberbullying on Mental Health" Source: https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Impact-of-Cyberbullying-on-Mental-Health.aspx
"What Are the Effects of Cyberbullying?" Source: https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2020/08/17/what-are-the-effects-of-cyberbullying
"Are Reels and Shorts Reducing Our Attention Span?" Source: https://www.sentinelassam.com/editorial/are-reels-and-shorts-reducing-our-attention-span-636452#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20the%20fast%2Dpaced%20and,on%20each%20piece%20of%20content.
"How Much Time on Social Media Is Too Much?" Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-much-time-on-social-media_n_5be9c148e4b0783e0a1a8281
"The Dangers of Fake News" Source: https://www.peoplesbanknet.com/the-dangers-of-fake-news/
"How to Prevent Getting Hacked" Source: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-prevent-getting-hacked/