21. July 2025
Admin
Is the Internet More Harmful Than Beneficial to Students?
Arguments in Favor (Harmful):
- Distraction and Poor Focus: Students often spend hours browsing social media, watching videos, or playing games, which diverts attention from academic activities and reduces study time.
- Exposure to Inappropriate Content: The internet is full of unfiltered information. Students can easily come across harmful content like violence, pornography, and misinformation, affecting their mental and moral development.
- Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: Many students experience bullying on social platforms, leading to emotional distress, low self-esteem, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.
- Decline in Reading and Writing Skills: Overreliance on digital shortcuts like copy-paste and autocorrect tools can diminish students' ability to write well, spell correctly, or think critically.
- Addiction and Poor Sleep Habits: Excessive use of the internet, especially late at night, can lead to internet addiction and sleep disorders, which negatively impact students’ academic performance and health.
Arguments Against (Beneficial):
- Access to Unlimited Knowledge: The internet provides students with vast educational resources, including e-books, research papers, tutorials, and videos that support learning beyond the classroom.
- Improved Communication and Collaboration: Students can connect with peers, educators, and experts across the globe, allowing for greater knowledge sharing, project collaboration, and global awareness.
- Supports Self-Paced Learning: With the rise of online courses, students can learn at their own pace, revisit difficult topics, and pursue subjects of interest even outside the school curriculum.
- Technology Skills Development: Regular internet use builds students' digital literacy and technical skills, preparing them for future careers in an increasingly digital world.
- Creative and Career Opportunities: Platforms like YouTube, coding websites, and online writing communities help students express creativity, build portfolios, and even earn income at an early age.
Conclusion:
The internet is a powerful tool with both immense benefits and serious drawbacks for students. While it opens doors to knowledge, collaboration, and innovation, it also presents distractions, risks, and harmful content. The key lies in moderation, digital literacy education, and proper supervision. If guided properly, students can harness the internet as a force for academic growth rather than a source of harm.