Cyber Space and Internet: A Boon or a Curse for Human Civilization in the Long Run?
Changing times, lifestyles, and new inventions have transformed life in many ways. New
technologies such as the Internet, urbanization, globalization, and mechanization have
opened new dimensions in human life and have made the world smaller. This process is
generally called globalization. It is often said that the world has become a “global village.” In
making the Internet possible, many technologies have played an important role. Through
Internet protocols, computers are connected to one another, and this entire system is
known as cyberspace. In simple language, the Internet is a network that connects many
computers together, while cyberspace refers to the environment or system created through
the Internet. Through cyberspace, a person sitting at one computer can perform many
tasks on another computer.
No one can deny that the Internet is one of the greatest inventions of the modern age. It has
become an example of human intellect. It has solved many problems faced by humanity.
However, when a person begins to become completely dependent on the Internet,
problems arise. Cyberspace has its own limitations. In cyberspace, one can communicate
with many people simultaneously, do online shopping, use search engines, read books and
magazines, obtain weather information, access government services, do office work, use
software, and carry out banking activities.
If we look at the history of civilization, the Internet and cyberspace have brought a major
revolution in human life. If you are connected to the Internet, you can access any corner of
the world while sitting in your room. A person can easily reach remote villages, seas, or
unknown regions. It has connected the world in such a way that the expression “the whole
world is one family” seems meaningful. Cyberspace has made it possible to create a
completely digital society. It has expanded business activities, increased opportunities for
practical knowledge, and improved transparency and participation in administrative work.
Now people do not need to wait in long queues for railway tickets, examination forms, or
information about government schemes because most services are available online.
The revolution brought by the Internet has had a deep impact on the field of education.
Today, through the Internet, online education, digital libraries, e-books, and educational
platforms have become available. If a student wishes, he can watch lectures from top
universities in the world while sitting at home and gain knowledge in many subjects. Digital
archives have preserved old books and rare manuscripts, giving a new life to historical
materials.
Economically, the Internet has made information about markets easily available. Through
e-commerce websites, one can buy or sell goods from home. This has affected traditional
markets, but it has also encouraged digital entrepreneurship and helped create a
knowledge-based economy.
The Internet has also brought revolutionary changes in social life. Society today is no longer
limited only to villages and towns. Through the Internet, people understand different
cultures and civilizations and present their own identities. The Internet has played an
important role in health-related information, self-expression, and spreading awareness
about environmental issues. Social media platforms have become important means of
communication. Earlier, a message took days or even months to reach people, but now
news from any part of the world reaches people within seconds. The Internet has provided
people with a platform to express their emotions and ideas, which was not available
before.
Social media provided people with an opportunity to express themselves. Similarly, the
Internet and cyberspace have brought many social, economic, and political changes,
whose importance cannot be underestimated.
Undoubtedly, it should be accepted that the Internet is one of the great achievements in
the history of human civilization. We must also accept that the Internet has brought many
positive changes at social and political levels, but its negative effects are no less
significant. The speed with which the Internet has influenced society is gradually creating
laziness and dependency. People have become dependent on the Internet for every task.
Even tasks that can be done easily are increasingly being performed through the Internet,
making us physically and mentally weak.
Spending long hours on the Internet and becoming excessively dependent on it causes
many mental illnesses. Depression is one such problem. Weak memory, cyber relationship
addiction, pornography, gaming, and betting are among the major addictions. Because of
these addictions, people experience many mental problems, which often become severe.
Internet addiction also causes health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and defects
in eyesight.
The number of cybercrimes has also increased through the Internet. The problem of loss of
privacy on the Internet is becoming increasingly serious. The way the Internet has spread
networks of misinformation has created a dangerous situation in society. Today, people
suffer from hacking, cyberbullying, phishing, and farming. Emotional people, children,
adolescents, and young women are more likely to become victims. Sometimes these
problems become so serious that people are forced to take extreme steps such as suicide.
Nowadays, the spread of false information on the Internet has almost become a trend. To
make any news sensational, some people edit videos or photographs in misleading ways
and circulate provocative messages with them, increasing hatred in society. The recent
riots have shown that the Internet and social media have played a major role behind many
incidents.
Nowadays, politicians also use the Internet to create an artificial atmosphere in their favor.
It has become common on social media either to glorify a person or to show someone in a
negative light. In many cases, political parties maintain social media teams that work in a
highly organized manner, from abusing and trolling people to creating an atmosphere either
in support of or against someone.
Through the Internet, terrorists and extremists also recruit people and spread inflammatory
speeches. Their media teams keep an eye on people whose emotions can be manipulated
and turned towards terrorism or extremism. They contact such people, brainwash them,
include them in their groups, and encourage them to carry out violent acts. According to
reports of Indian intelligence agencies, many people who joined extremist organizations
from India had first been influenced through the Internet.
Another problem is the lack of digital literacy, because of which ordinary people often
become victims of cybercriminals and face many difficulties. Crimes such as stealing data
through unknown phone calls, withdrawing money from ATMs or mobile wallets, and
similar offences fall into this category. Many other problems also continue to emerge
through the Internet every day. Since there are no clear standards regarding material
published on the Internet, these problems continue to grow. Moreover, because there is no
proper system to verify the authenticity of online content, false information continues to
spread.
In the coming years, this Internet revolution is likely to enter its fifth generation. Therefore, it
is necessary that we find solutions to Internet-related problems in time. The coming age is
that of the Internet of Things (IoT), in which automation based on data analysis will become
common. Very soon, we may become so dependent on the Internet that machines, like
personal assistants, will perform many tasks on their own. At present, when we are
entering a new phase of the Internet revolution, if we succeed in making the Internet safe
and reliable, it will certainly prove to be a boon. Otherwise, considering the rapid increase
in cybercrimes, it may also become a curse.
Published in Uncategorized