Internet as one of the most recent changes has transformed the society in behaviors, beliefs activities and growth, and development. The impact of technology specifically the internet on human life is significant as it has adversely changed the perceptions and ideas of ideal living. Many people have moved into cities and towns in search of better lives, by setting up their families in the cities. Teenagers are as the most significant population contributors to the use to the internet to fulfill their everyday needs requirements and entertainment purposes (Michael, 2017). Through spending most of their time at home inside the house, they have had no choice but to explore the internet in search of entertainment and fulfillment and the outcomes have been adverse. The internet despite its positive benefits to humanity has adversely affected teenagers, influencing their education and triggering unhealthy addictions.
Positive Influences of the Internet on Teenagers
The essay seeks to explore the effects of the internet on teenagers by examining the positive and the negative impacts and provide recommendation and strategies to limit the adverse effects and ways of safeguarding the generation from addiction and extreme events such as loss of teenage lives. The positive benefits of the internet to the teenagers can be explored regarding access to information. The internet provides vast amounts of data which can be beneficial when used for academic purposes. The internet allows access to countless sites with useful information for school work such as assignment completion, and research (Rakhimgaliyev, 2013). The internet is exceptionally resourceful in providing up to date information which can keep the teenagers well informed on the current occurrences in the world. Information on climate, music, family, behavior, healthy living among others can be useful to teenagers as a source of guidance as they discover the world and what the universe has to offer (James, 2014) (Chernyavskaya, 2013).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The internet has been instrumental to teenagers especially those facing depression, anxiety and filled with curiosity. It provides numerous sites that can answer questions and offer clarity in issues of sexuality (Gencer & Koc, 2012). The availability of social networking sites where they can communicate with other teenagers freely on problems that they face at that particular age is useful in finding solutions and identity (Lee & Kuo, 2006). For example, through chats and shares, teenagers have been able to open up on their suicidal thoughts and attained help from depression and oppressive habits which would have otherwise had adverse effects.
Internet Influence on Teenage Education
The tendency of schooling teenagers to use the internet in schools and at home is high with a consequent on academic achievement. Most teenagers know everything about and can obtain information from the internet. Although the access has had a positive influence on education, there has been many cases of internet abuse which have negatively affected teenagers’ academic achievement (Rakhimgaliyev, 2013). Teenagers are vulnerable, and their access to the internet provides high-risk consequences as it exposes them to sexually inappropriate content, harassment, racist and violent materials which affect their behavior and habits. The internet has, therefore, become a hindrance to teenage education.
Academic achievement focuses on the ability of the students, teachers, and institutions, in general, to attain educational goals. Many teenagers spend time online, with an average of 8-10 hours online in pursuit of personal interests. Teenagers surf the internet to learn more about their celebrities, sports players watch music or sports, play computer games and make friends. The research found that only 5% of teenagers spend time online to complete school tasks and homework (Kim, 2011) (James, 2014) .The internet functions as a distraction to students who aim at academic excellence by disturbing their study time and school preparation. Thus increase use of the internet leads to low performance and poor academic performance in schools.
Internet Influence on Teenagers’ Addiction
The prime reason for discouraging teenagers from spending more time on the internet is due to its addictive nature. The internet with is diverse social networking sites is highly addictive as teens usually become engaged and intrigued to spend all their times sharing ideas photos, jokes, music, and various links with friends and family. As children spend more time on the internet they become more solitary and lonely which impacts their social academic emotional and mental aspects of their lives (Valkenburg & Piotrowski, 2017). Such teenagers lose interest in real life experiences and concentrate on the virtual world where they can hide their true nature and pose under various pseudo accounts.
Addicted teenagers are also exposed to social stigma through labels such as nerds, which weighs down their worth and affect their self-esteem. The internet also provides a leveled playground for teenagers. In their explorative nature, they are attracted to different channels which level deep impressions on their young minds. As they continue to explore and experience the diverse views of the virtual world, they become addicted and forget their social and academic lives to pursue the virtual personality they have created or themselves on the internet (Valkenburg & Piotrowski, 2017). For example access to chatting websites and exposure to relationships over the internet at young ages have left teenagers deeply hurt and with poor relational skills.
Internet Influence on Teenage Drugs, Substance Abuse and Sexual Immorality
The progressive use of the internet among teenagers has introduced high-risk behaviors that have adverse consequences. Teenagers spend most of their time on the internet watching movies and chatting which has caused them to neglect their other duties and responsibilities at home and in school. Consequently, the internet has become dangerous due to the availability of sexual and inappropriate content. The internet has many pornographic websites, and adult fantasy role-play chat rooms which are easily accessible (Blair et al., 2015). Teenagers have become addicts engaged in viewing, downloading and trading online pornography and are actively involved in the adult role-playing chat rooms.
The internet has also introduced teenagers to drug and substance abuse as they join online groups that facilitate and distribute drugs. Internet connectivity that facilitates sharing among teenagers also increases peer pressure. Teenagers are vulnerable, and in search of an identity, they, therefore, become eligible for groups which engage in drug abuse and immorality (Lee & Kuo, 2006). In many cases, the parents are unaware of the activities their children are involved in and remain unaware of the inappropriate websites they visit due to inadequate supervision, lack of regulation and parental control on children activities (Anupriya, 2011). The internet also serves as an avenue of teenagers’ introduction to gangs and dangerous groups.
Cyber-bullying and Teenage Suicides
The internet especially social media platforms or networking has increased the rates of cyber-bullying incidents among teenagers. The continued presence of the internet has also subjected the youth to cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying includes negative behaviors conducted online to demean others such as posting negative comments, use of abusive language, posting undignified photos, music, and speeches from one person directed at another person in the online platform with the goal of hurting, disorienting, and tarnishing their public image (Blair et al., 2015). Since many teenagers spend their time online, subjection to such harassment has a direct impact on their self-esteem and can lead to depression isolation and eventually suicide if not immediately addressed. The internet has contributed to the loss of lives of the young people unable to deal with online trolls, mischief and undesirable behavior as they take everything at a personal level. Internet addiction not only decreases teenagers productivity but also influences their thoughts opinions, ideas, perceptions, and knowledge (Valkenburg & Piotrowski, 2017) and when misinterpreted can have adverse effects such as death.
Recommendations
Teenagers’ use of the internet as a pastime has adverse effects as it influences the relationship with family, causes academic problems such as absence, low grades, disrespect, and lack of interest in academics. Social media as part of the internet negatively affects the youth causing aggression depression and isolation (Blair et al., 2015). The internet is, therefore, a double edge sword that should be approached with caution and wisdom. Despite its benefits of humanity, it has an extreme influence that can affect the current generation but even future generations. Parents should be vigilant and observant in exercising their parental authority through parental control and guidance to teenagers (Gencer & Koc, 2012). Though there is no guaranteed protection of teenagers from the adverse effects of the internet, parents can be more responsible for teenage behaviors and addictions through restrictions and becoming role models to teenagers through leading by example.
Conclusion
Today parents have lost control over the contents that their children access on the internet. As the number of teenagers exposed to the internet increases, teenage internet exposure has become a topic of concern. The formation of virtual relationships and friendships is more relevant compared to real face to face experiences, hence the high need to regulate the extent of internet exposure provided to the children in the teenage hood gap. The internet is useful for teenagers with a wide range of information available as long as it remains regulated. It is necessary to for teenagers to be informed on the adverse effects of the internet form early ages such that they are aware that the internet is addictive and diverse and can be more beneficial is used for research and acquisition of relevant information. Educating teenagers on the addiction issues associated with the internet and encouraging them to explore it for academic growth and healthy social development is needful and essential.
References
Anupriya Kaur, Y. Medury, (2011) "Impact of the internet on teenagers' influence on family purchases", Young Consumers, Vol. 12 Issue: 1, pp.27-38, https://doi.org/10.1108/17473611111114768
Blair, S. L., Claster, P. N., & Claster, S. M. (2015) . Technology and youth: Growing up in a digital world. Bingley, U.K: Emerald.
Chernyavskaya, A. (2013). Protecting teenagers on the internet. Retrieved on September 24 2014. From http://www.astanatimes.com/2013/04/protecting-teenagers-on-the-internet/.
Gencer, S. L., & Koc, M. (2012). Internet Abuse among Teenagers and Its Relations to Internet Usage Patterns and Demographics. Educational Technology & Society, 15 (2), 25–36.
James, C. (2014). Disconnected: Youth, new media, and the ethics gap . Cambridge (Mas): The MIT Press.
Kim, S. (2011). E Effects of Internet Use on Academic Achievement and Behavioral Adjustment among South Korean Adolescents: Mediating and Moderating Roles of Parental Factors. Child and Family Studies — Dissertations. Paper 6
Lee, W. & Kuo, E. (2006). Internet and Displacement Effect: Children's Media Use and Activities in Singapore. Journal of computer-mediated communication Vol. 7 issue 2.
Michael Rubino, Ph.D., MFT. (2017, May 20). How Does the Internet Affect Your Teenager's Life? Retrieved from https://patch.com/california/pleasanthill/how-does-internet-affect-your-teenagers-life-0
Rakhimgaliyev, M. (2013). Advantages and disadvantages of the internet. Retrieved on September 25 2014. From http://yvision.kz/post/318902.
Valkenburg, P., & Piotrowski, J. T. (2017 ). Plugged in: How media attract and affect youth . New Haven; London: Yale University Press.
