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Basic Synthesis & Argument
51.69% of adolescents are addicted to Internet media, and for many of them, their pursuit of technological and publishing literacy contributed to their condition (Leung and Lee 127). As the Internet continues to build more powerful communities globally, the debate concerning its potential effects rages on. The power of this medium is continuously misused by parties who collect unauthorized information, launch universal attacks, or avenge any perceived wrongdoings. Such instances fuel the naysayer’s arguments as they cite each ordeal and call for reduced online interactions. However, these critics also fail to take note of the significant positive impacts the Internet is having in most communities. Individuals can communicate with people from more regions of the world to meet their personal or business needs instantly. Parker affirms that the Internet continues to demonstrate critical benefits that are advancing the human race. On the other hand, Carr introduces numerous pieces of evidence that counter Parker’s narrative and showcase the gradual reshaping of the human’s brain through their continued use of the Internet. Internet media presents both positive and adverse impacts on users depending on their frequency of engagement; Parker introduces the merits of controlled use while Carr discusses the pitfalls of excess engagement.
Historically, each new invention has been met with constant criticism, which prophesied grave consequences if members decided to adopt the element. According to Pinker (1), such panicked reasoning usually fails reality checks. For example, comic books were initially accused of prompting their readers to commit delinquent acts, although the crime rates continued to decrease. Similarly, the introduction of video games was predicted to boost criminal activity, but the 1990s remain one of the safest periods in America. Lastly, the introduction of television sets and transistor radios was predicted to decrease intelligence among these items’ audience members. Nonetheless, I.Q. scores remained high throughout their advent. On the other hand, Carr (93) points out that some of these foreshadow bore an element of truth in them. The written word led to reduced memory capacities and inflated egos among its readers, as Socrates feared. Also, the printing press, which prompted the easy availability of books, has, on occasion, demeaned the author’s work and resulted in intellectual laziness. Nevertheless, although all the predictions made were accurate, the critics failed to anticipate the myriad of benefits each invention brought along with it. Consequently, it would be unwise to dismiss Internet media based solely on current predictions of doom without factoring in the merits of continued technological advancements in society.
As mentioned earlier, these media present both advantages and downfalls, depending on how one decides to utilize this technology. Pinker (1) notes that the scientific field continues to advance despite the perceived threat of technology. Many researchers are now using the Internet to fast track their studies and collect data from multiple people from varied backgrounds. Many scholars regularly communicate through e-mails and present their findings using PowerPoint slides. But, such technology was harmful to intelligence, the number of discoveries made would continue to plummet, and progress would slowly come to a halt. Nonetheless, it is critical to note that these scholars utilize the Internet effectively and in moderation, hence, their performance remains primarily attributed to them. Alternatively, Carr (93) claims that the extensive use of the Internet is gradually altering the way an individual’s brain functions at a biological level. For example, the process of adaptation has transformed the primary metaphors used to describe human actions. In the age of software, the Internet is subsuming all other information processing elements, including the human brain. Consequently, individuals have taken on technological qualities, including reduced attention spans. Similarly, one ought to comprehend that such drastic consequences are possible for avid Internet users, meaning a person who barely uses this medium is unlikely to experience the impacts.
Moreover, the intensity of one’s experience with Internet media plays a more significant role in the possible effects than the medium itself. Pinker (1) argues that an ordeal is barely responsible for a brain revamp as one’s fundamental processing capabilities remain unaltered. For instance, speed-reading exercises do not make an individual a permanent fast reader. Accomplished people achieve their success through continued investment of their time and effort into their area of interest. In extension, Internet media are less likely to imply a transformation of one’s cognitive functioning as their effects remain rooted in the instances themselves, and not the technological channel. Nevertheless, according to Carr (90), these channels of information are not as passive as they are implied to be. These media not only supply data, but they also shape one’s thought process. The Internet appears to be chipping away at people’s concentration and capacity for contemplation. The mind begins to expect information in the way the Net supplies it, which is in a quick-moving stream of data. As a result, many users start to struggle with long columns of text as their concentration is consistently interrupted by pop-up ads and endless hyperlinks. One’s online search habits may very well alter the way they read, think, and synthesis of new knowledge. An individual is likely to be tempted to skim long articles and gravitate towards abstracts and summaries.
Thirdly, while the effects of Internet use may be limited, they have far-reaching and permanent impacts. Pinker (1) claims that the influence of the Net is probably less than the panic implies. Pinker asserts that the belief that one becomes what they consume most often is primitive. For example, a hunter cannot become fierce by merely killing and eating wild animals considered to be healthy and brave. Similarly, reading PowerPoint presentations and Twitter threads will not make one into the same elements. Although the constant flood of information can be distracting, diversions and interruptions existed long before the advent of the Internet. Thus, all these perceived threats are not a new phenomenon, but instead, they represent timeless notions. Nevertheless, Carr (92) notes that the brain is a malleable organ that is easily shaped by stimuli that it consistently interacts with. Furthermore, cognitive functioning is not an intuitive skill for humans, meaning it is learned and affected by one’s environment. The technologies an individual uses to practice crafts, such as reading, are bound to impact their neural circuits. These variations then continue to extend to other brain regions and eventually influence their fundamental interpretation of both auditory and visual stimuli. Therefore, a person’s use of the Net will change the weaving of their neural circuits, thus, transforming the way they think.
In-depth reading – an exercise that is quickly becoming unpopular – stimulates informed thinking and leads to intellectual discoveries and wisdom. However, the Net is slowly replacing the quiet spaces created by this exercise with a new kind of self that is forced to evolve due to “the pressure of information overload” (Carr 93). This vast network of knowledge implies that individuals are spread thin, meaning they will eventually lose their state of innocence. Their actions and thoughts will become scripted, resulting in an emotionless race that executes allocated tasks with robotic efficacy due to their reliance on machines for universal comprehension. As a result, although the Internet may result in drastic consequences, the way to achieve the necessary change is not through a complete indictment of technology. Adopting techniques that advocate for self-control, for example, limited access to social media sites, will be more effective (Pinker 1). Additionally, individuals need to revert to traditional methods that stimulate rigorous reasoning and extensive research so they can maintain these skills. Examples include rational analysis and criticism and avid constructive debates with other knowledgeable parties. The Internet supports an exponential increase in information and accommodates the limited nature of human brainpower. Hence, such technologies are keeping individuals smart, even with the continued introduction of new data and insights.
In conclusion, Internet media continues to present both beneficial and challenging impacts on its avid users. Pinker maintains that prophecies of doom where the Net is concerned are unfounded and will eventually be disproved. On the other hand, Carr warns against the observable consequences of continued Internet use by describing its impact on a person’s brain functioning. Despite their controversial ideas, both writers present valid viewpoints. However, the extent to which the Net benefits or damages a person’s life depends on the frequency and intensity of their usage. Therefore, although the Internet has facilitated rampant scientific progress, continued usage also reduces one’s concentration and analysis skills. As a result, the debate involving the Internet’s impact can be resolved by advocating for self-restraint where these media are concerned.
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Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google making us stupid?.” Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education 107.2 (2008): 89-94.
Leung, Louis, and Paul SN Lee. “The influences of information literacy, internet addiction, and parenting styles on internet risks.” New Media & Society 14.1 (2012): 117-136.
Pinker, Steven. “Mind Over Mass Media.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 June 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11Pinker.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=1CE13A11E552E408113BCD42F3B8DBC4&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL.