Internet, the source pioneer of the computing world, starts with the development of computers. Earlier, it was used only to share information with inter-connected computers; later, it became a key source for worldwide sharing and research purposes only for supercomputers.
It was accessible only to limited number of people. In the late 1980s and 1990s it was commercialised and everyone was able to access internet and benefited themselves through this new technology. By the mid-1990s internet has changed the life both as culturally as well as commercially in a drastic manner.
The invention of internet however facilitates the students in many ways but it also brings many negative impacts among the academics life of students. Internet is like a knife. You can kill a man with a knife or use it for cutting fruits and eating them. It is only an instrument and can be used for good or bad purposes. But many students waste their time unintentionally using internet.
There are certain bad effects stemming from using the internet excessively. Having trouble establishing social ties, neglecting schoolwork, and facing some health problems are some of these bad effects. When it comes to neglecting schoolwork, it can easily be said that a student who can be regarded as an internet addict cannot find adequate time to study for his schoolwork.
For example, it is an undeniable fact that the time when internet cafes are filled to capacity is the time when students begin to leave school. It must also be taken into consideration that students addicted to the internet cannot concentrate on their schoolwork even though they find the opportunity to study.
Therefore, it can be observed that the more time a student squanders on the internet, the less grades he gets in school. Similarly, students who have become slaves of internet are no longer being able to think out of a box of their own. They usually try to get material for their work from the internet sources which are spoiling their lives brain. They do not listen to their lecture intensively- keeping in mind that they can get the required material from the internet which is dreadful for their studies.
Furthermore, they start to learn the things which are prohibited for them too. Students become dizzy and no longer remain active and sharp in their field which has affected the academic life of students and with great extent.
Excessive use of social networking is more like a time killer. Despite the fact that we can be benefited after being in contact with our dear ones; it can cause the adverse effect on the social and academic life of students and keeps them away from social norms and values. Moreover, meeting with heterogeneous people change their mind-sets, they try to persuade them by resisting their persuasive manner.
One of the side effects of the internet is the too much use of fashion. Fashion represents the entire custom and tradition of one’s nation. One should be very careful while adopting it as they are responsible to display their culture with its actual aspects.
Trends and crazes which are very short term possessed thing are often harmful for the people who follow it. Mostly these trends are displayed on net like tattoos, lip and eye lashes piercing are very much common internationally. Students who are not mature enough usually adopt it without knowing its harmful effects, which also influence others to adopt it. Such crazes and illegal fashion which are prohibited in Islam mostly attract youngsters and force them to follow.
Even though at first glance the effects of the internet addiction are generally ignored, they might contribute to some serious problems in the long run. In my opinion, people who have drifted into this addiction had better use the internet less, know that life is not impossible in the absence of the internet.
AFIFA HASHMI
Karachi