How Does Electronic Information Influence Our Everyday Lives

Introduction

In today's world where most, if not all the information that we acquire comes from a source on the internet, it does not come as a surprise that the information tends to have an impact on our everyday lives. The information that we have access to online comes from a variety of platforms, such as webcasts, social networking sites, wikis, blogs, and video sharing sites. The information acquired can be used for multiple reasons, for instance, education, entertainment, and business. While the information can prove to be quite useful and beneficial at times, it can also have a negative impact on our everyday lives. Nowadays, because of how conveniently information can be accessed, due to technology, it can impact people's way of life, in either a positive or negative manner. Social networking sites such as Instagram and Snapchat have a seemingly bigger impact on our everyday lives as they have changed the way that many people interact and communicate with each other. (1)

Cons

While having electronic access to information can be quite convenient and beneficial from time to time, it isn't always. The use of technology to find information or even just for entertainment purposes can have a poor impact on the way humans interact. As I have previously mentioned, social networking sites have completely changed the way that we, humans, interact and communicate with one another. The evolution of technology has allowed us to interact with those that we know from the comfort of our homes. This changes the way that people interact and communicate as during the previous years, when technology had not evolved as much as it has today, people would often meet up in person and that would prompt them to be more active. (1) Additionally, having access to information online, can be a resource for students for their assignments. It becomes easier and more likely that students will not put in as much effort into their work as they should have because they found relatable information online. This again contributes to productivity. The main concern present with the easy access to information through technology is that physical activity as well as productivity will decrease because of how much more convenient it is to use our devices to find information for us as well as to communiate with those that we know through screens.

Pros

While we have previously discussed how electronic access to information can negatively impact our everyday lives, we cannot ignore how helpful it can be and how it is beneficial for our environment. Before technology was invented, news was often conveyed on paper, and as many people know, it is not wise to waste paper. (5) For instance, until the invention of televisions, newspapers were a common way of receiving intel about the world around us, however in 1927 when the first television was invented, the use of newspapers started to decline, and has not stopped ever since. (4) There has been a 10% decrease in the amount of newspapers printed weekly, and this number is currently on the rise. This is beneficial for our environment as newspapers are printed very frequently, and in large quantities which is not good for the environment but through our electronic devices, we can receive new news, faster and more frequently without nearly as much waste. (2) Another reason as to how electronic information has a positive impact is how it allows for people to talk and hold conferences with others from around the world. (3) For example businesses can hold conferences with their clients and partners, regardless of where they are, which will be very convenient as no wait would be required for important matters to be discussed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, access to electronic information can have either positive or negative impact, however there isn't a way of determining which side outweighs the other. The use of these electronics to gain information should be decreased, and handled in a more responsible manner. Those who can access these devices have a certain responsibility as to how they handle and share the information that they have aquired through it, because it is very easy to misinterpret things and that can, amongst other things, cause a negative impact on many.

Questions

  1. How can we use technology in a more responsible manner?
  2. How can we reduce the negative impact of technology?
  3. How can we use this technology to make an impact in society?
Click here for answers

Work Cited

  1. Rachel, Lisa. "How technology has changed our lives?". Engadget. 30 October 2016.
  2. Moodie, Alison. "Is digital really greener than paper?". The Guardian. 24 February 2014.
  3. Regoli, Natalie. "12 Pros and Cons of Internet". Vittana. ND.
  4. Lee, Timothy B. "Print newspapers are dying faster than you think". Vox. 2 November 2016.
  5. Boitnott, John. "Tech Is Changing the Way We Get Our News, and It's Not Stopping". Inc. ND
  6. 123RF
  7. Intermedia
  8. Patient Engagement Hit
  9. NA. Impacts of information technology . 21 March 2018
  10. ReachFirst