Reasons for Surfing the Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reasons for Surfing the Internet - Essay Example   For younger people, the Internet is very important in terms of the opportunities it creates to socialize. People can stay in contact with their friends, follow events in their friends’ and families’ lives, meet new friends and even join communities of similar people, with the same beliefs and ways of thinking (Finn, 2009, website). They also join social networking websites such as Facebook in order to remain current with their social groups. This is the first category of reasons for surfing the Internet according to this essay, but importantly, it does not only apply to younger people: socializing on the Internet also applies to all groups of people, no matter their age. Older people use Facebook and other more business-oriented networking sites such as LinkedIn to grow their connections to people in the same industries as theirs, or in the same social circles as theirs. Many families stay in touch via technology such as Skype, when they cannot physically be togethe r. They have conversations across the world and are able to see each other and communicate more effectively via the Internet. There are also very legitimate sites for people to meet each other for relationships, such as dating sites, or less specifically for emotional relationships, community forum sites, where people who have common characteristics can meet and share ideas in cyberspace. This category of people who use the Internet is therefore wide, and cuts across age, status and nationality groups in society.... They have conversations across the world, and are able to see each other and communicate more effectively via the Internet. There are also very legitimate sites for people to meet each other for relationships, such as dating sites, or less specifically for emotional relationships, community forum sites, where people who have common characteristics can meet and share ideas in cyberspace. This category of people who use the Internet is therefore wide, and cuts across age, status and nationality groups in society. While there is some danger for people in that they could meet sexual predators or con artists in this way, the Internet still provides a major source for many people of the need to socialize with others. A second category of reasons for Internet surfing is due to the amount of information that can be found on the World Wide Web. From students at schools and universities, to professional people and businesspeople, many people use the Internet to find the information that they n eed to do what they need to do. Very credible sources of academic knowledge are available on the Internet and more and more universities and schools are advising students to do research in this way. While some sources are not well-substantiated, many academic journals, the best magazines and newspapers, encyclopedias, and textbooks can all be sourced on the Internet. This method of research definitely saves time, and makes it possible for people to keep up to date with knowledge in their fields, complete academic courses and even find out how to repair their cars! Although not strictly Internet surfing, it is even possible for people to publish their research and writing on the World Wide Web. This group of