The benefits and detrimental effects of Internet on students.

1.0

Introduction

1.1 Overview
In this era of globalization, it is a norm for students to use the Internet to search for
information that they need, communicate with friends, fellow students as well as
teachers and even find necessary tools or apps to be used for their studies.
Besides that, students can also look for references and research data for their
studies ( using Google for example ), or search for items before go shopping ( eshopping ) or even shop via the Internet ( e-commerce ). Moreover, students can
also use the Internet to search for information regarding location of places and
other useful general information.
Nowadays it is a trend for students to use social networking sites such as Facebook
and Twitter to get closely in touch with their friends and acquaintances. Internet are
also used by students for entertainment purpose ( e.g. listening to music, watch
video, playing games etc. ).
1.2

Objectives
The objectives of this assignment is to provide an insight on the benefits and
detrimental effects of Internet on students based on experts opinions and survey
findings together with appropriate suggestions to reduce the detrimental effects of
Internet usage among students.

2.0

Benefits of the Internet for students

The benefits of Internet to students are many and multifaceted. Students can use the
Internet for daily routine use ( e-mails and newspapers ) and recreational use
( online games and chatting ) as well as specific services such as an educational
tool, social networking tool ( facebook or myspace ), a vehicle for electronic
commerce, or a tool for accessing health related services.
Students can use the Internet to gain knowledge and help to search for information
of interest. Furthermore, Internet is used to assist students with their studies, for
entertainment purpose and to communicate or even for socializing with friends or
acquiring new friends.
Internet allows students to keep themselves up to date with the latest news
available. As most of the newspapers today are now online, students can browse the
Internet web sites at anytime to read the latest news on any particular subject. With
this, students can be constantly kept informed on the latest news.
Internet speeds up the rate in which students communicate with others through email, instant messaging, file transfer and file sharing. Students will be able to
communicate effectively besides saving time and effort.
Internet provides commerce services to students such as online shopping, discount
on travel packages and plane schedules. With e-commerce, students can purchase
items online by just using their credit card or any form of bank transactions and
save the hassle of going to the mall and the bank. They can complete their
transaction online and just wait for the items to be delivered to their doorstep again
saving valuable time and financial resources.
Internet also provides online references which ranges from articles, journals, e-

books to encyclopedia. This brings convenience to the students as the students do

not need to go to the physical library or bookshops to search materials for their
assignments and projects. According to Chou, C. ( 2001 ), the Internet enhanced
self-identification, closer relationships with friends, and bonding with the world.
It is also becoming a trend for education institutions including colleges and
universities to offer distant learning programmes where students can spent most of
the studies online aided by online resources such as e-lectures, e-forums and elibraries. They can also submit their assignment online and get announcement via
e-mails as well as online feedback from their online lecturers i.e. E-tutor. This
saves them time and expenses travelling to and fro their respective education
institutions.
3.0

Detrimental effects of the Internet for students

3.1 Plagiarism on Assignment etc.

Although Internet is useful for students, it also brings negative effects to students if
it is misused. Take for instance, Internet may hinders students from completing
their assignment tasks on their own. When any projects or class assignment are
given, some students would just find the websites relating to their assignments,
copy and paste the relevant materials to form part of their assignment thus
plagiarizing the materials sometime even without understanding of what is copied
which can be mostly devoid of any originality.
Research by Lathrop and Foss, 2000; Dick et al, 2003. (Bushweller, 1999) cites
disturbing statistics such as that 70% of American high school seniors admit to
cheating on at least one test and 95% of the students who said they cheated were
never caught. Cheating also has been observed to increase as the bandwidth of the
communications channel between assessor and student decreases; that is, people
who feel more "distant" cheat more (George and Carlson, 1999; Burgoon et al,
2003).

3.2 Internet Addictions

Internet may cause addiction among students. When using the Internet excessively,
students may develop an unrealistic feeling of power and control over the computer
which in turn make them become Internet dependence or addiction, i.e. feeling
helpless and even hopeless when unable to go online.
Another research by Chou & Hsiao show that Internet addicts spent 20-25 hours
per week online while non-addicts spent 5-10 hours online. Other research
according to Kubey, Lavin, & Barrows ( 2001 ), Internet dependents spent three
times as much recreational time online per week ( 11.18 hours ) than nondependent ( 3.84 hours ).
The same research by Chou & Hsiao also shows Internet addicts spent significantly
more hours on Internet applications such as Bulletin Board Systems ( BBSs ), the
World Wide Web ( WWW ), e-mail, and games than the non-addicts.
3.3 Impairment of Academic Performance
Excessive indulgence in games and entertainment on the Internet tend to affect the
academic achievement of the students as many of them have spent long hours
online on anything but studies and thus distracting their attention away from their
study.
Research by Kubey, Lavin, & Barrows ( 2001 ), shows that 30 out of the 53
dependent

users

reported

Internet-related

academic

impairment.

Internet

dependency and impaired academic performance were associated with the use of
Internet applications such as chat rooms and multiple user dungeons ( MUDs ).

3.4 Exposure to Undesirable Contents

Internet may result in students being exposed to uncensored and negative materials
or association with and influences by undesirable online acquaintances. Students
may be exposed to web sites that contain violence, obscene and sexual material
online such as pornography. According to Scherer, K. ( 1997 ), dependents are
more likely to spend at least twice as much time online for leisure activities, and to
have more proportion of relationships online.
Another research by Pratarelli & Browne ( 2002 ) show that the problematic
computer use leads to the use of sexual contents, management of shyness as well as
the use of general contents of the Internet.
According to Morahan-Martin & Schumacher ( 2000 ), Internet dependents are also
more likely to use more interactive applications of the Internet such as chat rooms,
MUD games, and news groups.
3.5 Internet Related Health Problem
Overuse of Internet by students also result in health problems caused by spending
too much time sitting and staring at the computer screens. According to Chou, C.
( 2001 ), Internet causes eyesight deterioration and sleep deprivation. Internet
addiction lowers the chance of exercise, which can also result in obesity.
According to a study on Internet use and its impact on secondary school students
in Chiang Mai, Thailand ( Kesaraporn Wanajak, Edith Cowan University, 2011 ),
incidents of Internet Addiction in student reporting school problems and health
problems such as headache, back pain and eye strain are more prevalent than in
normal students. The studies also found that Internet use cause mental health
problem such as preoccupation, losing track of time, irritation, anxiety and sadness

similar to those reported in a study by University of Gothenburg, Sweden

found that a majority of young people aged 22 to 24 who constantly use a computer
and mobile phones can develop stress, sleeping disorders and depression.
4.0

Ways to reduce the Detrimental Effects of Internet Usage

4.1 Students Self Management

To reduce the detrimental effects of Internet usage among students, students should
participate in other creative activities during their past time. Students should have
discipline in the use of Internet and limit Internet use for entertainment purposes.
Furthermore, students should learn ways to manage time appropriately in order to
maximize the usage of time for beneficial activities. Students should also seek
information about Internet use and its impacts of continuous and uncontrolled use
on their own well being and be more conscious of the detrimental effects of
Internet and refrain from becoming Internet addicts. They should also be openminded and be ready to change their Internet lifestyle and even seek treatment if
advised to do so by their family members, close friend or teachers.
4.2 Role of the Parents
The parents play an important role in monitoring the students use of Internet.
Parents should discuss and give advice about Internet use and its impacts to
students to make sure that students do not abuse the usage of Internet and use the
Internet correctly to derive its beneficial effects and avoid the pitfalls.
Parents should supervise students whenever they can so that students will not be
exposed to undesirable materials. Parents should encourage students to participate
in more healthy activities such as swimming, picnic and board games instead of
indulging themselves online.

Besides parents should be good role models for the younger generation in their use
of Internet in everyday life and should spend more time with students to understand
the students needs, observe closely any change in behaviour of the students with
respect to the use of Internet and always be in the know about the students
academic performance and possible problems in coping with their studies.
Parents should also monitor as far as possible the students Internet lifestyles
especially with respect to the purposes of using Internet other than for their studies.
Parents should also beware of the propensity of certain website and ways of using
Internet that can cause Internet Addiction and be ready to take early action to solve
the possible problems relating to Internet use.

4.3

Roles for the Education Institution

Administrators of education institution should strictly supervise the Internet use
by students. School administrators should place the schools computer
laboratories in well supervised areas to ensure that students use the Internet
appropriately to
protect students safety. Teachers should advice students having behavioral
changes related to Internet Addiction to consult physician or psychologists to seek
treatment.
Teachers should also do a regular investigation on patterns of Internet use by their
students and come up with a plan of supervision to forestall any negative impacts
on students from Internet Addiction. Teachers should support students in
addressing Internet Addiction by encouraging research for Internet Addiction to
identify areas to assist the students. School administrators should carry out
campaigns to increase awareness among students on Internet Addiction, their
detrimental effects and ways to avoid them so that students will not misuse the

Internet.
4.4

Roles for the Government

The government needs to develop strategic policy approaches across government
portfolios and on a global scale to control the possible problems of Internet
Addiction by getting the involvement of various ministries ( eg : Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of
Energy, Communications and Multimedia. ) The government should set up
administrative and if necessary, legislative framework to implement the antiInternet Addiction policy.
Furthermore, In its annual budget, the government should allocate the budget for
the funding of initiatives to control the incidence of Internet Addiction. These
funding should also include research into any Internet Addiction and its impacts
on students. The government should provide infrastructure and a supportive
environment to relevant education institution including awareness campaigns and
Internet Addiction preventive measures to help to reduce cases of Internet
Addiction.

5.0

Conclusion
Internet brings benefits such as it helps students to gain knowledge, assist students
with their studies and keeps students up to date with the latest news available.
Furthermore, Internet saves students time and effort by providing online references
and commerce services. Internet also helps students to search for information of
interest. Internet helps students to communicate and socialize with friends and
serves as a tool for entertainment purpose. However, it can be argued that Internet
also brings detrimental effects on the students if it is misused.
Internet may expose students to undesirable contents and cause impairment of

students academic performance. Internet also brings about cases of Internet

Addiction and Internet health related problems. Students may take advantage of
Internet and plagiarize on their assignment work given by their tertiary institutions
(colleges and universities).
Although Internet brings benefits to students in their daily life, students should
learn ways of using the Internet wisely to avoid the detrimental effects of Internet
on students. Parents should educate students on the correct usage of Internet so that
students will not get the wrong impression of how they should use the Internet.
Education institution should supervise students on the usage of Internet in school.
The government should set policies regarding the prevention of Internet Addiction
among students. In conclusion, Internet should be used correctly by students so that
it will benefit them in the long run.

6.0 Bibliography
(1) Sokho, L. (2009). Problematic Internet Use among College Students : An
Exploratory Survey Research Study. Austin : The University of Texas.
(2) Sato, T. (2006). Internet Addiction among Students : Prevalence and
Psychological Problems in Japan. Japan: Japan Medical Association Journal.
(3) Scanlon et al. (2002). Internet Plagiarism among College Students. Journal of
College Student Development.