The Negative Effects of the Internet on Kids

張貼日期：Jun 23, 2020 5:19:49 PM

Jerry Zhou

The Internet has been around for over fifty years and we are exposed to it everyday. The Internet has changed our lives greatly because we have to use our computers or cellphones for almost everything we do. The Internet has influenced lots of kids and it has affected their lives by providing things that are not suitable for their age, affecting their health and changing the way of communication.

Kids nowadays are growing up in a world where the Internet is used every day and they may learn things that are not suitable for them. The video game is one of the sources that influence kids; for example, they can access highly violent video games that may contain violence, offensive language, and disturbing pictures. Video on the Internet is also another source that influences kids; for example, children can watch any videos on the Internet even if there is a warning saying that they must be at the age of eighteen or older. Ignoring the warning, many kids may simply click “Continue” and watch the video that isn’t good for them. For example, when children are surfing the web and they click on a link that leads them to a website with videos that contain violence or sexual content, they may disregard the warning because they are curious about what the video is going to play.

Kids spend a lot of time in front of computers and cellphones, which affects both their mental and physical health heavily. Psychologically, kids that heavily rely on computers and cellphones may develop feelings of loneliness and depression because of lack of human interaction. The behavior reduces time spent engaging in physical activities, which may lead to the development of obesity and eyestrain. As to the bad influence on the body, sitting too long with the computer or the cellphone can make kids inactive and overweight. And the reason why we get eyestrain is because when we focus our eyes on something within 15-30 centimeters then our eye muscles are being flexed as hard as they can to focus precisely to that distance. If we look at something far away then our eyes are relaxed, so it is better for us not to stare at our screens for a long time.

In addition, the Internet has changed the way children communicate and they may use instant messaging, email, social media as the way to communicate with anyone. The overreliance on communicating through computers or cellphones has led to kids’ abandoning traditional methods of communication such as face-to-face interaction. This may also cause tension in relationships with friends, families, and difficulties in communicating efficiently in school due to the lack of development in communication skills. The Internet has caused some problems for me too; for example, if it is dinner time and I’m playing an online game that can’t be paused at that minute then my mom would keep telling me to come eat dinner, which is when the argument starts to happen.

The Internet has brought great convenience to our lives but it has also affected our body and life heavily. So, I think it is important for children to learn to use the Internet wisely. If we teach them properly, it will reduce some symptoms that people suffer from nowadays.