One Day on the Web...My Dependence Frightens Me!

I can remember the first time I ever used the internet on my family's computer; my Dad letting me know what sites I could use, explaining how to dial-up works and why I couldn't be on the telephone. I think I was 8 years old, and eleven years later I'm sitting on my bed, holding my laptop, typing away as if this is nothing new.

The internet has influenced my life most significantly in how I communicate with everyone; whether it be my sister, parents, extended family, friends or even employers. Communication has become effortless for me through the use of e-mails, MSN Messenger and online networks such as Facebook. Inching its way into my day-to-day, the internet has eliminated phone calls, meetings and I don't even need to mention letters; I can't recall the last time I write one unfortunately. Communication has become electronic in many aspects of my life; forget about paper or face to face chatting.

Being a student, the internet has provided all the information you could ever need right at my finger tips; saving my ass every time I'm pulling a night-before research paper. Whenever I get a research project the first thing I do is start "googling" ideas to see what I can find. But if I were in university 15 years ago, I probably would have gone straight to the library. The internet has made research less intensive and time consuming for me. Unfortunately, this makes me less selective about the information that I find. I find myself, and many students have become dependent upon the convenience of internet.