Opinion | Excessive Use of Internet and it’s Harmful Effects

As Excessive use of internet has many harmful effects, shouldn’t students get limited access to it?

It is an undeniable fact that in today’s world, internet is one of the prime needs. With internet, we get access to every kind of information; and thus is the most essential and needed thing around the globe. No matter if you are a mediocre, middle class person or a millionaire, a student or a common person, anyone can access to the internet for any type of information which they intent to; be it study material, entertainment media, worldwide news, or any other information, etc. Students study through online free platforms, including Google, YouTube, etc. Google compromises thousands of free online learning sites and YouTube in itself is a bank of study material. There are many other online learning platforms, both free and paid.
In this Writeup, I intend to talk about the harms associated with the excessive of the internet by the students. In other words, I will try to answer the question: why students should get limited access to the internet?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapid increase in the use of smartphones by the student community as they had to attend online classes through different online learning platforms and Apps, like zoom, Google classroom, WiseApp, etc. Students used to study through these online learning platforms, but as one observes, most of the youngsters  are using different types of social media sites and platforms,  and other related sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik tok , etc. as well as online gaming and much more. They are so obsessed with the use of these social media sites and online games that they have now become addicted to the use of smartphones. Surfing social media platforms and Apps has ruined their path of dreams as they are unable to focus on their studies. Smartphones, nowadays, have become as important as if it is an organ of our body. Anyone using a smartphone is so addicted to it that everyone uses it and carries it with him/her even while talking, eating, travelling, studying, etc.
There are thousands of sites on the internet. While most of them are useful providing informative content, but there are also many sites, and some youngsters  surf/ visit them, which contain “pornographic” content which might affect their development, especially their thinking and mindset. It will actually lead them to do negative activities which can result in a negativity impact on the society. Moreover, they lose the path of their goals in their life and hence they get addicted to some bad habits like smoking, using drugs etc. The easy availability and accessibility of such sites gives rise to sexual harassment as well.
Without internet there is no meaning of smartphone; without internet a smartphone is like an empty box. Internet completes the meaning of smartphone. Internet gives access to numerous sites, some sites are very useful but some are very unsafe and hence cause mental illness. Hence, students addicted to social media and excessive use of internet, feel depressed and instability. They are unable to share their time with family; they prefer to spent time alone in their room and only stay with their smartphones.It has been found that among the youngsters , female smartphone users are under depression due to use of Apps like Snapchat, because they use filters in their selfies to look beautiful, which later on becomes a reason of depression and stress.
It is, therefore, understandable that in such a situation how can someone be able to focus on their studies.
So students should have limited access to internet so that they can focus on their studies. Limited access to internet for students is one of the ways to create safe environment for them to learn and be focused on their studies. With limited and safe internet access, students will be able to focus and concentrate more on their studies, assignments, etc. Parents should also keep a vigil on the use of the smartphones by their wards as well as check their browsing history so that to ensure their children are not using something unsafe and immoral.
Addiction of smartphone is very critical for the mental, physical and social health etc. Therefore, excessive  use of smartphones or using internet without any checks and safety will have serious consequences for a user, which will have a negative impact on the society.

About Writer: The Writer is a government employee in the Higher Education Department and is posted at GDC Sogam (Lolab) Kupwara. Feedback at khannaamir13@gmail.com