Just say not to Internet addiction


            This past week with the readings and class discussions I have become aware of so many more dangers of the internet and social media that I was previously unaware of. The very fact that the internet has been shown to alter brain function and that the CDC and others are beginning to classify it as a legitimate disorder is very concerning to me as I am part of the generation that has slowly grown up with all of this advancing technology. It also makes me wonder how this will affect our society in the long run because we were using the Internet freely and without reservation before anyone began to even question what the potential side effects to us could be. How many of us have involuntarily had our minds messed with without our knowledge. With any other addictive substance there is usually a warning and parental guidance that helps us make better choices but with the beginning of the Internet we were left to fend for ourselves and fell victim to the dangers of the Internet. Another thing that class has made me aware of is filter bubbles. I am concerned about the implications that filter bubbles may have on the way our country thinks as a whole. Right now the United States is more divided than ever before and I believe filter bubbles may be playing a role in that. The fact that what we see isn’t really in our control is scary and allows us to easily be mislead by those in control of social media. Fake News is also more prevalent than I realized and that anyone can make a website and purposefully mislead those who want to believe that someone wouldn’t try to mislead them.  In this world you have to constantly check your sources and make sure that someone isn’t trying to trick you just for no reason. The psych term of confirmation bias has popped up constantly lately and it is a very easy thing to fall for as many people know what they want to believe before they even look it up and with fake news you can find anything to match any views. Overall I am much more wary of the Internet and will continue to be more vigilant in checking my sources and making sure to stay aware of opposing political views.

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