INTRODUCTION
We live in information age, where knowledge is power. Internet has come to stay and it is happening. Life styles are changing. Newspapers are available on the web. Cinema tickets can be booked on Internet by logging on to the relevant sites. Entertainment concepts are changing. One can watch movies, listen to songs just by connecting to these sites sitting at home. There are sites on every subject in the world.
POSITIVE SIDE
Internet has significantly altered our life style in several ways. It is providing opportunities to wander about the world and to escape out of the real world while sitting in the chair. By the constant repetition of certain themes and through powerful visuals of high technical quality it is even conditioning many of us in to thinking and behaving in particular ways.
Internet has its impact on Supply Chain management, and Customer Relationship management- where E-commerce is playing a big role by automating customer relationship management, like voice interactive systems where the complaints can be dealt with in no time. Banks are also changing their ways like introduction of home banking and electronic fund transfer, where funds are transferred without physically going to clearance houses. In the field of education- concepts are changing from computer based training to web based training, like e-gurukool, e-learning, on-line examinations etc., Then there is the virtual class room concept where the lecture is webcasted. Any doubts that arise can be clarified through the virtual classroom concept.
Channels are available on Internet on every thing and anything. Internet has channels on Jobs, Personal, Libraries, Travel, Art, computing, Lifestyle, Shopping, Music, People, Money, Games, Sports etc. It is amazing to know the amount of information that is available on the Internet, through which one can access the information in the best and most inexpensive ways. Anything in this world can be accessed through the Internet these days. Similarly E-mail has revolutionized the communication. Voice mail is where they record voice and the same is sent to the destination. Net-to-phone is where one can talk to anyone in the world at the cost of a local call.
New trends are prevailing on the contemporary business scene. Internet and networking techniques are redefining the business as a whole and plenty are on the anvil for those interested in using them for gaining superior advantage who are well-versed in technological and management aspects. E-Commerce is a forerunner in this regard.
NEGATIVE SIDE
There is no dispute about the positive role of the Internet. Similarly there also exists not merely a consensus but a growing concern about its harmful affects. However, positive affects do not stick so easily and negative affects do not leave us so readily. Therefore, it is useful and appropriate to focus on the harmful role of the Internet in distorting our Indian culture and in influencing particularly the school and college going children at their highly impressionable age.
Internets role in promoting vulgarity and in undermining our family values and traditions is particularly distressing. The abuse of this very powerful media leads us to question the absoluteness of certain liberal concepts like freedom and choice when it comes to viewing what one wants. When private interests come in to conflict with the larger issues of public morale and morality, there is a need for exercising freedom and choice with some restraint. If programme producers are unable to contain their commercial instincts, the public authorities and parents and elders must step in to collectively articulate their concerns and initiate actions to prevent its harmful affects.
SUGGESTIONS
o To lessen the effects, reduce the time spent viewing the television. Children should view only select programmes for a fixed number of hours. Parents should become friends with their children and spend more time with them.
o Cultivate habits including reading. Parents should kindle their children curiosity and encourage reading and read to them and narrate stories. Having pets and caring for them, wouldn’t only engage children in an enjoyable way, but also inculcate kindness to animals.
o Encourage children to pursue outdoor activities and team games in natural settings.
o Parents should become good role models. Elders should take pains to teach children social skills and help them in communicating their problems fearlessly.
o Media viewing under parental guidance and proper regulation is the best way to prevent grave mishaps in children, arising from screen viewing.
CONCLUSION
The media now runs our society. It decides what people are interested in and how they behave. Because of the media children are less interested in reading and in education and more interested in killing brain cells while sitting on the couch watching trash. We as a parent need to turn our attention away from the TV and the computer and focus more on each other individuals, Reading books, going to parks, spending time with friends and family etc. Instead of giving children medication and sending them to more doctors and therapists, we should reduce the number of electronics that are running their everyday lives. People need contact with other people in order to lead a happy, healthy life. Basically it is the parents’ responsibility to monitor what their children watch and how often they play video games and access the Internet. Next, the government should really regulate laws to reduce inappropriate TV, Internet or video game contents. There should be an access control device in any inappropriate TV or Internet content not only for children but also for adults.
Dr. Gomathi Viswanathan
