Hate It or Love It, But It’s Still the Internet

921 Words2 Pages

What impact does the internet leave upon society and adolescents who use it? People believe spending time online is either beneficial or harmful to our young generation. Brent Staples, the author of the article “What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace”, believes the internet is a bad thing. On the other hand, Janna M. Smith, who wrote “Online but Not Antisocial”, disagrees and states the internet is a positive aspect for society. Although, the authors discuss the internet and its effects, both have different views and opinions on it.

Teens that use the internet daily are believed to have bad social skills. When it comes to interacting with other people, adolescents have lost touch with real life conversations with adults and the author blames the Net. According to Brent Staples claims, “Teenagers nowadays are both more connected to the world at large than ever, and more cut off from the social encounters that have historically prepared young people for the move to adulthood” (296). In other words, Staples states that teens are not well prepared to interact with adults because of the use of the internet. The internet affects the social skills of the younger generation who seem to be more connected to it and miss out on adulthood.

Janna M. Smith disagrees and states the internet isn’t the issue. People identify the internet as a bad thing, but she considers it a good thing. The internet has actually done good for Smith, “On the other hand, thanks to Net shopping I was able to buy my husband a beautiful bow tie made by hand by a woman in Maine” (333). The internet has made it easier for people to shop online instead of running to the store and having to waste time looking for parking and fighting the crowd. Sm...

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...net. Staples blames the internet for adolescents and their nonexistent social skills. He also believes it’s the cause behind people falling more isolated and lonely. Smith, having an opposite opinion, feels the internet is actually a good thing. She states it’s a tool that is powerful and it should be watched upon. Although, they both have different views on the internet and its use, the authors give supporting ideas to why it’s a good or bad tool for society and the effects it has.

Works Cited Page

Smith, Janna M. “Online But Not Antisocial.” Choices: A Basic Writing Guide with Readings: Fourth Edition. Kate Mangelsdorf and Evelyn Posey. Boston, New York: 2008

Staples, Brent. “What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace.” Choices: A Basic Writing Guide with Readings: Fourth Edition. Kate Mangelsdorf and Evelyn Posey. Boston, New York: 2008

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