In the modern world, it is possible to shop, work and communicate online and live without any face-to-face contact with others. Is this a positive or negative development?

The widespread popularity of the internet over these decades has created favorable conditions for the booming of online communication, shopping, and transaction activities. Although some people grant their unqualified approval for the trend, I would contend that the exponential growth of internet usage brings both beneficial and detrimental effects on society in the long run

On the one hand, it is undoubted that digital advancement comes in handy in various facets of life. Regarding shopping, the universality of the internet results in thriving e-commerce that allows customers to stay at home and have almost all goods and services delivered to their homes just with a click of the mouse which is quite suitable for people with hectic schedules. Moreover, the Internet is considered to be a worldwide indispensable telecommunication tool regardless of geographical barriers as users are enabled to keep in touch with others through social media instead of delivering messages which require physical travel, costing time and money. Thanks to many Internet applications such as Google Meeting or Zoom, employees can work from home more flexibly which ensures their businesses operate smoothly and eliminates the daily commute and the stress of coping with the rush hour. A case in point is that during the pandemic, many trading companies have continually managed online meetings to plan business strategies to meet commercial demands.

On the other hand, despite the aforementioned advantages, peoples' over-reliance on technology has entailed considerable repercussions. First, live chat platforms are responsible for marginalizing physical interaction and thus may potentially fracture concrete relationships. This is leading us toward a society where people will turn to indulge in virtual interactions and undervaluing real-life relationships. In terms of online shopping, consumers are easily tricked by fraudulent reviews and ratings or rule out the probability of trying on the considered product which is the underlying cause of a bad purchase. Furthermore, due to the lack of direct interactions, colleagues have to struggle with generating their ideas and avoid misunderstandings especially in online team works which trigger productivity downturn. More seriously, employees are sometimes unable to resist the temptations of social media on computers so they are easily prone to a lapse of concentration as a result of over-indulgence in technology

To sum up, I want to reaffirm my opinion that the Internet is like a double-edged sword. While it brings irrefutable merits which are enhancing our shopping experiences, making our workplaces more streamlined and efficient, and facilitating our communication with others, such development also exerts adverse effects on society