I was one of those kids who spent hours in front of the television, and suddenly, Spongebob Sqaurepants was my new best friend. 3.p.m, a timely slot after school where I was in the lap of luxury, watching my favourite cartoon in the comfort of my living room. You see, it was very easy to satisfy a nine-year-old in the past (apart from the evening pandemonium where the family gathers around the T.V set and fights over which programme to watch) because there were not many tools to work with in the first place. The only thing I fiddled with was a remote control. Hand it over, and immediately, you could hear a pin drop. In today's age and time however, television alone, will not suffice.
With the advent of the Internet and particularly Web 2.0 functions, television, the most elementary form of entertainment has been revolutionized. The median age where children are exposed to the Internet is evidently decreasing too. My virgin experience with the Internet, was at the age of twelve, and already, I thought it was commendable that I was chatting with my classmates on MSN, although our conversations frequently revolved around the same topic. "Study for PSLE already or not ah?"
Months ago, when my relatives came to visit, I saw my seven year old cousin surfing the net with so much ease, it looked as if she was writing her name. The ironic thing is, some seven-year-olds cannot even spell their names properly, yet are well equipped with the basic skills of web navigation. The mastery of the Internet could be easier than the mastery of the English Language itself. To think we thought the Internet was a complex pool of functions. Apparently not. It then flashes in your face, the cliche line from Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. "If my cousin can do it, so can you!"
The Internet definitely made things more of an option than a choice in the following context. Hardly do we say "there was nothing interesting on T.V so I had no choice but to watch the documentary on the elephant giving birth to her child." In fact, we have so many options that we are often overwhelmed by them. The variety of television programmes made it possible for me to watch shows that would not have otherwise been aired on local television. I can also watch a full season of How I Met Your Mother in a day without having to be kept in suspense.
Online shopping has also never been more convenient than it is today, as we are able to make purchases in less than five clicks of the mouse. Without the Internet, sellers of online boutiques would be like people who lay mats along the roadside and take off immediately when they see a policeman on patrol. However, because the Internet is a public domain, anyone can be an entrepreneur without having to pay for rental costs, and the catch is.. they are able to sell products at a reasonable yet profitable price. It is thus a win-win situation for sellers and buyers, and a more attainable platform for budding entrepreneurs, or even fashionistas who want to clear their bursting wardrobe.
These are just two of the many examples on how people have become such Internet addicts. The question is, will people become so reliant on the Internet that they eventually feel handicapped without it?
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