Web 2.0/Social Media and the Youth
Reflect on the advantages and disadvantages
of living amidst a Google culture (i.e. “Whatever” you need to know is a Google
search away.) in a third level (third world) country such as the Philippines.
Would there be more or fewer disadvantages? Choose and defend a position.
The age of
information science and technology has transformed most of our lives in a homogeneous way. But can we legitimately consider such transformation to be advantageous or
not?
I remember
one of the most precious moments in my life –it was the time when I first experienced
to use web search, particularly the Google search engine. I was a second-grader
back then and the whole class where I belong was tasked to define different
concepts and terms in a Science subject. Meanwhile, when I was doing my
homework, I have seen a picture (in a form of advertisement) of an extra-solar
planet. Consequently, I searched more for some additional pieces of information
since I am really interested with the field of Astronomy and Cosmology. With
the help of such tool, “the Google search”, I would have the capability to
learn a lot of “precious” knowledge where I am interested.
In the year 2015,
Philippines is placed on 14th rank among the top 20 countries with
highest number of internet users (Source: Internet
World Stats – www.internetworldstats.com/top20.htm). Even though the internet speed here in our
country is not as fast as others’ around the world, Google is still
easy-to-access. Google can substantially help those third world countries like
ours in different ways. For instance, since poverty is still one of the major
problems being faced by our country today, some of us cannot afford to pay
education fees and matriculas. Those Filipino parents who are under a dilemma
of serious poverty can’t even send their children in public school. With the
help of Google, people can search for online courses (i.e. soft background for
programming, online culinary course, etc.) they want and finish it within a
couple of hours or a single day; renting a computer in computer shops is way
cheaper and a bit affordable. After doing so, you can either apply your
gathered knowledge in founding a small-scale business like preparing different
menus in a “carinderia” or become the head server of a computer shop. We can
also learn how to make some DIY (Do It Yourself) crafts and goods, and sell
them with appropriate interest.
Another
experience that I had during my childhood is a moment with my dad. I and my
father was to fix a water connection in our backyard and we really don’t know either
how to use the tools we have or how to fix the damage in our backyard at all.
Since it was regarded as an urgent trouble, we consider to use Google to search
for the ways and solutions we need. And yes, that was a pretty good idea
because we had repaired the damages by following the step-by-step solutions
recommended by the piece of information we found in Google search. Basically,
that was also way cheaper rather than consulting a plumber (specialist) and it
became helpful especially in urgent problems or emergency case.
On the other
hand, knowing that the said tool is always on our side, some people tend to
become lazy, passive, and dependent. They just depend on the capacities and
capabilities of how Google search engine can function in their lives –in a way that it can give you a quick answer
on the questions popping in your head or it can even supply you the information
you need without exerting any percentage of effort to go in a library. But this
tool is invented to contain the world’s known knowledge, so why go to library
if you can find the exact thing you are searching for in a snap of web search?
This just belongs to the perks we have in our advancing and developing
generation.
Going back
on the concept of how this essay started, we are already living in the age of
information science and technology. We do need to cope up with the advancements
and improvements revolving in our fascinating era. Although we have this tool
to make life easier and convenient, we should still use such thing with
moderation to anticipate the development of complete dependence. Be wise and
vigilant of your environment on how much people rely on Google to get through
their complicated lives. Hence, Google culture reflects more advantages in
third world countries than its disadvantages.
