You use your notes from class to complete your biology homework, however something about it isn’t clicking. Your first thought usually becomes going to the internet and Google your question, right?

According to Pew Research Center, the internet is the easiest way to access information. Since 1993, the Internet remains available to people all over the world for sharing special moments, researching ideas and inspiring others. As time passes, more and more people from various ages receive access to the internet, exposing them to opportunities that supposedly benefit their lives.

The internet and its information constantly changes on a day-to-day basis because of articles, newsletters, videos and viral internet memes. Is it possible for this exposure to the internet to hurt us as a society? Will the internet and new technologies cause the downfall of society or improve it?

According to Career and Technical Education teacher Amber Patrick, using the internet as means of communication and access to information helps people to easily find jobs and employment through apps like Indeed, Zip Recruiter and other various platforms. The internet allows for those seeking employment to find jobs beyond the company’s website.

“With all the advances in the internet and now AI, not only can it help you do job searches to find specific categories, but it can also help you be specific and narrow down what you’re looking for,” Ms. Patrick said. “There are so many platforms available for job searches because of the internet.”

Not only does the internet supply employees with multiple platforms to choose from, it allows for an expansion of employment and teaches them vital skills including building a resume or cover letter.

“The internet helps us in finding a job because it can coach us on how to create a good resume, what to put on a cover letter or even give sample interview questions,” Ms. Patrick said. “It even teaches us how to interact with people and employability skills that will help us get that job.”

Based on information from Development Aid, a platform built for professional development, the resources of the internet contribute to employment by a significant amount. There’s an estimate of 170 million jobs currently available or will be in the future between 2020 and 2030, which remains 14% of employment today. Even if the internet aids people in the search for jobs, it does not assist them much socially according to Ms. Patrick.

“Students are less likely to think for themselves when they have the internet at their fingertips,” Ms. Patrick said. “[Students] cannot communicate effectively without the practice of looking people in the eye, being active listeners and correctly responding to questions using active listening and feedback.”

Because of the internet, people seeking employment remain at a disadvantage because of their screens blocking the ability to practice certain skills necessary for employment. Even though these skills happen to be difficult to use behind a screen, the internet still offers positive aspects in terms of searching for jobs and finding one that happens to be the best fit.

“Finding a job you enjoy [through the internet] can lead to personal happiness and success,” Ms. Patrick said. “Through the internet you can search for something that brings you joy outside of your home.”

According to librarian Shawna Wilson, reading remains vital to learning. Reading teaches people morals and values that become necessary to understand the concept of empathy. In past years, reading evolved with the advance of the internet and paper slowly turned into various sizes of glowing screens. While some view this as harm, others retrieve it as an opportunity to share passion for reading.

“Social media has really helped librarians and teachers out a lot,” Ms. Wilson said. “[It helps kids] focus on books that they might want to read by talking about books on Instagram and all the social media that kids like to be on.”

Based on the research from Albert Shanker Institute, a nonprofit organization to honor the president of the American Federation of Teachers, reading through screens diminishes our brain’s capacity for deep reading because of the overloading of content shown to us. With all of this content shown at once, our brain only briefly analyzes the information, preventing you from practicing deep reading. Since deep reading helps people learn values like empathy and positive morals, people will struggle to attain this information if digital screens remain in the way.

“I have always been a reader because it takes you to places that you can’t always go to in real life,” Ms. Wilson said. “Reading books is power.”

According to the Albert Shanker Institute, the human brain does not require biological wiring for reading. It takes time, systematic instruction and practice to read efficiently. With the increase of phone and technology use in students today, this screen prevents students from being able to fully engage in deep reading.

“With some of the new laws implemented with the phone ban in school, a lot more students are reading,” Ms. Wilson said. “Reading books seems to be on the rise.”

Although the internet limits deep reading abilities, it assists in helping reading gain its popularity again.

“[Social media] and the internet help to share the passion for reading,” Ms. Wilson said. “It lets people know that it is okay to be a reader again.”

Many people today use information from the internet because of its efficiency and reliability. With this quick transfer of information including what is on trend, the latest makeup item to buy or even the latest slang people use can influence us in the way we interact and communicate to each other, according to Tech Review Revisor.

“[People] are so used to typing and having quick phone calls that when they need to have important conversations, they are left unsure of what to say.” English teacher Jessica Young said. “We rely so much on technology that we do not know how to appropriately and effectively communicate with others.”

Although technology remains useful for people’s everyday life, it hinders the ability to communicate effectively with each other.

”When I was in high school, we did not have [the internet] and we played games, went to see movies and were present with one another,” Ms. Young said. “It is crazy to see how interactions between people have changed in the past ten to fifteen years.”

In recent years, the change in relationship between technology and society explains the burden of the internet on people today, including young adults and students.

“This generation needs and requires instant gratification because they have the internet at their disposal,” Ms. Young said. “Students also take advantage of the internet to cheat, which is a negative aspect of the internet.”

Even though the internet reflects its downsides on means of education, it offers pathways for learning new ideas and improving developing ones.

”Students are able to research topics on their chromebooks when needed and have easy access to information,” Ms. Young said. “The students’ resources are at their fingertips.”

With the use of the internet, society becomes burdened by the lack of practicing in-person social skills, processes including deep analysis and lowering work ethic because of depending on the internet for information. On the other hand, the internet gives society a chance to flourish with new opportunities of employment, communication and learning.

”The internet has helped us in a twofold way,” Ms. Patrick said. “Not just in getting a job, it also helps us to live life and achieve success.”