Has the internet really helped us?

Its incredible to look at how the internet has changed the world. 30 years ago if you were to say that you owned a device which you kept in your pocket with which you could recall virtually any bit of information in human history in a matter of minutes you would have been considered insane, however it is now seen as common, and almost expected to own a smartphone or tablet or similar product today.

The way I see it the internet has changed us for better and for worse - there is no denying that it has made our lives a lot easier - for example we can now just email or Facebook someone in another country where as before we would have to have either sent a letter which could have taken weeks, or spent lots of money on an international phone call. An arguably even greater benefit of this is the masses of information available at our fingertips, which, with good judgement makes things like research easier than ever. Another great benefit is that it is now easier than ever for musicians and artists to spread their material to a wider audience, and allows for other things such as collaborations between musicians who have never even met before.

So while it does have its obvious benefits, it isn't without its problems. One issue that is evident that I have seen in a whole number of cases in the last few years is that online shopping has led to the closure of many small independent businesses, damaging communities and local economies. This leads on to another, much more deeply rooted issue - it seems that even though we are more connected to the rest of the world than we have been at any other time in history, we somehow seem to feel more isolated and alone than ever before. Could this perhaps be seen as similar to when people who live in large cities claim to feel isolated and lonely despite having a thriving city with everything one could ask for all around them? Perhaps it is because the internet is so vast that people subconsciously realise how insignificant their online presence really is, coupled with the fact that we live in a society that essentially teaches that those who shout the loudest will get what they want, leads to an elitism in which only a few will succeed, and even those that succeed will not feel truly accomplished or at peace.

This isolation has led to insecurity on a massive scale, caused not only by adverts and media outlets taking advantage of the internet (lets face it, what else would be expect them to do?) but by the very people being expolited by the media then bragging about it, leading to further insecurity among their peers.

Now i'm not sure whether these ideas or the general consensus, or just the views of an angsty, over cynical teenager, but I am sure it would be naive to say that the internet hasn't harmed us at all?