The Other Side of Email

The Other Side of Email

Electronic communication has become a part of every aspect of our society and is recognized as being one of the most important and influential aspects of the way we carry out business. The days of anxiously waiting by the mailbox for news from a long distance relative or lover are over. We no longer send cute, labor intensive, hand written letters to relatives, and close ones. Instead, they are sent via e-mails. Email-type technology has made it much easier to contact other people in the same city, and even others around the world.

In other words, instead of actually taking the time to write a letter to a friend through the mail, one can send an e-mail that takes about three seconds opposed to three or more days. In the article “The Other Side of E-Mail,” author Robert Kuttner explains the other side of email and technology, the dark side. Kuttner says that although, technology offers us many conveniences, such as being able to send and receive messages instantly, it brings along many drawbacks, such as privacy infringement. I agree with Kuttner’s thoughts on these downsides of technology.

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In my opinion, internet and email technology has definitively made our lives easier, but it has put our personal information at risk, significantly limited privacy, and leads to a waste of our time on a daily basis. Kuttner describes several negative effects of messaging technology. First one is that we might waste too much time in the E-mail and our privacy might be compromised. Social networking sites, like Facebook, have gotten users hooked on to the internet as if it were a drug. Almost every person I can think of has a Facebook account now days.

A recent survey estimates that more than 85% of all college students use Facebook and more than 30 million users update their status at least once each day. Although, Facebook is a marvelous communicating media, hardly anything gets accomplished there. From personal experience, I have found it to be a massive waste of time that has people from all around the world addicted to it. The new, fancy technology in general is a waste of money and time. College students get caught up in the sweet talks of salesmen, and buy tablets, and other expensive gadgets to allow them to take notes in class etc. however, none of that note taking ever takes place. Most end up playing video games and texting in class, which is a step backward, not forward. Statistics also show that there is a relationship between divorce rates and Facebook, as it conveniently allows couples to stalk one another. Gary Traystman, a divorce attorney in New London, Conn. , said that of the 15 cases he handled in 2011 where computer history, texts and emails are admitted as evidence, 70% exclusively involve Facebook. The biggest problem with internet and messaging technology, however, is security.

The fact that every bit of information about us is stored on the internet and can easily be stolen is nerve-wracking. Communication sites like Facebook, MySpace have the user’s full name, their date of birth, email ID, and even their phone numbers. All of that information can be accessed with the click of a button. The consequences of that can obviously be extremely dangerous. The internet is also filled with email scammers, and hackers. My uncle was recently scammed via the email. He made an online deal to purchase a car, which turned out to be a scam that took away $15,000 from his bank account.

The clever scammer was never caught. That’s just one instance of how upsetting, and demoralizing the internet can be. Email is the main communicating media of the 21st century. When you register for banking or gaming accounts online, or even make online purchases, you are required to enter an E-mail address. If that email account is hacked, which happens frequently, all of your personal information can be stolen. In 2011, Sony’s online gaming servers were hacked, and “Hackers may have stolen the personal information of 24. 6 million Sony Online Entertainment users”, the company said. More than 20,000 credit card and bank account numbers were also put at risk. ” There are many other demoralizing aspects of internet based technology, such as pornography. Children that learn how to use a computer at a young age are introduced to such content at an age that they shouldn’t be. This significantly hinders their future progress and affects their morals. Children adapt a lifestyle of sitting at home, playing with their iPods, Laptops and other internet devices, as opposed to playing sports, spending time with their relatives and family.

This has led to a social disaster, especially in the U. S. , where we are so consumed by technology. As final remarks, I believe that the internet and emailing technology have completely revolutionized the world, however, it also led to many serious problems, such as infringement of privacy, wastage of time, and aiding in the leakage of personal information to online hackers. These concerns along with many others make emailing and internet not as divine and marvelous as we may think. Works Cited "Does Facebook Wreck Marriages? " - Real-Time Advice. N. p. , n. . Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://blogs. smartmoney. com/advice/2012/05/21/does-facebook-wreck-marriages/>. Haisha, Lisa. "Is Your Facebook Addiction a Sign of Loneliness? " The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost. com, 13 Apr. 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www. huffingtonpost. com/lisa-haisha/is-your-facebook-addictio_b_533530. html>. "Sony Hacked Again; 25 Million Entertainment Users’ Info at Risk. " Wired. com. Conde Nast Digital, 30 Apr. 0011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www. wired. com/gamelife/2011/05/sony-online-entertainment-hack/>.

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