I was watching an interesting interview on one of the International Television Channels a while ago, with Jimmy Wales, the Co-Founder of Wikipedia as the interviewer on one of the world's biggest website, WIKIPEDIA.
I was happy to see that discussions because WIKIPEDIA was one of the online platforms I learnt about in late January 2014 during the Web 2.0 for development training course sponsored by CTA and hosted by the University of Namibia's Media Department. The trainer was Mr. Simunza Muyangana. The show was so easy for me to follow as I heard practically tried to edit some work on WIKIPEDIA as part of our course practical work and that is why I must still say, thank you to UNAM, CTA and Mr. S Muyangana.
Now, the reason why I am compiling this content is to briefly reflect on one of the questions that came up during that interview with Mr, Jimmy Wales, whether internet has negatively affected families due to the addiction among those who cling on their mobile devices at all times.
Personally, I am one of the internet - lovers too - but I am not sure whether I can say that I am addicted or not. However, I appreciate the opportunities the internet provides as it links me with almost everyone I need to connect with, as long as I have their correct online addresses. Internet has actually helped me to re-connect with my friends and acquintenances that have been overseas or those I was studying with for years - and now that we have facebook, linkedin, twitter and blogs, as well as vlogs and other platforms, things have become so much easier to link up - at a limited or no cost at all - through What's up or Skype.
At the family level - yes, one can say may be time seem to be dedicated to cyber friends than physical home friends and family. In my case for instance - almost all of us use the internet - or mobile phones... and I am able to link up with the children and husband through such platfoms especially during the day when each one of us has gone to school or work. When we are at home - all of us end up busy on our gadgets - but that only happens after dinner and when we are all gone to our bedrooms. But, it is true that at times, my husband and I seat on one couch, he is busy with his mobile and I am busy blogging - and we might take a few minutes wihout talking to each other, but if I need something or help like in finding an appropriate word or a meaning of something, I then speak to him, he too does the same, may be he needs a phone number of someone or so, he will also ask me - the kids are also the same - they get busy with their studies and up up googling some information on the net ...whenever we are in our rooms - at times a person get lazy that he or she can just get in touch via facebook as that is the easiest to reach someone or via Whatsup.
Therefore, I am not really qualified to say if the internet addiction has negatively affected families. Yes, it was mentioned that some people end up playing games for hours and do not want to disturbed or getting in tough with others - that might be an example of creating a gap among families at times... but it seems this will all depend on a particular family set up. A family can agree to for instance be together before and after dinner for some time and then individual families members can then continue to be online after that, just to ensure that there is family time and online time.
But, I am sure online activities has added so much value to our lives and how we communicate - and link up with our sources - you can crowd source, you can market your goods and services - you can announce anything and share almost anything as long as it is in good taste and public interest or at least in the interest of your followers and friends... yeah, you can name it.
Anyway, it is said that too much of everything is not good, whether food, alcohol or internet, so we have to also learn how to control our love for internet and not neglect our families in the process.
What is your experience with the internet indulgence??
I was happy to see that discussions because WIKIPEDIA was one of the online platforms I learnt about in late January 2014 during the Web 2.0 for development training course sponsored by CTA and hosted by the University of Namibia's Media Department. The trainer was Mr. Simunza Muyangana. The show was so easy for me to follow as I heard practically tried to edit some work on WIKIPEDIA as part of our course practical work and that is why I must still say, thank you to UNAM, CTA and Mr. S Muyangana.
Now, the reason why I am compiling this content is to briefly reflect on one of the questions that came up during that interview with Mr, Jimmy Wales, whether internet has negatively affected families due to the addiction among those who cling on their mobile devices at all times.
Personally, I am one of the internet - lovers too - but I am not sure whether I can say that I am addicted or not. However, I appreciate the opportunities the internet provides as it links me with almost everyone I need to connect with, as long as I have their correct online addresses. Internet has actually helped me to re-connect with my friends and acquintenances that have been overseas or those I was studying with for years - and now that we have facebook, linkedin, twitter and blogs, as well as vlogs and other platforms, things have become so much easier to link up - at a limited or no cost at all - through What's up or Skype.
At the family level - yes, one can say may be time seem to be dedicated to cyber friends than physical home friends and family. In my case for instance - almost all of us use the internet - or mobile phones... and I am able to link up with the children and husband through such platfoms especially during the day when each one of us has gone to school or work. When we are at home - all of us end up busy on our gadgets - but that only happens after dinner and when we are all gone to our bedrooms. But, it is true that at times, my husband and I seat on one couch, he is busy with his mobile and I am busy blogging - and we might take a few minutes wihout talking to each other, but if I need something or help like in finding an appropriate word or a meaning of something, I then speak to him, he too does the same, may be he needs a phone number of someone or so, he will also ask me - the kids are also the same - they get busy with their studies and up up googling some information on the net ...whenever we are in our rooms - at times a person get lazy that he or she can just get in touch via facebook as that is the easiest to reach someone or via Whatsup.
Therefore, I am not really qualified to say if the internet addiction has negatively affected families. Yes, it was mentioned that some people end up playing games for hours and do not want to disturbed or getting in tough with others - that might be an example of creating a gap among families at times... but it seems this will all depend on a particular family set up. A family can agree to for instance be together before and after dinner for some time and then individual families members can then continue to be online after that, just to ensure that there is family time and online time.
But, I am sure online activities has added so much value to our lives and how we communicate - and link up with our sources - you can crowd source, you can market your goods and services - you can announce anything and share almost anything as long as it is in good taste and public interest or at least in the interest of your followers and friends... yeah, you can name it.
Anyway, it is said that too much of everything is not good, whether food, alcohol or internet, so we have to also learn how to control our love for internet and not neglect our families in the process.
What is your experience with the internet indulgence??
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