5 ways the internet runs your life

From entertainment to shopping, there are many ways the internet runs your life ... photo by CC user Brian Moore on Flickr

The internet has completely changed our lives. Millions of people use it every day for both work and entertainment purposes – relying on the web to organise their social and family lives.

Some argue it has taken control of our lives. According to www.internetlivestats.com, over 200 billion e-mails are sent each day whilst over 3.2 billion people access the internet on a daily basis.

It is certainly popular…but does it control you? Here are five ways the internet runs your life, even if you are not fully conscious of it…

1. Entertainment

Whenever you’re feeling bored with what’s on the television and you need to find something different and more exciting to pass the time with, the first solution that most people think of is the internet.

Online gaming has become a massive industry with millions of players tuning in on a daily basis. Online casinos are also a huge success with many people choosing to try their luck with online games such as blackjack, poker and traditional slot machines from the comfort of their own living room.

When it comes to having fun, the internet serves as an attractive first port of call for so many of us and it’s easy to see why.

2. Shopping

Shopping in-store is becoming a thing of the past. More people are choosing to shop online for their clothes, books and even groceries.

You can buy pretty much anything you want on the internet thanks to sites such as eBay and Amazon. You no longer have to wait in long queues at the supermarket or venture from store to store to find the product that you are looking for, just type in what you need into the search bar and you will have found thousands of results in a matter of seconds.

Cutting hassle and cost from shopping has been a huge achievement for the internet.

3. Interacting

Social media is a fantastic platform for communicating with and meeting people from all over the world. You can post pictures and catch up with all of your friends without having to leave your home.

Some people are becoming so dependent on this method of communication more so than the more traditional methods such as face-to-face and over the phone.

You know that the internet is running your life when you start using the words ‘hashtag’ in everyday conversations.

4. ‘Just Google it’

Google is the God of the internet. It knows everything and sees everything. Whenever you need to find out some information about a product, service or even a person, the first thing that people normally do recently is to search for it on Google.

They read reviews and watch YouTube videos before deciding to make a purchase. Google has become a turn-to tool for so many of us and has provided many people with solutions to their ‘searching needs’ online.

5. Multi-task

The internet has enabled us all to become multi-tasking professionals. According to Washington Post, the internet has made multitasking both easier and more damaging because the “technology is rewiring our brains.”

Whether we’re more productive or not is another matter since many of us lazily turn to the internet instead of thinking for ourselves.