In the modern world, it is possible to shop, work and communicate with people via internet and live without any face-to-face contact with others. Is it a positive or negative development?

It is true that in contemporary life people in many parts of the world are able to do their shopping, work and communicate with each other via the

internet

. While there are clear positive aspects of

this

trend, there are

also

negative aspects of having less face-to-face contact with other people. On the one hand, the

internet

can be very handy in many ways. Many people use it to keep in touch with friends and family, using Facebook, Skype or What’s App to send instant messages or to enjoy a quick chat. Many

also

use the

internet

for online shopping,

thus

saving time and petrol on trips to the supermarket as well as hunting around different sites for bargains.

However

, it is in terms of

work

Suggestion

the work

that the

internet

offers the most potential benefits. More and more people are working or even studying from home, at hours which suit their own schedules. Many hours are saved each week by eliminating the daily commute and the stress of coping with the rush hour.

On the other hand

, as social beings, people need personal contacts.

Firstly

, virtual friendships which are formed online may not be genuine. The media

carries

Suggestion

carry

many horror stories of youngsters who have fallen prey to paedophiles,

for example

.

Secondly

, online shopping is not always appropriate, depending on the item. It is best,

for instance

, to try on clothes before buying, and while a bookworm can find almost any book title that they want online, they will certainly miss browsing the shelves of bookstores.

Finally

, personal interaction with work colleagues can generate ideas and avoid misunderstandings. In conclusion,

although

there are positive aspects of

this

trend, there are

also

aspects of face-to-face contact which it would be a shame to lose.