In the modern world, it is possible to shop, work and communicate online and live without any face-to-face contact with others. Is this 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 WhatsApp 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 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 contact.

Firstly

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