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The Google Society
The rise of the internet has had a number of casualties over the past couple of decades, with a world of information at our fingertips it seems that many of the things we used to rely so heavily on are now obsolete. No area has suffered more from the popularity of the web that books, once the staple resource of those looking to explore and discover, books are now used as doorstops, fly swatters or as status symbols for those looking to seem just that bit more intelligent.
It is no real surprise that paper and hard backs have suffered this fate when you consider the capabilities of the Internet’s favourite search engine, Google. The friendly, easy to use layout has entranced and tempted many people away from books offering instant information to even the most inane questions. Simply typing in ‘how to...’ will open up a world of possibilities including ‘how to....lose weight’ ‘how to...solve a rubix cube’ and possibly the most entertaining ‘how to...get pregnant’. With millions of sites ready to be searched, there seems to be nothing that Google cannot help you solve, but are we becoming too reliant on this never ending encyclopaedia?
Many of the most common criticisms of Google is the lack of boundaries, yes there are tools designed to stop adult images and content appearing on the search screen but how can you protect yourself from bogus information and internet scams? Although the majority of information found on the web is legitimate, it is vital to keep in mind that some search results may not lead to the right answers.
Google has completely transformed the way we work, study and even think, providing us with access to information that we otherwise would not have been able to view. The ability to find out pretty much anything in a matter of seconds is one of the greatest advantages of the web and one that Google has truly revolutionised with the addition of Google Street Maps, social network tools and even web browsers. As the Google society grows so does out dependence on it, which may not be a terrible thing when you consider the endless amounts of knowledge we can gain without even getting up off the sofa.