The World is Changing - Liceo Sesto Properzio

The world is changing: Cyber relationshipsby Martynas JAKAS (1996), SPG Šilutė/LithuaniaCenturies are passing and everyday we see how the world is changing. It’schanging in good and bad ways. Of course, we are changing this world, butwe shouldn’t forget, that we also change ourselves.One of the biggest changes that we have made in ourselves is our way wecommunicate and socialize. About fopurty years ago the Internet wascreated, but it was only used in the USA, and our when our grandparentswere of about the same age we are mow, they didn’t have the Internet.They had phones, but the main possibility to get in touch with their friendswas still going out to meet them. They spent their free time without anytechnologies, but their lives weren’t as bad as some of us would think. Thesedays we have the Internet, we have social sites like facebook, twitter,google+, etc. A lot of people not only use them everyday, but they also forget to communicate with each otherface to face. This isn’t as bad as it sounds, by according to online dating statistics, dating is the third mostpopular service provided by the Internet, 280 thousand marriages a year happen, because the lovers met eachother via internet, 94% of people meet their “e-partner” again after first meeting and the relationships last foran average of at least seven months. Those who exchanged gifts before they met in a real life had a strongerrelationship, the more the couple chatted through the Internet, the more they trusted each other. These factsare quite impressive, but cyber relationships aren’t just that. The flip side to it is that by giving your personalinformation you may be get into trouble. A lot of criminals take advantage of naïve teenagers and youngerwomen who are looking for a deeper relationship. It is possible for them to do this because on the Internet noone knows who you are in a real life. This way people lose their money, friends, trust in people and sometimesthey their lives when they want to meet with the “Faker”.Another change in our life is bullying. While having the Internet, mobile phones, bullying reached another level:it also became cyber bullying. This way bullies got an easier way to harm their victims. There are six types ofbullying reported: from “flaming” to exclusion from an online group. Before it became cyber, it was commonmostly in schools, but now it is common everywhere. Bullying makes children to become aggressive, anti-social,and it being cyber makes these problems become even more frequent. In addition stopping bullies was easier,but now, it’s harder to track them through the Internet. That’s why bullying became worse.In conclusion, we understand that the world is changing, but we shouldn’t forget that we change too. That’s whywe should be more careful and think before we do anything, because that may alter our life to the worst.by Anna MACHNIK (1995), 8LO Kraków/PolandFebruary 5th, 2013 at 6:24 pmposted on Monday, December 31, 2012I didn’t realise that so many marriages happen after cyber dating. Wow, 280 thousand a year? That’s a greatnumber! On one hand it’s nice to hear that so many people are lucky enough to find their ‘second halves’through the Internet but on the other hand, I (personally) wouldn’t be brave enough to meet in reality with anunknown person who has just written to me on facebook. Maybe it’s because my beliefs are similar to what youwrote – that there are these ‘fakers’ who may easily take advantage of you. However, I believe that there aremany people who think the same as I do. Most of them are simply afraid of such realtionships after hearing somuch about the ‘fakers’ on TV, Internet and radio. Good job, a very nice article!by Bianca NICA (1994), BORG Krems/AustriaJanuary 20th, 2013 at 9:35 pmVery interessting side to see it. I also think that cyber relationships are not the best because of all the negativeaspects like putting you in danger by giving personal information or forgetting about the “real life”.If you spendtoo much time chatting with people than really speaking with them you might forget how to talk to somebodyand treat them in real life. Your character is also formed by that. I mean of course i also do think that its goodbecause of all the posibilities you have to talk to people from other countries. Lots of family members and friendsof mine live days away from me and the internet is the cheapest and fastest way to talk to them and changenews. But if you just met someone on facebook or myspace and spend half of the day hatting, after some time itaffects your personality and way of live. So i am kind of your opinion… nice article :)by Jan Malte SCHROEDER (1997), HPS Buxtehude/GermanyJanuary 14th, 2013 at 7:05 pmI think your statement to the advantages on the internet is the one that I would support, too. When I read thenewspaper I always see the opinions of people, that are maybe seeing the dangers of internet but they dontexplain the pros of what the internet can offer us. All what they spread is that you better shouldn‘t use itanymore. Thats what I like about your advice.n° 9/2013, page 125