Teens and the Internet

     Internet usage can traumatically have a negative affect a teenager’s academic performance as it is constantly in use. The internet plays a major role in a teen’s life as they use it in terms of social media, homework help, research, music downloads, video games and a source to watch movies and videos. Internet usage in a teenager’s life can be used to their advantage, depending on how it is put in use. Teens often get sidetracked by the internet, taking them away from their main goal, such as completing their school work. But when used in the right way, it is proved to be a helpful asset as students them complete their school work.

     A research done by “Bayraktar and Gun (2007) found that secondary and high school students’ grade point averages decreased as their disturbed use of the Internet increased.” Many studies have proved that internet usage has a negative impact on the lives of teens, affecting many aspects of their life, such as the way they see things. Other research has shown “increased availability of Internet access in educational environments has raised the recent question of whether disturbed Internet usage can be related to some academic variables.” The study has also raised questions about the effect of internet usage in classrooms, affecting other academic aspects such as school participation, paying attention to classroom surroundings and their ability to learn. This could also affect the student’s attitude towards school and their peers. Despite the many cons of internet usage affecting a teen’s academic achievement and other aspects of life, internet usage can also provide many pros. The internet provides great entertainment and aids personal needs. A balance of how and how much the internet is used needs to be found in order to have success. When used in the right ways, the internet can be used to their advantage as it is a tool to help students excel through school and homework.      

     Teens who are internet abusers will become the next generation of workers who will only achieve minimum wage due to their poor academic performance. But when a balance of productive and distractive internet usage is found, teens will get what they need and achieve high and outstanding academic performance, becoming our next generation of doctors, lawyers, engineers and nurses. High academic performance is crucial to a teen's life, setting them up for a successful future. The overuse of the Internet can create a chain of cause and effect, having one thing lead to another. Poor academic performance from the internet can also lead to the loss of sleep which can affect daily actions. Teens are easily distracted by the internet, having endless things to keep them entertained.

Internet Abuse Among Teenagers Article

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