It’s hard to remember the days before the internet. It was in the early 1990s that the World Wide Web was introduced, and initially it may have seemed like a concept that would never take off. Today, however, it is an essential part of everyday life around the globe. Besides being one of the technological marvels of our times, it has also proven to be transformational.
When you look at a typical day, how much does the internet factor into your daily activities? From shopping to socializing, it has transformed things dramatically for most people. Let’s examine some of its biggest impacts.
Banking Has Taken on a New Form
Banking may not be the first thing that pops into mind, but online banking has transformed the industry. Banks are known for having inconvenient operating hours, often only being open during traditional work hours. This has led to people rushing to the bank after work, hoping to get there in time, or even having to take time on their lunch break to make deposits and withdrawals.
Online banking is all about making a necessary activity simple, quick, and streamlined. Pretty much every big bank has a companion app that allows customers to do their banking with ease. They can do almost anything through the app and don’t have to worry about its business hours. Whether you’re depositing a cheque, transferring funds, making bill payments, or setting reminders, it can all be done with a few quick clicks.
It can be a hassle for those with accounts at more than one bank, but online banking provides a solution. The internet makes it possible to download multiple apps and have control of your finances at all times.
The Internet Does a Great Job of Keeping People Entertained
One of the most common ways people use the internet is for entertainment. Games, movies, music, books, and pretty much everything else are at your fingertips. Just look at the rise of online casinos, which are open 24/7 and allow you to deposit money quickly from the comfort of your home.
Streaming content, whether Netflix, Disney+, podcasts, or YouTube, is another form of entertainment that people can enjoy day or night. Viewers have access to a never-ending volume of content all the time, so there’s no such thing as feeling bored.
Communication Has Never Been Easier
For many decades, people saw the telephone as a great invention that allowed them to communicate significantly easier than ever before. Rather than wait to see a person, you could just call them on the phone. When the internet was invented, it took communication to the next level, and today it’s hard to remember a time when it didn’t exist.
The internet has made it possible to enjoy video chats, send instant messages, and communicate through social media. Yes, social media does get a bad rep sometimes, but when used as intended it can be a fabulous tool.
The Work-From-Home Movement Wouldn’t Exist Without the Internet
While there is still a long way to go in terms of working from home, there’s no question this movement wouldn’t be as successful without the internet. As mentioned earlier, the internet makes communication a breeze and has improved productivity. You can share documents, files, work-related emails and correspondence, and track projects in real time.
There is an abundance of online software meant for remote teams to keep them productive, in sync, and in touch with each other. A few examples include Trello, Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, and Trello. Team members can be anywhere in the world and still be involved in daily activities and able to perform their job.
The Internet Has Changed How and Where People Get Their News
This particular category is a bit controversial because there are positive and negative factors. The internet has transformed where and how people get their news, with just about every large news station or entity having a website. People can quickly scan the headlines and feel relatively well-informed in mere minutes.
Where things have taken a nosedive is the rise of fake news and misinformation. Unfortunately, it is extremely easy to post fake news online and act as though it’s factual. This is causing many to speak up and try to emphasize the importance of using trusted news sources.
Online Shopping Opens the Door to Choice
Online shopping is a huge category, and in many cases, it offers more variety than visiting physical store locations. Physical stores are limited by space, which means they can’t always display their full inventory. It’s also common for inventory to run low and shelves to take a while to restock, which can turn off customers.
When you shop online, you can access much more stock, view pictures and videos of the product, and read customer reviews. The checkout experience is much faster as you’re never stuck waiting in a lineup. Just make sure the site is secure and encrypted so you can feel comfortable sharing your payment information and address.
The Internet Will Continue to Evolve and Become More Useful
This list does a great job of highlighting how the internet impacts daily activities, but there is much more to come. The internet continues to evolve, and now that AI tools are becoming more prevalent we can only guess what that will mean in terms of productivity and usefulness. If you haven’t yet fallen down the rabbit hole, expect it to happen sooner rather than later. As they say, resistance is futile.
