Internet vs Print

Is the Internet a trustworthy source of information? Is it as reliable as print?

     Both Internet and print are great tools that are available to us when it comes to obtaining new information. Print is something that our ancestors have been using since nearly the beginning of time. It is often considered to be a reliable source of information as most of the time, for something to get printed, it must undergo various stages, for example, the editing stage. However, information that we receive through the print can be outdated and biased. Not to mention that print is not very convenient way of receiving information. For example, carrying a dictionary around seems to be irrational when you can just simply download a free dictionary app on your phone.  

 On the other hand though, the Internet is highly convenient, as it is something that we can access nearly everywhere, provided that we have an Internet connection and a device.  It is what we use to communicate with friends, play games, watch videos, and of course, receive new information, let it be something simple like the how many grams are in a kilogram, or a complex topic, such as bond hybridization. Through the power of the internet, you can become your own educator, with just a few clicks of the mouse. Many people would argue that Internet is great way of obtaining new knowledge. For example, I personally use the Internet everyday as an aid in my studies. A great place to help with grasping new concepts is Khan Academy. From watching a ten minute video, I am able to finally understand an idea instead wasting my time by reading the textbook over and over again, my efforts in vain. However, when using the Internet to help with studying, you must proceed with caution. If you just simply look for help on sites such as Yahoo Answers, anybody with a Yahoo account can answer your question, and you will not know if they are right or wrong. The Internet has other uses as well when it comes to getting new information. Many people, myself included, favour receiving their daily news via the Internet rather than through newspaper. Instead of having to leaf through the whole entire newspaper and being disappointed when there is nothing interesting, you can simply select the topic that you are interested in, such as sports, economics, or health. There are many reputable news sites out there that you can surf at either no cost or for a small fee per month. Generally, the Internet is a reliable source of information. Sometimes though, through its convenience, people put up wrong information, which spreads quickly over the web. If you are careful though, you will be able to rely on the Internet as a source of information that is as reliable as print.