The Impact Of Internet On The Society

INTRODUCTION
Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world into a “Global Village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, bring with it both the negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping abreast with world developments. Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things.
The world’s first commercial space communication company created by the United State Congress in 1962 was the communication satellite corporation (COMSAT). In 1964, the United State Government and eleven (11) foreign Nations signed a space communication pact. The partnership was known as “International Telecommunication Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). The internet known as the worlds “Information Super Highway” is a worldwide assemblage of Inter- Connected Computer Networks (Andrew, 2005).
In the view of Paul (2010, p.301), internet is a massive “network of networks”, a networking infrastructure which connects millions of computers together globally, forming a network in which any computer can communicate with each other as long as they are both connected to internet. The network consist of local area network (LAN), connecting computers in the same building while wide area network (WANs) connecting several LANs in different locations. It connects both private, commercial, Government and Academic network including a grown number of home computer. (Retrieved November 3rd 2012) http://www.webopedia.com/Did you know/internet/2002/web-vs.-internet-asp).
Nigeria University and polytechnics, undergraduate are required to carry out research projects in their final year. Project writing is a major prerequisite for the award of degree in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Every students considers project writing as important to his or her academic success and this involves students carrying out a study on a topic of interest. When a project is completed it is evaluated by the quality of the work submitted with stipulated time (Fatoki, 2004). It is used to indicate the students ability to select research and draw logical conclusion from endings. The quality of a project is to a large extent dependent on the quality, quantity and recency of the resources consulted and cited (Mbofung, 2003). The use of the internet (if maximized_ play a major role in helping undergraduate researcher access to large number of materials from different parts of the globe. Internet is very useful in obtaining information for research and projects. Adeboji and Toyo (2006) in their study on the impact of internet, reported that internet contributed significantly to be case of project through down loading materials.
The use of internet is gradually becoming popular in Nigeria. Statistic shows that Nigeria with in estimated population of 138,283,240 people has 10,000 internet users representing 7.2 percent of population ((Interest World Status 2009).

1.1 Background of the Study
Basically, the internet was in emergency military communication system operated by the department of defense advanced research project agency (ARPA).
The whole operation was referred to as AKPANET. The speed of internet has changed the way people receive the information. It contributes the immediately of broadcast with the in-depth coverage of newspaper making it perfect sources for news and weather information. Even with the much media excitement of the web, electronic mail (e-mail) is the most frequently used application of the internet. Many people who have access to the internet at school, home and at work place use the internet for another purpose than to send and to receive the mail. It is just friends and co-workers that are receiving e-mail wherever you look, the web is providing e-mail address. This has made communication between the strangers easier than ever. Chatting is one of more popular activities on the internet. People can talk to anyone across the world. Introduction to social on line networking site has facilitated communication. These websites were users can create a profile. They are web-based services that allow individual to:
Construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulated a list of other users within whom they share connection with through social networking, people can use networking of online friends and group membership to keep in touch with currents friends, reconnect with old friends or create real life friendship through similar interest or groups, besides establishing important solid relationship social networking, members can share their interest.
Since the Internet‘s infancy, higher education institutions have pioneered many innovations (Cookson, 2000). According to Bates (1996:47), ―information technologies integral to the Internet have allowed higher education to (1) expand access to education and training, (2) raise quality, (3) lower costs, and (4) increase cost-effectiveness‖. Internet-related technologies have also enabled higher education institutions to: (5) expand the number of courses and programs, (6) generate higher levels of tuition-based revenues, (7) develop specialized programs of study that would not otherwise be possible, and (8) use the process of technological innovation as a vehicle for revitalization of other aspects of their operations (Daniel, 1996).It can therefore be said that the Internet is one of the new technologies that support and promote the technological revolution that has taken place in education.
However, in Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions, there have been concerns on the possible effects of daytime and sometimes all-night Internet browsing on reading time among students. Some studies, for example, Oji (2007) cited in Margaret and Eric (2010:16) has highlighted the growing incidences of students using the Internet not necessarily for academic purposes, but for anti-social activities such as racketeering, blackmail, fraud and pornography. This probably explains why cybercafés patronised by students in many Nigerian cities and towns are often raided by law enforcement officials. Ojedokun (2006:46) pointed out that,―many students use the Internet mostly or only to search and retrieve information on entertainment, sports and news, and attributes this trend to lack of necessary searching skills for effective usage‖.
Jones (2002:16), in a research carried out on the Internet and African life, found that ―university youths use the Internet more to communicate socially than they do for academic work‖.Thus, whereas, the Internet offers information and systems of instruction that complement the traditional ways that students study and learn, some students seem to be preoccupied with it essentially for activities that entertain rather than educate.
Another contending issue related to the use of the Internet and the behaviour of the users towards it, is the issue of gender disparity in the Internet and the purpose of using it.For instance, Brunner and Bennett (1998:24) observed that, ―male and Youth differ significantly in terms of their attitude towards the Internet .On a similar study, a review of the literature concerning the Internet usage among the Americans revealed that the once stark gap between the male and the youth is closing rapidly, but disparities remain in the purposes for which males and youths use the Internet (Odell, Korgen, Schumacher, andDelucchi,2001 cited in Ozoemelem, 2010:18).

1.2 Statement of the Problem
The use of the internet for research and studies in the university is now a thing of necessity world-wide, and having access and a positive attitude toward the use of the Internet is a necessary condition for its effective use (Sylvester, 2011). Similarly, it is important to establish the students‘ attitude towards any new technology because it will assist universities to know if they are meeting the needs of students effectively (OECD, 2005).
This therefore means that, although providing internet facilities and or having access to it is important, studying and analyzing the users‘ behaviours towards it as well as the purpose of using it is equally important. Hence, while universities like A.B.U. are trying to build the Internet, a valuable teaching and learning tool, it is necessary for them to understand their students‘ behaviour towards its applications. Also, they need to find out the purposes for which their Youth in particular are using the Internet; whether they use it for communication, for entertainment and fashion, for academic purposes, for correspondences or for business and social purposes.

1.3 Aim/Objectives of the Study
This study aims at determining the impact of internet on the Nigerian society and the purpose which they use it for. The specific objectives are as follows:
1. To find out the behaviour of Nigerian Youth towards the Internet usage.
2. To identify the purpose for which the Internet is used by Nigerian Youth.
3. To identify the search engines/access points mostly used by youth
4. To determine the frequency of surfing the Internet by the respondents.
5. To find out the constraints faced by youth using the Internet.

1.4 The Research Questions
The following research questions were set out to generate data for the study:
1. What is the behaviour of Nigerian Youth towards the impact of internet?
2. For what purpose do the Nigerian Youth use the Internet?
3. What are the Internet search engines and access points used by the Nigerian Youth?
4. How often do the Nigerian Youth surf the Internet?
What are the constraints faced by the youth using the Internet?

1.5 Significance of the Study
In the existing body of literature on the impact of internet reviewed by the researcher, not many and specific studies have been conducted in relation to the behaviour and purpose of the impact of internet by youth. The few ones available such as that of Salam (2003) and Achounye & Olele (2009) among others studied the gender differences among the male and Youth in the universities. In for example, the Internet usage among youth have never been examined in any previous studies. This therefore indicates the gap in knowledge of the study.
This study is further justified in the sense that is among the Nigerian Universities that encourages the use of the Internet for academic purposes among its staff and students alike. Hence, the University has established its own e-library, Internet wireless services among others in its campuses. It is in line with this that the researcher carried out this study to find out the behaviour of the youth towards the impact of internet.

1.6 Scope of the Study
The study will cover the youth . However, only a sample of their total population will be used to make generalizations. Thus, the sample will be drawn from the twelve faculties of the university.

1.7 Limitations of the Study
The questionnaire was administered during examination period therefore having the attention of the respondents was difficult for the researcher.

1.8 Operational Definitions
i. Behaviour – in the context of this study means feeling, perception or attitudinal dispositions of a certain group towards a particular thing.
ii. Perception/Attitude – in this study means opinion or way of thinking and understanding of the youth towards the internet.
iii. Access point – in this study means the device or way through which one surfs the Internet. For instance, it could be through subscription modem, cyber cafes, wireless hotspots, e-library and mobile Internet like devices like i-phone, ipad and other devices which provide easier access to the Internet.
iv. A.B.U –is used several times in this study and it means Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria
v. Search engine – in this study it refers to the method of information searching in the internet.
vi. Youth –as it is used in this study means all Youth in the university from 100 level to 400 or 500 level.

1.10 Organization Of The Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.