How much of your life is spent online?

The world has become increasingly digital. Nowadays, we can do almost anything online, from paying bills to shopping to finding a date for the weekend.

There's concern among a growing number of people, however, that the internet is turning a lot of us into technology-dependent hermits.

I think these claims are unfounded. I spend a lot of time online, but I do it because I actually enjoy communicating with people in written form. (I am, after all, a writer.) From writing posts on Blogger to actively contributing to various message boards, there are several reasons why being in cyberspace is more appealing than the "real world":

You can remain anonymous: No need to worry about people judging you or knowing where you live
You can share your feelings freely: I find it's sometimes easier to open up to strangers on the internet than to people in person. After all, some of those topics may be personal in nature.
You can do so many things in the comfort of your home: Want to travel to the Grand Canyon without leaving your house? Well, just Google it and you'll find a wealth of pictures and videos that will allow you to experience it vicariously. Sure, it's not exactly the same thing, but if you neither wish to get out of bed nor shell out hundreds of dollars for a vacation, this is your only alternative. The same goes for buying a product without having to hit the store or talking to someone in China without having to venture to the mainland.
Convenience: It's less of a hassle to research something on the internet than to pick up the phone or go in person

As I have said in earlier posts, I don't think anything has revolutionized the world as we know it and paved the way for the future like the internet has. I think it's the best investment anyone can make, and I only see it becoming more essential in our daily lives in the years to come.

How much of your life is spent on the internet? Do you feel it has made you less interested in living in the "real world"?

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