International Internet Day: How Well You’re Using the Internet: 29 Oct

If you’re a millennial or a middle-aged person, living in an urban place, then we’re sure your day starts and ends with one or the other internet application. From checking emails and updates on your social media feed, reading news, articles, and reviews online to browsing through e-commerce sites, the internet exposes you to a vast array of content. According to Internet World Stats^* India ranks second in the list of countries with the highest number of internet users.

The content made available to you alters your thinking process by firstly making you aware of things which you may not know about before, and further in critically analyzing pre-stored information and building perception on various subject matters. That is why, everyone from educators to marketers and politicians, use digital platforms such as websites, blogging sites, and social media handles as a medium to reach out to you.

You, as an audience, consume content in the form of videos, articles, advertisements, memes and several other types that bring about a change in your knowledge, attitude, and perception. All this alters your response. Therefore, content is strategically directed at you to induce the desired action, without your realizing it.

As an internet user, you will have enormous information and content at your disposal. However, it is upon you what type of applications you use and what kind of content you consume. It is essential that you carefully choose the type of content you use when you make your way online, and then wisely interpret it while making decisions and choices, on both minor and significant issues. The type of content you consume and how well do you make use of it will help differentiate you from the others.

For instance, health is one issue that concerns almost all of you. The Internet offers a plethora of content and several applications that can help you in health-related matters. So, as a user, you can go online and use apps that can better your health or check out health-bloggers along with subscribing to and reading up blogs to getting knowledge as well as tips. This way, the content will enlighten you about various aspects of health such as what kind of food choices can be beneficial to you, how much daily exercise can help you prevent diseases, and so on. The consumption of such type of content will exert a positive influence on your mind, and condition you to create good health for yourself.

Through the internet, you may also come across the importance of securing your family and yourself against health challenges and other unforeseen circumstances by buying health insurance, term plans, and other such policies. If you act wisely and search for more content on the same subject, then you will be able to buy and manage the right plan, which will benefit you in the long run.

However, at the same time, the internet also has content related to health trends and fads as followed by people all over the world. So, if you choose to act based on all these without thinking objectively, then your results will also be accordingly- short-term and unsatisfactory.

Similarly, on the financial front, you all want to make money to be able to lead an even better life. The internet not only provides you with relevant information on investing in smart plans such as Unit Linked Insurance Plans and retirement plans but also helps you conveniently apply and manage these digitally, without any hassles. This will help you build a secure corpus of funds for your family and will also bring you several other benefits.

On the other hand, if you use the web network to look for quick deals and easy ways to make significant gains in the form of lotteries and schemes, and even apply for the same, then you may find yourself a victim of fraud cases.

Internet is a storehouse of information and can help you immensely in whatever you’re seeking. It can be a blessing for you if you know how to use it in an optimal manner and for the right reasons. However, if you use the internet without practicing caution or using your wisdom, then you may derive only temporary gratification, and nothing much of value.

So, this International Internet Day, take a pledge to use this potent resource in your life for the best possible purpose.