ICT has significantly changed how people socially communicate and meet new people. While technology allows for communication benefits like remote business meetings, some argue it has also made children less social offline. Both adults and children now use social networking to communicate easily. However, overreliance on technology can cause people to lose important in-person communication skills. ICT also introduces potential threats if personal information is shared publicly, as criminals could access and misuse private data for hacking, fraud, or bullying. It is important for users to be aware of privacy and security settings to prevent problems.

1. The use of ICT
Emma Taylor

2. Social impacts of the use of IT
•
Over many years ICT has changed the way people socially communicate with one another. Before
ICT people would have to talk to each other in person, arrange next meetings and the only way to
meet new people was to approach them and talk to them face to face. These days technology has
became very popular. For example, business meetings can now be held across the internet using
webcam applications such as Skype. This is an advantage if people have trouble travelling to a
certain place and may also save money. Children have became a lot more unsocial due to the
entertainment using technology such as a lot of children are addicted to computer games, so there
for have become physically inactive and not very sociable with friends, although if they were to
communicate with their friends both adults and children can use social networking sites as an easy
way of communication. There are many disadvantages of ICT that a lot of people don’t recognise
for example, the loss of key communication skills which would be needed in an interview, they may
feel as if you come across as not a very good communicator. Children may also lose confidence
when communicating with new people due to having no experience as they only do this over the
internet.
Overall, the technology we have today is a great edition to our daily lives, but we must not forget how
to communicate without the technology, as it is important that we are able to talk face to face with
others and have good social skills

3. Potential threats of using ICT
•
Within information technology it is important that people have an awareness of
the various dangers and threats that ICT has introduced. Steps should also be
taken towards preventing common problems rather than trying to cure them at a
later date as they may come with horrific consequences! The internet is a vast
source for private information and it is very easy for strangers to access it causing
pornography problems, hacking problems, coning peoples money, invading
peoples private information making them feel uncomfortable which is also
bulling, and very easy for criminals to plan illegal activities.
Its important that people are aware of these potential threats as there are certain
ways you can prevent these from happening;
• Every social networking site provides privacy settings which can be set to suit you
e.g. only friends can see your posts and information
• Do not put any personal information or embarrassing photos of yourself on these
sites as people may use these photos for other uses, people can use them on a
later basis to make you feel uncomfortable, anyone could find out your personal
information and use this to put you, your friends and family at risk.