GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 213
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
More and more people are relying on the Internet as their major source of news and information.
What advantages does the Internet have for the average person?
What disadvantages could it have now or in the future?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Gone are the days when readers had to depend on printed newspapers or radio broadcast to keep up with current events. An increasing number of people, nowadays, are leaning on the internet as their key source of news and information. While this trend reaps several benefits, it could also confer some disadvantages now and in the future.
To commence with, depending on the internet as the key source of news and information has some distinct advantages. The most tangible benefit of reading news online is the swiftness with which the information and news are updated. On the contrary, they have to wait till the next morning to get the latest news in the case of a printed newspaper. Secondly, it offers videos and live news coverage to its readers which is more engaging and entertaining. Moreover, the majority of online news portals are free to access and readers pay almost nothing to read newspapers. Another obvious advantage is that it is eco-friendly and does not require cutting trees to print news.
One obvious drawback of reading news online is the authenticity of news and information. Fake and fabricated news can not only mislead a person but also create social unrest. Then comes the dependency on internet connection. Put simply, the readers need to have an active internet connection, for which they need to pay, to access the news portals or get any information. Apart from this, online newspapers come with advertisements, which could degrade the user experience. A case in point is pop-up advertisements. These ads can appear anytime, thereby making the whole experience of getting news or information frustrating. Finally, unemployment will hit employees in this sector as the demand for the printed newspaper will decline in the coming days.
In pithy, the phenomenon of online news confers both advantage and disadvantage. Since people will more widely depend on the internet as their major source of news and information in the future, we should work collaboratively to reduce the negative sides it has.