THE IMPACT OF INTERNET CAFES ON STUDENTS IN GOMAL UNIVERSITY D I KHAN

Abstract

Internet cafes are mushrooming across the country all in the big and small cities and even in towns and villages. “The basic idea behind establishing Internet clubs is to promote information technology. The government is laying down the policy to set up IT Centers in every nook and corner of the country. These cafes are instrumental for the promotion of IT and play a pivotal Role in this regard by benefiting those who have no access to this facility at their homes. Although Internet cafes are offering new opportunities to get online education, communication and information services - research indicates that negative impacts of these cafes are far-reaching, particularly in the students' community. As the heading of the research project indicates, the respondents for the required data included mangers/owners of the cafes and the visitors (students). Students of Gomal University were used for questionnaire fill-up. Thus these two groups form the population of this research project. In this study I selected the sample through simple random sampling and sample size is 50. It is also sad to see the people misusing the great blessing. And it is much more distressing to know that it is our youth, who are addicted to this misuse. The availability of pornographic pictures, videos and provocative sites is the biggest problem on the Internet. According to the survey majority of the customers of these clubs are the Students of various schools and colleges. They come in the morning and leave the cafe in afternoon or late evening. These students instead of using the Internet for educational purpose prefer browsing different websites; indulge in chatting and watching movies, especially pornography. Majority of the Internet cafes have six to seven feet high cabins fitted with fancy lights, music and refreshments. The internet cafes are corrupting the minds of the younger generation in the name of access to information technology. The government is planning to block the porn sites but they are in millions and hundreds of them are launched almost every day. Why can't a law be enforced prohibiting the cafe owners from providing privacy through the secret cabins to the consumers?

Key Words; Internet cafes, Education, Information services, Customers, Browsing