5 ways the web has changed the world

There’s little doubt that the Internet now dominates the modern world. With over 4.66 billion active users and 60% of the global population enjoying regular access to this connectivity tool, the online space is surely the defining difference between society in the 20^th century versus the 21^st century.

The digital revolution means that almost every scrap of imaginable information is available at our fingertips and there is a never-ending supply of educational and entertainment resources. The Internet allows us to buy consumer products, stream our favourite films, educate ourselves through online teaching and even find love. Anything is possible with access to the world wide web. Read on to discover how the internet has changed the world for the better.

Retail

Shopping experiences have transformed thanks to the internet, with physical stores rapidly becoming obsolete. 75% of people now do most of our shopping online and it isn’t hard to see why: with the option of same day delivery and better deals available online, retail will never be the same again. Everything from gadgets to groceries is available to purchase on the world wide web and the retail market has permanently changed thanks to the Internet.

As a result, many companies have scrapped their physical stores and now only offer products for purchase online. This trend has, of course, been fuelled by the pandemic but most experts agree that Covid has simply accelerated a process that was already happening. Most retail experts believe that the high street will continue to rapidly decline over the next few years.

Travel

Booking travel is now predominantly done online, with travel agents also making the move to provide their services over the Internet. Holiday goers can now book their travels directly with their hotel and airline, effectively cutting out the middleman – and handy price comparison sites such as Trivago and Booking.com allow consumers to find the best deal before making any holiday purchases, effectively making travelling the world more convenient than ever before.

Online services such as Airbnb allow individuals from around the world to rent out their own homes, generating new revenue streams for thousands of property owners and enabling tourists to experience quirky and unique holiday destinations. Airlines have also transformed thanks to the Internet, with some offering an online check-in service to cut down on unwanted queuing time.

Dating

Online dating allows singletons from around the world to connect and is now responsible for over half of all relationships. There’s no need for couples to meet organically anymore, and according to studies, 50% of British singles have never asked someone on a date in person. Popular dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge dominate the online dating market in the USA and UK, with Tinder having an estimated 75 million active users. Other online video chatting services now mean it’s easier than ever to find a date online, with many people taking to Zoom dating during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Betting

Betting safely and responsibly is easier than ever thanks to the Internet, with lots of casinos and bookmakers taking their services into the digital sphere. One in four adults now do all of their betting online and price comparison sites such as Fruity Slots make it easier than ever to compare betting sites and to find the best places to enjoy your preferred gambling game. The Internet makes it possible to bet on just about anything, from sports to television to card games to slot machines, and even monopoly.

Streaming

Streaming websites such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video give users access to millions of titles, from well-known blockbusters to indie films. Before the Internet, watching a film or TV series was a more expensive endeavour, with consumers having to head to the cinema or rent movies from their local Blockbuster video. Look at the broadcasting landscape today and there has been a seismic shift towards streaming that puts ultimate control at users’ fingertips.