The internet allows us to access a wealth of knowledge with the click of a button, but while it seems like a time-saving tool, the web may actually detract from productivity in the workplace and on campus.
A recent poll by UK employment firm Peninsula found that 233 million hours of employee time are lost surfing social networking sites; they recommended that companies regulate their employees' use of the internet.
Many Canadian businesses are already trying to limit access to the internet. A poll by Robert Half Technology, an information-technology staffing group, found that nearly two-thirds of Canadian companies use internet controls. Last May, Ontario government workers, TD bank employees and New Brunswick River Valley Heath staff were banned from accessing Facebook at work.
With wireless internet all over campus, these same distractions apply to students in lecture halls.
Professor of art history and communications studies Carrie Rentschler explained that students who are surfing Facebook in class are missing out on a valuable learning experience.
"One of the privileges of taking a class is to really concentrate on something, to leave the rest of your life behind for a moment," she said. "You need to decide 'I'm going to give myself the space to reflect on something.' Facebook can put people in a conversation at the same time [that they are in class]."
Art history and communications Chair Jonathan Sterne agreed, adding that browser plug-ins with constant updates can further distract students.
"The students who willfully go on Facebook are choosing to distract themselves," he said. "I think that the people who aren't on Facebook but are being bugged by the widgets are being more distracted because at least they're trying to pay attention. It ends up taking over your life."
However, Professor Sterne acknowledged that if students were not looking at Facebook they might be doing other things to entertain themselves.
"At least it's less rude than reading the newspaper because I can't tell if you're not paying attention."
David Ayele, U3 physiology, admitted that he found Facebook so distracting that he stopped bringing his laptop to school and hopes that limiting this distraction will help him focus on his grades.
"Last term, I used to check it once or twice in class but much more than that when I was in the library studying," he said. "I didn't do as well as I could have."
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