Humans on the Internet: From Utopia to Dystopia

Abstract

The Internet has become an inseparable part of contemporary society. Few people today can imagine life without using various social media platforms. However, what does the Internet truly offer? The seemingly beautiful and utopian world presented through online photos and videos conceals a darker side. The dangers awaiting users who succumb too easily to this idealized vision can have serious real-life and legal consequences, ranging from data fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes to human trafficking and child exploitation. Online hate speech has also contributed to the psychological and social destruction of individuals who lacked the resources or strength  to cope with it. This paper aims to address the question of whether the Internet poses a genuine threat to its users, or whether such concerns merely reflect a dystopian vision of human helplessness in the digital age.