Computer literacy provides many benefits, but can also have costs if not used properly. There are three main costs discussed: 1. Social implications - overuse of social media and computers can negatively impact relationships as people spend less time with family and friends. It can also expose people to bad influences online from strangers. 2. Communication implications - common texting shorthand and online gaming language can negatively influence people's communication skills and perceptions from others. This may especially impact children. 3. Cyber crime - some with advanced computer skills may use them for illegal hacking, spreading viruses, or stealing sensitive information, which harms individuals, communities and national security. Proper precautions need to be taken to reduce such criminal behavior

1. Assalamualaikum and a very good evening to the honourable judges , teachers and friends .
Have you watched the Movie, “ i-robot” ? The one that the main role was played by Will Smith ? Do you
remember, in that movie , how the world was very peaceful , lively and convenient for everyone when
they invented robots , to assist the humans .. but at the end , man was eaten by his own technology . ?
Of course you do remember , it was a famous movie ! Ladies and gentlemen , I’m Nur Farahin Binti
Samsudin from Smk Skudai .
So , my topic today is related to the message from this movie . “The Cost of Computer Literacy” . There
is definitely more than one interpretation of the word cost . In my topic today , cost is defined as to
cause to lose or suffer . While computer literacy is defined as the knowledge and ability to use
computers and related technology efficiently , with a range of skills . Thus , the meaning of the cost of
computer literacy is what people have to suffer when they have gone too far with the ability and
knowledge to use the computer .
I know , most of you cannot live without a computer , handphones , Windows 8 , Samsung Note 3 ,
Galaxy S3 … Me too . These days , all these technology is replacing the important people in our lives
like parents , sisters , brothers and our bestfriends .
Yes . Computer literacy gives us a lot of benefis. It makes everything easy , fast , useful in the widest way
and that is why you must have heard “The world is on our fingertips” . We can manage and control
things if we are computer literate.
However , when people get too much and lose control in the world of computer and related technology ,
the word of “cost” comes creeping in .
Today , I will discuss 3 main costs when people have a high level of computer literacy . Lets start with the
first point shall we , “Social implications” . Tell me how many social web have been invented nowadays ?
How many do we have ? and how often do we use them? 6.00 am , facebook , - updating status
“ Morning and sunshine people , wakey…wakey.. !” , 9.00 am , twitter , “Happy breakfast!” , 1.00pm –
chatting with boyfriend no.1 , 3.00pm skyping with boyfriend no.2 .. 7.00pm – watching Youtube ,
10.00pm playing Farmville …
What kind of life is this ? Did you even have your prayers ? Did you help your parents at home ? Not yet
if i ask , did you even take your bath ? Haha . Well , what I want to explain here is that , as I told you ,
having a computer is like replacing the important people in your lives , so it makes you feel that , you
don’t have to spend more time with the people in the real world . You don’t need them . You could just
sit in your room all day long with your laptop and that is okay to you . I admit it , this is the lifestyle of
youngsters nowadays .
Sosial implications is divided into two . So this is the first , it affects your relationship with your family ,
close friends and other people in the real world for spending more time on computer , than being with
them . Secondly , it costs you more being active in the social web . The social web is used by people all
around the world . Everyday , you start to chat with someone you don’t know and you easily let them

2. know everything about you . These will lead these both people to bad consequences like sharing bad
habits and bad influences with no shame . You , should be careful with people you don’t know !
Ladies and gentlemen , now , I will go to my secondpoint , that is communication implications .
I bet everyone here knows what is ‘fyi’ ? Yes . For your information . what about “brb” ? Of course , Be
Right Back , and “ily” … Yes . I love you . Is it romantic when you say to your girlfriend,
“Honey , ily” ?
Noo… right . Its supposed to be “Honey.. I love you ..” . That is more romantic and polite !
More and more people spend time using computer or handphones or tab , this is the effect of daily
texting , instant messaging and gaming language . Everything becomes short now , even words . Of
course , no one will type all the full words when communicating in a message, he or she will be sound
like a nerd ! However , we don’t realize that these daily texting language, could affect our
communication with others . Maybe , what we mean is different from what they interpret. Also , it gets
a bad perception from the elders . Don’t speak like that to the people who are older than you , cause
that is rude . For children especially , having a good language and communication skill is very important
for their schools and exams . Children with computer literacy nowadays are very common . So , it is
worrying they will be influenced by these kind of language . This is the cost of computer literacy that we
don’t want our children to be involved in.
Lastly is cyber crime . What do you think people who have entelligence , or usually we call as the genius
of computer literacy , can do with their skills ? Some may use the skills beneficially , but don’t forget , in
every story there is the good guy and the bad guy . The bad guy in this case will misuse their knowledge
to steal secret information , to spread viruses and to hack systems or anything harmful that linked to the
ICT . People like this not just harm to us , our families but also to the community and the country . Do
you know , other than soldiers and police, ICT is one of Malaysia’s protection system from the enemies ?
So , it is very important for our government to prevent these crime from happening because the victims
are always the people who lack computer literacy .
In conclusion , the cost of computer literacy depends on the individual who uses the technology in the
right or the wrong way . These problems are difficult to solve and is getting serious while the people …
are getting clever and intelligent .. and genius . We can only put our effort to control it and make
computer literacy to be a better course for the future generation to learn .
Thank you .