Looking back now, it’s hard to remember a world without Google.

The widely used search engine created in 1995 by two Stanford computer science grad students has become more and more popular because of its uncanny ability to read the mind. Google answers questions instantly. It is used everywhere, for virtually everything.

However, just like anything else great in this world, Google can be misused.

College students are now being criticized for their use of Google as a research tool in completing their work. Students surveyed are claiming to have used Google only on their projects because they had no knowledge of other resources, like, for instance, a book.

This is a problem because students know how to reference books. They are choosing not to out of laziness. I know this because I have done it myself. Let’s face it: If we as students can’t handle the heat of the college library, we should probably get out of the kitchen.

Another crime against Google is the misuse of the information provided. The first three links that pop up are probably not the perfect sources for your paper, and using information off of Wikipedia will never be a good idea.

There is always a kid in class when papers are returned who looks up dumbfounded and says, “I got an A … all I did was Google stuff!” We are better than this. Even though it’s a great feeling at the time, no one should be shocked to get an A. Google should be used as a tool, not an academic crutch.

Even with all my preaching, I still believe Google is used more for good than evil. The answers to our problems at the click of a button have become second nature to us. From staying updated with the news and weather to wondering what Charlie Sheen is doing, we are using Google as less of a search engine and more of an ally.

As a society, we should use the best technology available. And that is Google. It is ranked the No. 1 global website and has 7.2 billion page views daily. The word itself was voted the most useful word in 2002 by the American Dialect Society.

If you don’t believe me, just Google it.