How Can We Reduce or Eliminate the Negative Effects of Internet Addiction?
What is Internet Addiction?
Internet addiction or overuse is simply excessive computer use, especially of the Internet, that interferes with daily life. However, the problem with Internet addiction is whether to classify it as an addiction at all, as many of the activities associated with Internet addiction (online shopping, gambling, pornography, socializing, gaming) can cause addiction in and of themselves. This creates the question, is it the computer that creates the addiction, or are the "addictions" created by obsessive computer use merely symptoms of overlying conditions that already exist in a patient? The question really addresses whether there is a pure Internet addiction, or whether Internet addiction is merely a collaboration of other underlying factors. For example, a person with a gambling addiction will have an addiction to gambling regardless of whether they gamble face to face, or on the internet. Others, such as David Greenfield (Ph.D. of the Center for Internet Behavior) view this disorder as more of a compulsion. These questions led "Internet Addiction" to not be included in the DSM V, however the American Psychological Association has formally recognized this disorder. Either way, there are many people who are dependant on the Internet for stimulation, to the point where the stimulation provided by the Internet becomes their central focus on a day to day basis.
Well, even if it IS real, how do you define it?
There are certain criterion (set by the American Psychological Association and addiction researchers) that must be met to be classified as addicted to the Internet, and at least 3 of these criterion must be present at any time during a one year period.
1. Tolerance : This refers to the need for increasing amounts of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction and/or significantly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on the Internet.
2. Dependance: Two or more withdrawal symptoms developing within days to one month after reduction of Internet use or cessation of Internet use (i.e., quitting cold turkey) , and these must cause distress or impair social, personal or occupational functioning. Examples are trembling, anxiety, and fantasies about the Internet.
3. Dependance : Use of the Internet is engaged in/needed to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
4. Lack of control : The Internet is often accessed more often, or for longer periods of time than was intended.
5. A significant amount of time is spent in activities related to Internet use ( e.g. Internet books, online gambling, online shopping, socializing).
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of Internet use.
7. The individual risks the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of excessive use of the Internet.
8. The individual has lied to family members or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet.
9. The Internet is used to cope with an emotional or traumatic experience, is a way to escape an unpleasant mood or escape problems.
Who cares, it's not dangerous (like drugs and alcohol).
Wrong, just because addicts to the Internet do not inject needles, do not cause car accidents and have seemingly no health risks, that does not mean it is not dangerous. The Internet has ripped apart friendships and relationships, it can ruin futures, and just because it is not life threatening, does not mean it should be ignored. The dangers of the Internet are often missed because other addictions are seen as more important, more dangerous, but this is not always true. One clear example of how dangerous the Internet can be is the case of Michel and Iana Straw, parents who neglected their 22 month old son and 11 month old daughter, leaving their children starved to death (For more information see : http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289331,00.html). Although Internet addiction is not as dangerous as drug addiction, it is an addiction nonetheless and should be monitered, getting professional help as needed.
I've never heard of it, how common is it really? (and why we chose this topic)
Internet addiction is extremely common in todays society, and with every year the numbers increase. The Internet plays a vital role in modern society and is used almost everywhere, but this is also what makes Internet addiction such a dangerous situation. The Internet is available, accessible, acceptable and affordible, and this increases the number of addictions. The possibility for so many addictions will inevitably create dangerous situations such as the case of Michel and Iana Straw, and this is why communicating the dangers of the Internet are so important.
The statistics found from a poll taken by students at the International Academy; results are seen AFTER completing the quiz.
The Washington Post found some interesting statistics :
About 6% of surveyed individuals responded, “their relationships suffered as a result of excessive Internet use.”
About 9% attempted to conceal “nonessential Internet use.”
Nearly 4% reported feeling “preoccupied by the Internet when offline.”
About 8% said they used the Internet as a way to escape problems
Almost 14% reported they “found it hard to stay away from the Internet for several days at a time.”
And statistics from a Stanford University study :
13.7 percent of those interviewed found it hard to stay away from the Internet for several days at a time
12.4 percent stayed online longer than intended very often or often
12.3 percent had seen a need to cut back on Internet use at some point
8.7 percent attempted to conceal non-essential Internet use from family, friends and employers
8.2 percent used the Internet as a way to escape problems or relieve negative mood
5.9 percent felt their relationships suffered as a result of excessive Internet use
The Stanford University study found that 1 in 8 individuals had at least some symptoms that suggested some form of addiction to the Internet.
Hilarie Cash, an American psychotherapist suggested that 8-10% of American teens are addicted to the Internet. This statistic is just as alarming as the statistics generated by Stanford and the Washington Post. This means that there are roughly 2 million teenage addicts around the United States alone. All of these statistics suggest that at the very least, Internet addiction is an issue that must be addressed, and because this is a topic that flies under the radar, our group has decided to inform our classmates of the dangers of the Internet as it is prevalent in all of our lives, and is relatively unknown.
Well, if Internet Addiction is such a threat, how can we solve this problem?
Well, there are many things that a student such as yourself can do to prevent the Internet from consuming your life. The main goal that students face is prevention. 100% of International Academy students polled (using the poll below) claimed that they easily get distracted on the Internet. Although the statistics might seem unbelievable at first, consider the last time you got home from school. You most likely dropped your backpack, maybe grabbed a snack, and powered on your computer. "But wait," you say. "I only wanted to print off that homework assignment from Moodle!" Even if this is the case, the chances are that you will find yourself drawn to your email account, Facebook page, or Twitter feed. But apart from completely shutting down our computers (which may have even greater consequences, especially at the International Academy) what can we do? And yet this is just another part of the problem. For example, would you tell an compulsive alcoholic that he can drink, but only 1 glass a day? What about telling a smoker that he can smoke, but only 1 cigarette a day? That is the situation for many who are addicted to the Internet; as the saying goes : "Can't live with it, can't live without it". The Internet plays a crucial role in many modern day jobs, and yet the risk is always there, the risk of succumbing to the temptation. So how is it treated by professionals? Well, David Greenfield states that the most important part is recognition of the addiction, being aware that you are getting high off it. Then it is just a matter of changing habits to ignore the situations that "trigger" the "binges" of internet use. Many treatments involve group therapy, or try to help addicts set a realistic time limit for their Internet usage (even though that in and of itself is risky). Some treatment camps in China and South Korea used physical re-education in their treatment camps as the addictions to the Internet were that extreme, (treatment such as electro shock therapy) although this has now been discontinued. When a person's addiction is caused in part by a biological issue, an anti depressant may be given. The main thing is, Internet addiction is an addiction, and is therefore treated like any other addiction (such as an alcoholic or drug addiction), with a few exceptions. However the treatment is still fairly similar, and attempts to eliminate a patients dependancy on the Internet, but the first step to solve the problem is to recognize the problem is there, then treatment can be given accordingly. The problem with treatment in modern day America is that so few treatment options are available, with probably no more then 10 treatment centers around the entire United States, and this is why recognition of this compulsion is so important, so that treatment options become just as available as any other addiction.
Works Cited
"Internet Addiction Disorder." The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian and Jeffrey Wilson. Vol. 1. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 612-615. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. International Academy H. 18 Nov. 2009 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=lom_inac>.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.