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Effect of Internet Use on Individuals
One of the problems identified because of internet use is that some heavy users of the internet become addicted to the internet and they develop internet addiction disorder (IAD). Internet addiction is not classified as a clinical disorder or one of the addictive disorders. Yet it is hard to ignore the problem. Scholars from different fields have recognized the harm caused by excessive and uncontrollable use of the internet. Numerous studies conducted over recent years have shown that more people are increasingly using the internet in an excessive manner and this has in turn affected their behavior. Internet addiction covers various impulses such as cyber sex addiction, cyber relationship addiction, net compulsions, information overload and computer addiction (Saisan, Smith, Robinson and Segal).
In 2009, some students reported that excessive use of the internet had negatively affected their studies and their academic performance. Some countries such as South Korea list internet addiction as a health concern. Internet addiction problems among adolescents in China, led the country’s lawmakers to pass legislation, which discouraged people from spending more than three hours playing games (Ruiz and Strain 407). Internet addiction is bound to become a serious problem if the relevant authorities continue to ignore it, especially as the use of the social media sites has increased internet use over the years. Many of the young people are especially prone to be addicted to the internet, as they usually use it as the main source of gathering information, socializing, communicating and entertainment. The idea of internet addiction disorder is controversial because, while some people readily admit that it exists and it affects individuals, others oppose the idea, claiming that the use of the internet is an enjoyable and mostly productive activity that cannot lead to addiction.
Internet addiction disorder is a behavioral addiction that is characterized by “salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict and relapse” (Johnson 679). Some of the criteria identified for a person to be considered an internet addict include preoccupation with the internet, repeated attempts to reduce the use of the internet, change of mood when one is not using the internet, deception about the time spent on the internet, and using the internet as a way of escaping problems (Johnson 679). People who are addicted to the internet will neglect their daily duties and responsibilities as they usually lose the sense of time. They will experience withdrawal symptoms when they are not in a position to access the internet. They will often feel tense and angry and sometimes this leads to depression. They will go out of their way to look for the latest technology and better computer equipment. They will look for the software that will satisfy them more and guarantee longer hours and better service. Their physical, social, emotional and psychological wellbeing will be affected negatively. They will argue with people and gradually lose interest in physical interaction with people, as they interact more with the friends they have met online. They will often lie about the amount of time they spend on the internet. They will feel fatigued all the time as they lack any physical activity (Young and Abreu 22).
IAD is viewed as a psychosocial disorder. Internet addiction disorder can create problems in the family, place of work and in school. Individuals with this type of disorder also experience problems in their personal lives. People with this disorder do not engage in physical activities, and some of them have eating and sleeping problems. Others experience mental problems such as depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and anxiety. Others suffer from low self-esteem and loneliness (Alavi, Maracy, Jannatifard and Eslami 800). The reasons for engaging in this type of addiction and the symptoms of the disorder are similar to the ones identified for individuals who use addictive drugs. Drug addicts will often experience withdrawal symptoms and they will sometimes isolate themselves from their families and friends. They will lie to get their daily dose and they will get an excuse for using the drug. They are also interested in getting the strongest and most powerful drug in the market and they will do anything to get them.
The problem of internet addiction has been documented extensively in Asian countries, especially in China and South Korea. America is lagging behind in this area. This is primarily because many people in the US usually use the internet in their homes, especially when they are playing games or when they are accessing sexually related content. The relevant authorities find it difficult to find out the extent people use the internet. Moreover, people do not reveal how they use the internet because of shame and denial. Another problem that makes it difficult to measure the rate and extent of internet addiction is that about 86% of people with internet addiction cases have other forms of mental disorders. Internet addiction is usually a symptom of other condition such as depression and attention deficit disorder. Reports from South Korea indicate some of the extreme symptoms of internet addiction. In one instance, a teenage boy hurt his mother physically when she told him to take time off his computer. In another case, a couple starved their child to death when they could not take time off the internet to feed him. In yet another extreme case, a boy beat his mother to death for constantly nagging him not to use the internet all the time. He then proceeded to use her credit card to pay for online games (Yoon A.6). While not all reported cases are extreme, it shows that there are many problems associated with internet addiction.
Unlike other types of addictions, internet addiction is seen as a type of a productive addiction. Perhaps this is the only type of addiction that benefits the individual. People who have this disorder and work using the internet are more productive. They work for long hours and this means that more work is done. Students with this disorder will often spend more time studying and this can result to better academic performance. Some people view the excessive use of the internet as a serious issue, and they compare it to other activities such as reading and watching television (Grohol). Some critics claim that using the internet extensively for long hours does not mean that one is addicted. They see it as a passion, and they claim that passions do not last for long (DeAngelis 24). People rarely do constructive things on the internet. Internet addiction takes many forms. Some people are addicted to online games and gambling, while others are addicted to viewing sexual content such as pornography, which is widely available on the internet. Others are addicted to trading on the stock market, and this can create some disastrous results. Some of these problems have led to division and tension in the home.
Despite the fact that IAD has not been categorized as a clinical disorder, various people have found ways of helping people with the problem. In some cases, such as South Korea, the government has taken the initiative of helping people deal with the problem. It has trained counselors and established treatment centers in different parts of the country. The first step in assisting people with this type of situation is to identify the reasons why they are addicted to the internet. Some of the reasons such as socialization can be controlled with relative ease. In cases where the individual becomes addicted to the internet because they conduct their business transactions using the internet, it becomes difficult for people to be treated. In South Korea, the main problem of internet addiction among the youth is gaming. The government sends various counselors around schools, who teach the children and teenagers about the importance of exercising responsibility when using the internet. The counselors identify the various signs of internet addiction and they advice the youth to seek help. In China, government officials restrict computer game use and they advice the people not to use the internet for long periods (Block 306).
Works Cited:
Alavi, S. Sewed, Mohammad R. Maracy, Fereshte Jannatifard and Mehdi, Eslami. “The Effect of Psychiatric Symptoms on the Internet Addiction Disorder in Isfahan’s University Students.” Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 16. (2011): 793-811. Print
Block, J. Jerald. “Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction.” The American Journal of Psychiatry 165 (2008): 306-307. Web. 14 November 2011.
DeAngelis, Tori. “Is Internet Addiction Real?” American Psychological Association 31 (2000): 24. Web. 14 November 2011
Grohol, M. John. Internet Addiction Guide. 16 April 2005. Web. 14 November 2011
Johnson, A. Bankole. Addiction Medicine: Science and Practice. New York, NY: Springer. 2010. Print
Ruiz, Pedro and Strain, C. Eric. Lowinson and Ruiz’s Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011. Print
Saisan, Joanna, Melinda Smith, Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne, Segal. Internet Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help. October 2011. Web. 14 November 2011
Yoon, Sangwon. “South Korea Seeks to Aid Internet Addicts; Government Says 2 Million People Hooked Online.” Boston Globe 30 May 2010: A.6. Print
Young, S. Kimberly and Christiano, de Abreu. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Print
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