“Interest in Internet addiction has grown in the past decade, leading to a better understanding of the condition, yet there is little agreement regarding its definition.” (Black & Shaw, 2008)
We all joke about being addicted to certain things, but when can we actually say that a person is addicted to the internet? Some are hesitant to say that people can actually be addicted to the internet, but others argue that this addiction is becoming a serious problem. Addiction is an interesting topic by itself, but internet addiction is a fascinating topic. Are there really internet users that have to get a “fix” every hour or so? We all know someone that may have the tendency to freak out if their internet goes down or perhaps they lose cell phone service, but I could not say that I know of anyone actually addicted to the internet. This does not mean the addicts aren’t out there though. It seems internet addiction is very possible and can be a real issue. Addiction can happen with almost anything. I would classify someone as being an internet addict when the internet starts to take over their life. This could be through online gambling, chatting, surfing, gaming, or really any type of internet use. Some online gamers stay up all night playing their game, but when does this become an actual medical condition and how would it be treated? That is what psychologists and doctors are currently debating over. If a person is perhaps unhappy with their “real” life they may see the internet as an escape or a chance to portray who they really want to be. With sites like Second Life and other online environments, it could be easy for someone to become more concerned with their online persona than their actual life. This is when I would say that this individual is an internet addict. Although this may seem crazy, it is becoming a reality. Just like with any other addiction, there is usually an underlying issue that contributes to the addiction. So what do you think? Is the internet becoming the 21st century drug?
References
Black, D., & Shaw, M. (2008). Internet Addiction. CSN Drugs, 22:5, Retrieved 07/30/2009, from http://search.ebscohost.com.dml.regis.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=32542414&site=ehost-live
We all joke about being addicted to certain things, but when can we actually say that a person is addicted to the internet? Some are hesitant to say that people can actually be addicted to the internet, but others argue that this addiction is becoming a serious problem. Addiction is an interesting topic by itself, but internet addiction is a fascinating topic. Are there really internet users that have to get a “fix” every hour or so? We all know someone that may have the tendency to freak out if their internet goes down or perhaps they lose cell phone service, but I could not say that I know of anyone actually addicted to the internet. This does not mean the addicts aren’t out there though. It seems internet addiction is very possible and can be a real issue. Addiction can happen with almost anything. I would classify someone as being an internet addict when the internet starts to take over their life. This could be through online gambling, chatting, surfing, gaming, or really any type of internet use. Some online gamers stay up all night playing their game, but when does this become an actual medical condition and how would it be treated? That is what psychologists and doctors are currently debating over. If a person is perhaps unhappy with their “real” life they may see the internet as an escape or a chance to portray who they really want to be. With sites like Second Life and other online environments, it could be easy for someone to become more concerned with their online persona than their actual life. This is when I would say that this individual is an internet addict. Although this may seem crazy, it is becoming a reality. Just like with any other addiction, there is usually an underlying issue that contributes to the addiction. So what do you think? Is the internet becoming the 21st century drug?
References
Black, D., & Shaw, M. (2008). Internet Addiction. CSN Drugs, 22:5, Retrieved 07/30/2009, from http://search.ebscohost.com.dml.regis.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=32542414&site=ehost-live
5 comments:
Phil - Good question. If one experiences withdrawals from being away from the Internet, I'd agree!
Is there a rehab for Internet junkies?
Janet
This is not as uncommon as people may believe, espeacially if people are unhappy with situations in their life. Great blog!
Addiction to online environments is definately real. I know how addicting online games can be. I think it becomes an actual 'addiction' when the person does not realize they are putting off doing other, more important things like school work or spending time with the family. If they are not aware of the stress their hobby is putting on themselves and their loved ones, they are most likely an addict.
Internet addiction is a real thing for sure. This is a great Blog it hits on a lot of things that people really go though. Some people go to the internet for alot of things, they go there if they are feeling stressed, it also effects there personal lives with there families.
This article is awesome! I definitely think we can be addicted to internet, I for myself, am addicted to internet. It is different for our generation as we really depend on communication and we do that through social media. I cannot imagine what this world will be like if technology just stopped working abruptly. Just imagine what the cause and effect it would have on us. Not only screwed up communication system but economics would be messed up. We would have a lot of people going through withdrawal!
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