Internet Junkies...Really?
Who among us believes that the Internet can be addicting? I do! I have seen people (including myself) sit for extended periods of time searching different articles on the Net. The myriad of topics out there in cyberspace fascinates me.
On a positive note, the Internet (if used productively) can spark ideas and get the creative juices flowing. Conversely, if one spends hours on end searching the Net or playing mindless electronic games to the detriment of real-life social relationships, it could spell trouble.
Even though I believe that Internet addiction is real, some experts don’t agree. Tori DeAngelis, author for the American Psychological Association, writes that just because someone spends too much time doing something doesn’t mean that ‘thing’ should necessarily be classified as an addiction. She claims that published studies on Internet addiction are scarce. Further, she states that most studies have taken the form of self-selecting surveys with no control groups. To substantiate her stance on the issue, Ms. DeAngelis points out that David Greenfield, PhD, founder of Center for Internet Studies, has conducted one of the largest studies in existence. In 1998, he studied 18,000 Internet users and only 5.7% of the group met the criteria for compulsive Internet use.[1]
In an opposing view, the American Psychiatric Association says that people with Internet Use Disorder experience preoccupation with the Internet and have shown withdrawal symptoms when the Net is no longer available. Symptoms include loss of interest in other activities and unsuccessful attempts to stay off the Net. Some scientific studies have even shown that those who suffer from Internet addiction exhibit abnormal levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain which enables us to experience pleasure and reward. [2]
The range of opinions regarding chronic use of the Internet, and the potential for addiction, certainly appears to be expansive.
On a positive note, the Internet (if used productively) can spark ideas and get the creative juices flowing. Conversely, if one spends hours on end searching the Net or playing mindless electronic games to the detriment of real-life social relationships, it could spell trouble.
Even though I believe that Internet addiction is real, some experts don’t agree. Tori DeAngelis, author for the American Psychological Association, writes that just because someone spends too much time doing something doesn’t mean that ‘thing’ should necessarily be classified as an addiction. She claims that published studies on Internet addiction are scarce. Further, she states that most studies have taken the form of self-selecting surveys with no control groups. To substantiate her stance on the issue, Ms. DeAngelis points out that David Greenfield, PhD, founder of Center for Internet Studies, has conducted one of the largest studies in existence. In 1998, he studied 18,000 Internet users and only 5.7% of the group met the criteria for compulsive Internet use.[1]
In an opposing view, the American Psychiatric Association says that people with Internet Use Disorder experience preoccupation with the Internet and have shown withdrawal symptoms when the Net is no longer available. Symptoms include loss of interest in other activities and unsuccessful attempts to stay off the Net. Some scientific studies have even shown that those who suffer from Internet addiction exhibit abnormal levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain which enables us to experience pleasure and reward. [2]
The range of opinions regarding chronic use of the Internet, and the potential for addiction, certainly appears to be expansive.
[1] “Is Internet Addiction Real?: American Psychological Association. n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.
2 “Internet Addiction: The New Mental Health Disorder?” Forbes. n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/
Very interesting article. I believe now days people suffer from IUD.. The first source cited a study from 1998 to address this issue, and I think thats a bit old news, because the amount of technological advances from 1998 until now have grown tremendously. I mean in that year Google was just founded, it hired it's first employee in 1998. The amount of internet use from then have undoubtedly risen and probably along that this disorder will reach a higher peak and we can have a better understanding of how it affects us. Not only in computers but using tablets and cellular phones contribute to this disorder. Some of us might have it, and just not know it. It would be interesting to see if someone could gather updated data and shed more light into this interesting topic.
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