Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Is Internet Addiction Real?
Just as many people out there who argue that internet addiction is a real disorder, there are as many who argue against it. Who's to say if you are addicted or you just use the internet a lot? I know people who read 3 books a week, how come no one has come up with reading addicts? Work out addicts? TV addicts? I might be guilty of being a TV addict myself. If internet addiction becomes a real disorder, where will we eventually draw the line? Anything can be made into a disorder at that point.... If we make IA a real disorder, is it a slippery slope??? What is the differnece between a passion and an addiction? What do YOU think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think the internet, just like any other addiction, can be a problem if it is affecting what you should be doing on a daily basis. The internet is an addiction if you are calling in sick at work, not eating properly, or not maintaining proper hygeine. It sounds funny, but i have seen stories where people have become dysfunctional because of internet addiction. I think anything is an addiction if it starts to interfere with your everyday life, including obsessive internet usage.
ReplyDeleteI don't find it as a problematic issue. Anyone can control their addiction with maintenance and keep themselves from going to far into the internet access and to only use internet for important purposes and some fun.
ReplyDeleteI agree with raymond that it is only an addiction to a certain extent. If the internet is your first priority then I think its a problem. If you are failing your classes, because you get distracted from your work with the internet then I think its an issue. Overall if it affects your health and well being, it should be consider a disorder. Also. with working out, reading, watching tv, and any other activity, I still feel the same way. My aunt complains about her arthritis, but yet she still spends so much time on the internet playing games which just makes it worse. So to some extent I feel that she is addicted.
ReplyDeleteI would consider myself having an obsession rather an addiction. I don't need to get on the internet everyday. I use it if I'm bored or have a question to google, but I never felt the "need" to. I use the internet only to acknowledge news, weather, friend's events, entertainment, or threads. But I don't use it where it affects my family, work, friends, or social events that is outside my room. I have a friends who is "addicted" to online gambling, social networking, and games because they made it into a habit.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how the internet can be a passion? That sounds a little weird to me. In my opinion, once the internet starts taking over someones life, they're addicted. If you're blowing off family, friends, and socializing to be on the internet, then you're pretty addicted. I'm not obsessed with the internet or addicted. But I do use it a lot. I agree with the first comment "anything is an addiction if it starts to interfere with your everyday life, including obsessive internet usage." That basically sums addiction up pretty well.
ReplyDeleteSince the internet is such a huge part of oour lives i think it is very difficult t classify what is internet addiction and what is basically dealing with the day to day demands of life. Alot of peoples occupations and hobbies revolve around the internet these days and my be using the internet from 8 to 10 hours a day. Should this be blamed on the changing society?
ReplyDeleteWith all the advances in technology over the last few years, you can see a change in culture. Especially when you consider the rise in smart phones and sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
ReplyDeleteWe're straying away from the face-to-face culture and it's a sad thing.
I think it is an issue that should be addressed.
So true zduda97... remember when we just picked up the phone to call people or stop by their houses? Now we communicate almost entirely via the internet (email, fb, twitter) and texting. So many valuable aspects of communication, such as tone of voice, inflection, and eye contact are lost now that face to face communication is fading.
ReplyDeleteKaleigh... I definately agree with you. I feel in this country we are to quick to slap a disorder on things. Everyone thinks they are sick with something, and there's always a doctor out there willing to go along with it. I believe in drug and alcohol addiction because both are chemicals that hook your brain, but internet addiction is not a physical addiction. Lets not classify it as a disease because then everything will soon be a disorder!
ReplyDeleteDHo... Yes! Self control is the answer... If you're overusing cut back! Go outside! Limit your time to an hour a day.
ReplyDeleteMark...I am the same way, I use it but I don't feel like i need it or am compelled to do it. I have, however, noticed my number of hours online go up since my iPhone.
ReplyDeleteWhen the "activity" becomes a problem, then its an addiction. For example, my friend is filthy rich and loves to gamble. He stays up all night playing poker online and sleeping all day. His parents send him $5k a month and he somehow ends up broke days before the month ends. He even took his tuition money to vegas and lost it all. I think we can all agree that his gambling is definitly an addiciotn.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the internet is very important in our lives but I don't think it can be an addiction nor a passion. I just think that people misuse their free time when the internet is put into the mix. I know personally if I am bored at my house and I know I have things that can be done around my house some times I will find myself on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very real. I, for one, feel funny if I don't surf the Web for a full day. I probably use it for a couple hours a day and I'm pretty sure some use it literally all day. Just like some people are addicted to video games, there could be some addicted to the Internet as well
ReplyDeleteJust because someone uses the internet a lot does not necessarily mean that they are an addict. If they feel that they spend wayyy too much time on the internet and it stops them from the necessities of life then maybe that's when it becomes a problem. Calling something a disorder should be used in extreme cases and I do feel like the term 'Internet Addiction' is used loosely.
ReplyDeletePassion has to do with love or hate. It is emotional. An addict is "a person addicted to an activity, habit, or substance." I don't believe people are emotionally tied to Facebook which is why I would not say it's a passion. I believe it's more a habit which is why you can be considered an addict. There are many different types of addicts, this one in my opinion is not as severe but I do believe Facebook is addicting.
ReplyDeletemdiop... i think you're good with 2 hours a day. def not a problem til maybe 6 hours :) I watch tv 2 hours a day too and I'm good with that
ReplyDeleteanyel c... I totally agree that disorders get thrown around. lets save this word for when things are really problems so the word doesnt lose its meaning and integrity
ReplyDeletesamantha... whos to say that one doesnt love the internet? if one can love reading and dancing and movies then please explain the difference.
ReplyDeletecmacklil...does your opinion change if one is looking at pornography for 10 hours a day? Would you thnk it was an adiction at that point? What's the tipping point for you?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anyel C. The terminology is being used loosely. The internet is so vast and complex that the statement "internet addiction" is all encompassing and isn't narrow enough to explain what is meant. I do believe that the internet and in particular social networking has completely changed the way people interact with each other from a more personal manner to a more detached one. consider this; people do and say things on facebook that they would not do in person because of the reactions they may incur if in front of the targeted person or group.
ReplyDeleteI think some people do spend to much time on the internet but I wouldn't say every one of them have an addiction problem. If they can make it to school or work and perform all their daily duties, then I wouldn't say there are any serious problems.
ReplyDeleteI think its an addiction in the way that Caffeine is an addiction, at least for me it is. I'm ticked if I can't get it, after a couple days Ill start to get a little frustrated, then after a week I wont even notice it.
ReplyDeleteI think it is only an addiction if you cannot live and go throughout the day without it. For example, I get on facebook and twitter almost everyday but when I am having a busy day.... I do not think about logging in. There are times when I get on the internet for something other than twitter or facebook and my fingers just start typing in facebook instead of what I was originally trying to type in. lol maybe a lite addiction....
ReplyDeleteRobert... interesting analogy. didn't think about it that way til now.
ReplyDeletelifeasAC... I belive it is more serious than that. I do plenty of things every day that I do not feel I am addicted to, including accessing the internet.
ReplyDeleteInternet addiction is real...I know a friend who is seeing a therapist about it. It leaves you with a sense of emptiness not being able to be connected. Your brain can only process so many close relationships. When you go beyond that threshold it messes with your mind.
ReplyDeleteBut what defines an addiction? I check facebook multiple times a day when I'm not doing anything. Does that make me an addict?
When it starts to interfere with your work and/or school as well as your relationships offline, then I you need to talk to someone about this.