Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

In:

Submitted By arsjna052406
Words 713
Pages 3
The internet has become a staple in most people’s lives. We can do everything from the comfort and safety of our homes, including grocery shop, pay bills, and keep in touch with family. While most of the time the internet is a helpful tool it has begun to cause a problem in our society. Internet addiction is becoming a larger and larger issue. The US Census Bureau estimated that $126,697 of the over $3 billion in retail sales was performed online in 2007 (Hou). Websites like Facebook and Twitter have blown up among teens and young adults. To put it in perspective, Facebook saw 24,940 visitors in 2008 but in 2010 that number jumped to 171,109 (Hou). Smartphones and other portable devices have made the internet more accessible to us as well. With phones like the iPhone and Android people can access Facebook and other websites from wherever they are. Researchers showed that about 30.8 percent of smartphone owners accessed social networking sites on their phones in 2010. (Hou) With this amount of technology available at our fingertips we sometimes forget about the real world. Internet addiction something we must watch for in our society, and many of its symptoms mock those chemical dependency. Internet addiction can cause withdrawal, mood swings and strained relationships with friends and family. (Hou) The typical person who suffers from internet addiction is single, white college educated male who spends approximately 30 hours on non-essential computer tasks like Facebook and online gaming. (Hou)
The question then becomes, what do we need to do to make sure that internet addiction does not become a pandemic in the United States? Right now there are no clear policies in place to deal with this problem. This must change and quickly if we want to end the cycle of internet addicted teens and young adults. There are a few steps we can take to help cut down on internet

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

...Historical Analysis Paper: Internet Addiction- A Rising Issue The number of Internet users has intensely went up over the years due to the growing accessibility of the Internet. In 2009 the amount of time Americans spent online increased by over a hundred percent from 2004. China, Japan, the United States, Brazil and India are currently the countries containing the largest populations of Internet users world-wide. The countries most plagued with Internet Addiction Disorder include mainly the countries within the continent of Asia such as China and South Korea as well as Northern America, United States (Conrad). Internet addiction has become a serious problem that is progressively modifying the brain structure and function for persons addicted. Like other forms of addiction, the Internet addiction results from the excessive usage of the computer and other internet enabled technological devices which causes increased dependency. Psychological issues and Mental disorders generally tend to lead individuals towards various forms of addictions and exacerbates their illness; this can happen in the reverse chronological order as well. College students are more likely to be disposed towards Internet Addiction because of their developing minds at that stage and the increasing role the Internet plays in the academic world. Scientists are currently researching for more and more efficient treatments for this Internet Addiction Disorder or IAD, but hey must initially be able to correct...

Words: 1999 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

...of the 20th century. The Internet has revolutionized the information and communication flow of people, changing the way we interact with others, gather and disseminate information, do business, express and entertain ourselves. Yet, for all its benefits, the Internet has also been identified as an accessory to issues including extra-marital affairs, pornography, and gambling. There also appears to be a growing concern, especially in Asia, for what has been labeled “Internet addiction.” In particular, certain Asian countries report it as a serious public health issue. Liu Guiming, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Society of Juvenile Delinquency Research, has been quoted as saying "the growing number of youth infatuated with unhealthy Web sites and campus violence has become an urgent social problem.” A leading Beijing judge, Shan Xiuyun, also declared that 90 per cent of juvenile crime in the city was Internet-related” (Sebag-Montefiore, 2005).As a result of these concerns, governments in South Korea, Japan and China have set up boot camps, which provide therapy to deal with Internet addiction (Ransom, 2007). China has also issued a ban on new Internet cafes to clamp down on Internet addiction (Watts, 2007). Yet, there are those who doubt whether this outcry is justified or even valid. An article in the American Psychological Association newsletter suggests that there is little empirical evidence to support the existence of Internet addiction and much of the research...

Words: 8510 - Pages: 35

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

...Internet Addiction In today's world, most Americans use the internet daily for daily needs. It has become very common to go online because it makes research and socializing easier. The internet is a great place for social networking and meeting or communicating with people across the world. Nicholas Carr, author of the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, claims that using the internet can make people less intelligent. After spending a number of days researching on the topic of internet use, I have came to agree with Carr. I not only agree with him, that using the internet does make internet users less intelligent, I also believe that using the internet too often can make a person addicted to the internet. Once a person is addicted to the internet, they not only become less intelligent, like Carr believes, but they also develop mental and psychological problems. People should be more aware of internet addiction. The signs and symptoms should not be avoided when someone sees themself in the addiction situation. Once they become addicted, it is like a real drug, it will pull them in slowly and be hard to get away from. DSM IV and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) define addiction in terms of substance dependence or pathological gambling. To define internet addiction, it would be someone that meets at least three of the following criteria: tolerance, salience, withdrawal symptoms, difficulty controlling use, continued use despite negative consequences...

Words: 1546 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

...Save Malaysian Youths from Internet Addiction The Internet, as we can see today, is playing a significant role in our daily lives. It has become an indispensable and irreplaceable communication tool especially to the youths. The Australian Communications and Media Authority [ACMA] (2007) states that the Internet has brought about a great change to the nature of adolescents’ discretionary activities since the introduction of the Internet to the general public in the early 1990s (Soh, 2011). The rate of growth of its user has been a remarkable record. According to Dholokia, Dholokia and Kshetri (2004), it took only three years for the Internet to attain 50 million users, unlike the radio and the television, which took 38 years and 13 years respectively (Soh, 2011). Similar to the other technological inventions such as the mobile phone and the television, Internet was originally invented to enlighten the life of human by making the access of information as well as communication easier. However, due to the extreme convenience of the Internet, people tend to rely on it too much and spend too much time on it. Eventually, they became addicted to the Internet and this is how the Internet addiction starts. The popularity of the Internet in Malaysia can be seen clearly from a statistic given by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission [MCMC] in 2004 and 2010, which shows how rapid the rate of usage of the Internet in Malaysia increase. According to the statistic, there...

Words: 1585 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction

...Internet has been the boom for people in the last decade. Small category of people will take the fact with disagreement that everyone enjoys to do most of their life work in the most easiest and flexible way possible. Ease and Flexibility is what Internet has enormously provided to the world regardless of profession or comfort based activity. Nowadays internet is widely used by the business world for conducting their daily household and by individuals people to interact, learn and enjoy. Now almost everything can be done online. There is absolutely no doubt that Internet does give a lot of convenience to the humanity. This essay will work out in great detail the darker side of internet and its implications on the individuals and the community in general. Different generations vary from various ages are ready to take the adventure into the online world of computers networks and the internet, when the government begins rapidly introducing the use of internet worldwide, Many users employ the perils of internet and use it positively only but others are victims to the dark side of internet. Generally people who are lured into the dark work internet are usually classify as Internet addicts. Addiction could be defined as the condition of being habitually or obsessively busy with or involved in something. Mostly alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking, gambling and watching television etc. are all addictions cases. Previous research shows that internet can also be addictive [Griffiths...

Words: 408 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Internet Addiction

...Discussion on the Problem of Online Game Addiction After 30 years of development, the internet has become one of the most influential technical achievements of 20th century, which has had an crucial impact on all walks of life. Nowadays, internet technology and its application has become an important indicator of measuring comprehensive national power. As we know, Internet offers many conveniences. As a result ,it has made many people depend on it. What is worse, a large number of people have become addicted,especially to online game addiction.By2007,the population of online gamers worldwide was about 217 million, approximately 28 percent of the total online population(comScore,2007).In addition, online game addiction is prevalent in many countries, including China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, U.S., and Canada. In South Korea,2.4 percent of the population, ages nine to thirty-nine, were believed to be addicted to online games, and over 10 percent could be classified as obsessive gamers(Faiola,2006). In this essay, firstly I will talk about how the internet applies to daily life and alters modern life. Then list the problems which occurred with the development of internet. After that ,I will analysis the reasons why they are addicted to online games. Finally, I put forward the impact and suggestions for solving the problem. The internet influences every part of our daily life, it includes the patterns of doing business activities, and the uses for recreation such as sending...

Words: 1334 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Addiction (Internet and Games)

...Addiction is one of the things that undermines traditional values. It puts the person’s health at risk and alters his behaviour dramatically. One of the most underestimated addiction in today’s society is online gaming. Online gaming addiction is the excessive use of computer and video games that interferes with so called normal life (Chan, 2006). Although taking risks and experimenting with a variety of activities is considered normal, those who are at high risk of being dependent of this addiction are more prone to engage in sensation-seeking behaviours (Mehroof and Griffiths, 2010). The transtheoretical model of behaviour change outlines the person’s precontemplation and contemplation stage of having this type of addiction. When a person is in the precontemplation, the first stage of the transtheoretical model of behaviour change, he does not consider his behaviour to be a problem. This is because he has not yet experience any negative consequence of his behaviour or it is a result of denial about the impacts of the behaviour. Segana et al. (2006) suggested that a person on this stage is often not interested in hearing about the negative consequences or advice to quit his addiction. The person usually considers his addictive behaviour as a pleasant experience at this point. An addict of online gaming at precontemplation stage is often in denial of his behaviour. He ignores comments from family and friends and spends more time on the computer to hide emotional loneliness...

Words: 1355 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction Essay

...Assignment 2.2 I believe the writer of Internet Addiction, Greg Beato intended on making his audience aware of how scary society is becoming with the strenuous need of internet and technology. Mr. Beato does a great job of pointing out several statistics, research, and even gives brief short stories that are funny, ridiculous, and also very sad that helps him accomplish catching the reader’s attention if not scaring them on how much we are becoming addicted to the internet. Mr. Beato also brings up addiction to gaming quite often throughout this article. Although the internet and gaming coincide with each other it seems he used one of these terrible stories to also touch base on his view of violent video games. I felt confused on his purpose at some parts of the article. Is it the video games or internet? Or maybe he was just using the claim of the “Xbox Shooter” to help scare the audience more on addiction. The article has many scare tactics that I thought went quite overboard. Statements such as “As the Internet weaves itself more and more tightly into our lives, only the Amish are completely safe.” Or that “Where employees who view porn at work are legally protected from termination.” Maybe Mr. Beato was just trying to be funny at these parts, but if he was then it was an “EPIC FAIL” as many gamers like myself would say. To me those scenarios are just very radical views. Mr. Beato does achieve a purpose, and makes many excellent points in the article. Not without making...

Words: 361 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Internet and Computer Addiction

...INTRODUCTION While time spent online can be hugely productive, compulsive Internet use can interfere with daily life, work, and relationships. When you feel more comfortable with your online friends than your real ones, or you can’t stop yourself from playing games, gambling, or compulsively checking your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device—even when it has negative consequences in your life—then you may be using the Internet too much. Learn about the signs and symptoms of Internet addiction and how to balance your life online and off. ------------------------------------------------- What is Internet addiction or computer addiction? Internet Addiction, otherwise known as computer addiction, online addiction, or Internet addiction disorder (IAD), covers a variety of impulse-control problems, including:  * Cybersex Addiction – compulsive use of Internet pornography, adult chat rooms, or adult fantasy role-play sites impacting negatively on real-life intimate relationships. * Cyber-Relationship Addiction – addiction to social networking, chat rooms, texting, and messaging to the point where virtual, online friends become more important than real-life relationships with family and friends. * Net Compulsions – such as compulsive online gaming, gambling, stock trading, or compulsive use of online auction sites such as eBay, often resulting in financial and job-related problems.  * Information Overload – compulsive web surfing or database searching, leading...

Words: 406 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Internet Addiction By Maria Konnova

...We all want to feel connected, but some of have trouble recognizing the line between normal longing for human connection and unhealthy addiction to outside validation. Maria Konnikova asserts the is the main catalyst in internet addiction; lack of connectivity. Though commonly ignored as a valid illness, research suggests internet addiction is one of the most prominent and contemporary forms of behavior addiction, for this same reason. Drawing from an uncontrollable urge to simulate “Connection” over the internet, internet addiction is modern plague and though not credited in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) Maria Konnikova claims it is a very real issue, and presents convince research to support her claim.. Kolmova is onto something...

Words: 336 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Today's Teenagers and Internet Addiction

...com, which began as a social networking site, but which now is ‘a nightclub open 24 hours a day, seven days a week’. Myspace currently receives more daily visits than Google and Amazon. The site has 40 million members worldwide, each using their personal page to email and post bulletins, blogs and photos of themselves. It is precisely that creation of identity which has made it such a teen sensation. It's like a voluntary Big Brother. For millions of teenagers, the Internet is like a drug. And the madness of the Internet and of adolescent hormones can be an especially potent combination. On one occasion, fourteen-year-old Kara met 18-year-old David on Myspace. The relationship, which began as a friendship, intensified on the site. When her parents, who opposed the relationship, tried to cut off her online access to him, her parents were shot dead by the boy. The Internet fuels fantasy. You can be an Internet warrior, an Internet seductress. Kids are using these sites to act out fantasy. On the Internet, you are allowed the chance to be the best. Besides, lonely, unpopular or troubled teenagers get online and play the roles they want to be. It doesn't matter if anyone is actually reading their postings or not: it just feels good to let it all out, and see it archived...

Words: 253 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

How Has the Internet Affected Sex Addiction

...Running head: How has the Internet Affected Sex Addiction How has the Internet Affected Sex Addiction Edward Vega Jr. National University Abstract Sex addicts have plenty to struggle without adding the access to their wildest fantasies. That is what the Internet has given them. Addicts can get online and search pornography, cybersex sites and sites where they can find people to meet up with. The Internet makes it that much easier for sex addicts because just like any other addict they are ashamed of their addiction but with the Internet they do not have to worry about it cause they can do whatever they want from the comfort of their own home. What we need to understand is that sex addicts are not born sex addicts. Some sort of abuse had to happen while they were children. How has the Internet Affected Sex Addiction There are lots of different addictions in the world that people are dealing with, from drug alcohol and gambling. The addiction that I am going to focus on is sex addiction. Sex addiction has been around for as long as any other addiction and is just as serious. However since the Internet has become bigger and better we can do anything we can imagine, so how has the internet affected sex addiction? “The terms "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex” (WebMd). The following behavior patterns can indicate the presence of sexual addiction: Out of control sexual behavior;...

Words: 2200 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Internet Addiction

...permutation In mathematics, the notion of permutation is used with several slightly different meanings, all related to the act of permuting (rearranging) objects or values. Informally, a permutation of a set of objects is an arrangement of those objects into a particular order. For example, there are six permutations of the set {1,2,3}, namely (1,2,3), (1,3,2), (2,1,3), (2,3,1), (3,1,2), and (3,2,1). One might define an anagram of a word as a permutation of its letters. The study of permutations in this sense generally belongs to the field of combinatorics. The number of permutations of n distinct objects is n×(n − 1)×(n − 2)×...×2×1, which number is called "n factorial" and written "n!". Permutations occur, in more or less prominent ways, in almost every domain of mathematics. They often arise when different orderings on certain finite sets are considered, possibly only because one wants to ignore such orderings and needs to know how many configurations are thus identified. For similar reasons permutations arise in the study of sorting algorithms in computer science. In algebra and particularly in group theory, a permutation of a set S is defined as a bijection from S to itself (i.e., a map S → S for which every element of S occurs exactly once as image value). This is related to the rearrangement of S in which each element s takes the place of the corresponding f(s). The collection of such permutations form a symmetric group. The key to its structure is the possibility...

Words: 440 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Essay About Internet Addiction

...from younger grades for prolonged use of electronics. Electronic devices may include laptops, computer games, cellular phones as well as any access to the internet. It is compulsory for pupils in Oakhill High School to bring a device to school, for educational purposes. The researcher is concerned about the health impact, as well as the impact on a student’s education due to possible uncontrollable electronic device use. Humans have struggled with addictions for thousands of years. With addiction being such an easily susceptible condition, the majority of our society live through an addiction, may it be drugs, alcohol or even gambling, during some...

Words: 1440 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Internet Dating and Games Addiction

...The internet dating and games addiction Xu Fangzhou PRE SESSIONAL COURSE July 2011 The Language Centre EFL Unit University of Glasgow Introduction The purpose of using the internet is to facilitate the prosperous of business and organization; the purpose of using the internet as a way of social communication remains strong and increase continuously. Concurrently, young people are encountering others online and establishing interpersonal romantic relationships through this modern way. Internet dating indicated as the processes of introducing to potential dates through an internet dating service and knows other individuals through email, chat, and other available services and possibly developing the online relationship into the "real world" by dating in person (Baker, 2002, 367). The main purpose of this essay is to investigate how people use the internet to build relationships especially internet dating and discuss problems which arise from internet dating. It will also cover the addiction of computer games among young people which cause a great deal of social problems. Firstly, it will note the problems caused through the internet and then make suggestion which might be suitable. Then, it identifies which solutions are more suitable. Internet dating Many young people are tired of encountering potential dates in bar and find other means of meeting potential friends and partners. Some singles turn to matchmaker services, dating services, and personal advertisements...

Words: 1163 - Pages: 5