Is Internet Additive - Essay Example

Is Internet Additive? The question of whether the Internet is addictive or otherwise is a topic that has continuously elicited debate from supporters and critics across the world in equal measure In terms of technology, the internet is the fastest growing and invaluable technological tool that has been utilized by the highest number of people across the world due to its ability to give a wide search platform for various information, and as a socialization tool through social networking among other activities. According to Miller and Brewer (40), in mid 2001 almost 60% of people from the United States and Canada were thought to use the web for the purpose of finding information. At present, the percent age has grown tremendously affirming that internet in indeed addictive. What is addiction? According to Tsitsika et al., (98), addiction is the act of being dependence on substance, thing or an activity. In most cases, a person cannot detach him or herself from addiction without receiving assistance from other people such as the medical practitioners, parents and/ or support groups. Apparently, the actual definition of internet addiction has not yet been identified since it is the newest phenomenon that is related to technology. Nevertheless, the lack of a clear definition does not mean that people do not suffer from addiction. In fact, a substantial percentage of people have been unable to detach themselves from using the internet on daily basis or even shorter spans of hourly basis depending on accessibility. Some internet addictions such as online shopping addictions and online gambling have been on the top of the internet addictive list especially in the western countries where internet accessibility is higher as compared to other parts of the world (Tsitsika et al 100) As such, sociologists have argued that there must be a clear indication of an addiction that is not confused with a prolonged habit for individuals to be referred to as addicts. In most cases, addictions have been said to negatively influence their victims’ life, interpersonal relationships, work and emotional health (Miller and Brewer 48). Furthermore, the sociologists argue that internet addiction has common signs such as individuals having their minds preoccupied when online and even when away from the internet, not being time conscious when using the internet, and having mood fluctuations when not using the internet. In a general sense, people who spend most of their time on the internet doing all sorts of activities might at a point suffer from an internet addiction disorder that is entirely based on their emotional behavior (McCormick and Kim 52). Generally speaking, internet addiction is a psychological issue that tends to affect even the physical wellbeing of those who use it. Some of the physical symptoms include severe headaches, pronounced weight gain or weight loss, disturbances during sleep, strained vision among other symptoms that vary depending on the period of time people use the internet. Kuss and Griffiths (349) articulate that there could be other symptoms that are not common but are experienced by internet addicts as well such as salience, tolerance conflicts and relapse. Causes of internet addiction According to Torres and Ari (43), experts have established two major causes of internet addiction namely; personality traits causes and social causes. Personality trait causes revolve around the preoccupation of online addiction in the same manner people would be preoccupied by activities such as alcohol, drugs and other related addictions. Moreover, people with different mix of addictive personality, poor emotional health and other factors such as life stressors are at a higher risk of becoming internet addicts. It is worth noting that given people might use the internet to best demonstrate their personality traits on emotional issues that affect them. With time they might end up becoming internet addicts as they try to find solace to their problems in reference to specific personality trait or traits that individuals have. For instance, an individual might decided to stay behind a computer for a whole day just like he would stay in a drinking den consuming alcohol. Here, the issue is tending to react on different activities by using a particular personal trait. Conversely, internet addiction might be socially caused by the social relationships that likely form through the internet. Basically, some people have managed to form online relationships that end up being beneficial and healthy to their social life. Moreover, some people take the advantage of creating social forum online through social networking and other forums, which could be used for relaxation chats and advices too. However, Kuss and Griffiths (356) argue that people who suffer from internet addictive disorders are capable of overdoing their emotional attachment with their counterparts. As a result, they end up becoming detached from the real world and instead becoming more attached to the internet resulting to numerous anti-social behaviors that are easily noticed by the rest of the society. Besides, online relationships seem to be more attractive to some people because they are less demanding and less risky compared to people in the real world (Shelly and Vermaat 56). At the same time, supporters of internet addiction argue that internet socialization give people the chance to deviate from their real lives and concentrate more on their emotional contacts that they hardly get in real life. In referenced to the question posed on whether internet is additive, it is clear with the above causes that addiction is much stronger as an argument than non-addiction. Effect of Addiction on Health According to Trinkle (91) internet provides both proper and improper information to people across the world. As such, what matters most is how people utilize it. Needless to say, peoples use the internet differently at different times. On one hand, some people might use the internet exclusively for education where they might research on issues that increase their knowledge on various perspectives. Additionally, some people might use the internet for easier communication with family and friends who might be far from them. According to Kuss and Griffiths (351) study carried out on a group of youth aged between 19- 23 years pertaining to gaming, it was established that there was an activation of neural circuitries that were involved in reward and addiction in the experimental condition. The result further stipulated that male participants were confirmed to have a larger activation and connectivity in function as compared to female participants especially during gaming. On the other hand, there could be improper use of internet especially on the entertainment segment, which gives various options to work with. Basically, improper internet use revolves around the excessive use of time on a computer engaging in activities such as cybersex and pornography, online gambling among other activities. Such improper activities on the internet are mostly influenced by the fact that able people spend adequate time engaging in such activities in the privacy of their homes, hence engaging in fantasies that are hardly accessible in real life (Roberts 14). Importantly, the age of people using the internet also determines whether people are mostly using the internet in a healthy or an unhealthy manner. In a study conducted by Kuss and Griffiths (347-374) youths between 19 – 23 years of age have been confirmed to constitute a higher per cent of victims of improper internet use as compared to other age groups. Similar arguments have stipulated that this age group have serious emotional challenges, which compel them to seek solace on the internet especially through improper manner. Conversely, the proper internet usage is mostly associated with the older age group, which basis its focus and energy on education and related issues. Of most importance is that the proper aspect of internet addiction prevails over the improper aspect. Risks factors that influence internet addiction Although expert have continuously argued that there must be more to a habit in order to refer to it as an addiction, several factors have been noted to cause risks to internet users. Tsitsika (112) articulates that people who suffer from anxiety might decide to take refuge from the internet in order to distract themselves from emotional challenges they might be experiencing such as worries and fears. Moreover, some people might be suffering from anxiety disorder, which involves obsessive internet uses. People who lack support from their families and other social circles may decide to seek alternative social support from the internet through social networking sites, online gaming among other activities. People who are less mobile and antisocial may tend to utilise their time on the internet, and when more time is spent on the internet such people eventually become internet addicts. For instance, some people might be parenting young children and as such might be compelled to remain in the house for a given period of time. Furthermore, having ascertained that the highest percentage of internet use and addiction come from youth, most of them could be experiencing a certain period where they feel that they are not satisfied with who they are neither are they sure of their identity. As such, they might decide to take solace in the internet to seek for answers for what they perceive as challenge in their life. For instance, a spouse in a rock marriage might decide to take on the internet for pornography in order search for satisfaction (Roberts 6) Facing the reality of internet addiction In the 21st Century, it is quitechallenging to tamper and ignore technological advancement especially the internet. In light of this, the world must learn to cope with internet addiction, its influences and the effects as well. In terms of influence, the internet is an all –round social tool that has made communication much easier and convenient (Harrington 5) Tendency to depend on the internet According to McCormick and Kim (54) modern society is argued to comprise of people who are not ready to look elsewhere for information, communication and even entertainment. In fact, the highest populations have a notion that the internet has the solution to basically everything in life. Due to this, people have developed an over- reliance that results to addiction. Besides, it is no longer possible to control internet accessibility to anybody since even a five year old is capable of accessing the internet depending on the part of the world he /she is in. On the other hand, technology has offered numerous alternative to internet addiction such television sets, cinemas among other entertainment gadget.Additionally, educative information could be gathered from field research other than having to always use the internet. Interestingly, most of the information found in the internet is secondary placed after completion of real research on various issues around the world. Notion of quantity According to Harrington (9), most consumers of services look at quantity in the service they need in order to determine if they will need the service or otherwise. Thus, internet is one of the many services that are required by people across the world since it is capable of ensuring that loads of information can be retrieved at once. Experts have predicted the decrease in internet cost as technologycontinues to advance across the world. With such deliberations, the affordability of internet will increase its usage across all age groups since quantity will be guaranteed at all times, a situation that is most thought to go overboard to become ‘misuse’ Dealing with Internet addiction Consequently, internet addiction has been presumed as a disorder that could be treated through therapy. According to Roberts (12), once a person is confirmed to have internet addiction it is advisable to participate in a behavior psychology therapy most preferably the Cognitive Behavior Therapy. This therapy ensures that systematic ways are used to stop compulsive behaviors that have been influenced by internet addiction. Moreover, it ensures that patients begin changing their perception regarding the internet, and computer use as well. In a general sense, Cognitive Behavior Therapy is meant to take the patient through a behavior therapy that encourages them to practice and maintain a positive behavior in their activities and cope with the numerous emotional challenges that they face in life. However, married people who are suffering from internet addiction disorder require marriage counseling in order detach from the disorder and reconnect with their partners. Unfortunately, there are no current support groups for internet addiction like there is for other kind of addictions such as alcoholism and sex. Thus, internet addicts could use the few that are found on the internet though they require caution (Kuss and Griffiths 356) Parents with children especially teenagers have the responsibility of ensuring that their access to internet is monitored frequently. Parents should give their opinion towards the use of internet, and why it should be used for healthy purposes and not otherwise. Through this, children will understand the necessity to use the internet rather than the urge to use it for unhealthy purposes and end up becoming addicts (Harrington 7). At the same time, people who consider themselves as internet addicts should come up with self-regulation tips that are aimed at reducing the addition. For instance, individuals might decide to engage more in socializing with people in real life, designate specific time to use the internet and further seek alternative means of communication and entertainment that is mainly found in the internet (Graham and William 36) Pertaining to the above reasons, it could be argued that internet is an addictive social and communication tool that leaves its victim with a serious disorder that ought to be treated through therapy , support and self-regulations where necessary to prevent the world from becoming internet zombie. Works Cited: Tsitsika, Artemis., et al. articulates that Internet Addition: A public Health Concern in Adolesence (Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Health)Nova Publishers, 2013.Print. Miller, Robert and Brewer, John. The A - Z of Social Research: A Dictionary of Key Social Science Research Concepts. London [u.a.: SAGE, 2003. Print. McCormick, Charlie and Kim, White. Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print. Kuss,Daria and Griffiths, Mark. Internet and Gaming Addiction: A systematice Literature Review of Neuroimaging studies. Brain science, 2 (2012): 347-374.Print. Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Graham, Mark, and William Dutton. Society and the Internet: How Networks of Information and Communication Are Changing Our Lives, 2014. Print. Harrington, Jan. Technology and Society. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2009. Print. Roberts, Kevin J. Cyber Junkie: Escape the Gaming and Internet Trap. Center City, Minn: Hazelden, 2010. Print. Shelly, Gary and Vermaat, Misty. Discovering computers 2009: complete. Boston, Mass : Thomson Course Technology, 2008. Print. Torres, Carlos A, and Ari Antikainen. The International Handbook on the Sociology of Education: An International Assessment of New Research and Theory. Lanham, Md: Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 2003. Print. Trinkle, Dennis. The History Highway: A 21st Century Guide to Internet Resources. Armonk, N.Y [u.a.: M.E. Sharpe, 2006. Print. Read More