Internet Users Turn Into Addictes Essay, Research Paper

Internet Users turn into Addicts

As I sit here and look across the street, I see my neighbor in front of his own computer; the screen glowing against the window behind him. He does not use his personal computer for work, he is a farmer. He has become what is known as an “Internet Junky”. Internet means a network of networks, a super highway that links online services and computer networks at companies, universities, and government agencies all around the world. Internet usage has become very popular with in the past years. It is used for entertainment, communication and resources. It has become an important tool which many people have in their homes and children as well as adults are able to use it. The Internet plays a very important role in technology today, however there can be many negative aspects of Internet usage which can lead to addiction. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is a big threat to users. It has symptoms that can mislead your life, family and job. Some symptoms users have are as follows, anxiety, psychomotor agitation and persistent desire to go on the net. The Internet is rapidly becoming an addictive source. The users may not be aware of this since it begins slowly.

The addiction begins innocently. At the start, you are not even aware of the possibilities that may form from your excessive computer use. You begin to take an avid interest in e-mailing with your friends and family. Once the novelty of keeping in touch through e-mail wears off, and researching starts to bore you, you may possibly expand your computer usage to chatting. Internet usage is becoming more acceptable in our lives, but it is looked down upon by many skeptics. Chatting through the Internet involves choosing an appropriate nickname for yourself, such as Hotstuff, and then finding a chat room of interest. Once you entered that chat room, other fellow chatters may say, “Hello…a/s/l (age/sex/location) please.” These are a few of the negative aspects of internet usage which can lead to addiction. The user may not be aware of this since it begins slowly.

Once you become involved in meeting online, it is difficult to break such a habit. You may even make a daily habit of it. I think people have been found to carry out exactly the same behavior, not only in the United States, but also through out the world. The Internet plays a very important role in technology today. In any one chat room, you may come across people from five different countries around the globe. Granted, not everyone stays online for hours on end and involved in chatting, but it is more often than not the cause for the Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). The prevalence of Internet Addiction Disorder has been increasing in number. There is even a support group, The Internet Addiction Support Group (IASG). This has been developed because IAD or maladaptive pattern for Internet use, is leading to impairment and/or distress. These are more negative aspects of Internet usage, which can be addictive. If an internet user experiences three or more of the following behaviors within a one year time period, they are considered to have IAD. These are a need for markedly increased amounts of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction, markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on Internet and reduction in Internet use which has been prolonged.

Symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder include: Psychomotor agitation, anxiety, obsessive thinking about what is happening on Internet, fantasies or dreams about the Internet, and voluntary or involuntary typing movements of the fingers. These symptoms begin to cause conflict in social, occupational, or another important areas of functioning. People who become addicted use the Internet to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, which are similar to those brought on by the abrupt withdrawal from drug use. The disorder is recognized by the persistent desire or the unsuccessful efforts to minimize the Internet use. These symptoms are negative aspects of the Internet usage. ABC news reported that an “Internet crazed” Cincinnati woman was arrested for neglecting her three young children. The woman reportedly spent 12 straight hours online, while her hungry kids were locked away in a room so that she could be online without interruption.

The Internet is rapidly becoming an addictive source to many of its users. Users of the Internet include students, housewives, and business professionals. Some of these users spend a minimum of thirty-eight hours per week on the “net”; hence, losing touch with reality and reeking havoc on their studies, families’ lives, and even their careers.

Based on level of addiction, there are three groups of Internet addicts, the I’m-not-addicted-users, the I-only-use-it-when-I-have-to-users, and the “Internet Junkies.” The “I’m not addicted users” are those who try to convince themselves that they are not addicted to the Internet. This group includes college students who do not go online during the day to prove to fellow classmates that they can do without getting online; only, to stay up all night in a chat room. College students are not the only people who fit in this category, it is beginning to touch all views of society. The “I only use it when I have to users”, are those who make convenient excuses to go online. And finally, the “Internet Junkies” are unlike the addicts in the previous two groups, neither sneak online nor make excuses to get online. They put their lives on hold while engrossed with their computer usage.

People who seem addicted to the Internet often show signs of psychiatric disorders such as, manic-depression. Psychiatrist Nathan Shapira of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, studied 14 people who had spent so much time online, that the negative aspects of the Internet caused problems at home, job loss, and flunking out of school. Nine of the 14 people studied, were found to be manic-depression at the time of the interview; half of the users had anxiety disorder such as “social phobia”; while three suffered from eating disorders; four had uncontrollable burst of anger; and eight had abused alcohol or drugs at some time in their life.

The Internet plays a very important role in technology, today however, there can be many negative aspects of internet usage which can lead to addiction. People with no prior sign of psychiatric trouble have gotten hooked on the Internet. It is avoidable, but still many people fall into the addictive track, just as if it were smoking, drinking, or any other habitual behavior. The addiction can attack anyone of any age. It can be as simple as spending too much time with e-mail, becoming overly involved in the chat rooms or just surfing the net. IAD has become so prevalent that psychiatrist have had to address the disorder with a name and symptoms. The computer is a helpful source in our lives, but one must be careful not to let the Internet usage take over. Today’s youth lives with the Internet as a daily part of their lives. Chatting in the evenings and on the weekends is listed among the usual activities, just like sporting events and shopping. Help is available, but don’t get yourself tangled into the addiction. It’s hard to break once you have gotten yourself wound into the habit. Good luck fellow Internet users…