INTERNET ADDICTION
University of the PhilippinesCollege of Education
Educational Technology Department
EDTECH 101 – Instructional Media Resources
Ferdinand B. Pitagan, PhDProfessor of Education
ICT growthICT growth ICTICT – – IInformation and nformation and CCommunications ommunications TTechnologyechnology- fast growth worldwide -- computers, Internet, mobile fast growth worldwide -- computers, Internet, mobile
phones phones - marketmarket- Providers targeting youth Providers targeting youth - Schools introducing ICT in educationSchools introducing ICT in education
See See http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm
Teens -- Over 90% Use the Internet for new information -- Over 70% use instant messaging to keep in touch - Over 50% contact strangers on the net - Over 40% post own information online to be contacted - Over 30% experienced cyberbullying
Overall - 25% of retail stock trades on the Internet - Over 90% Internet users, online shopping (Korea, UK, Germany, Japan, US) - 87% of print journalists connected to the Internet -
-Sources - Lenhart, Simon & Graziano, 2001; Jung, 2003; 2007 Pew/Internet research; 2008 Nielsen
ICT GrowthICT Growth
ICT growthICT growth
Today’s wired / wireless Today’s wired / wireless life life
A bed of roses ?A bed of roses ?
A bed of thorns ?A bed of thorns ?
Both!!Both!!
Some facts (Japan)
20% of families with teens suffer from 20% of families with teens suffer from children’s internet dependency (2003)children’s internet dependency (2003)
35%35% online while resting (2004) online while resting (2004)
21%21% online while studying or working (2004) online while studying or working (2004)
--- Declared Internet Addiction as an Illness--- Declared Internet Addiction as an Illness
http://www.johotsusintokei.soumu.go.jp/whitepaper/eng/WP2004/press_information01.pdfSee (4) Trends in Internet Usage (Japan) – 1 page handout
13.7% of Chinese adolescent Internet users – about 10 million teens - meet Internet addiction diagnostic criteria (2007)
Law: Restricting computer game use; discourage more than 3 hours of daily
game use
Some facts (China)Some facts (China)
Some facts (Korea)Some facts (Korea)
Up to 30 percent of South Koreans under 18, or about 2.4 million people, are at risk of Internet addiction (2007)
Average high school students - 23 hours each week gaming
<< Internet addiction, one of most serious public health issues>>
National level – Center for Internet Addiction Prevention and Counseling (2003)
Institution/school level - 1,043 counselors in the treatment of Internet addiction; enlisted over 190 hospitals and treatment centers; prevention measures into schools
http://www.johotsusintokei.soumu.go.jp/whitepaper/eng/WP2004/press_information01.pdf
Some facts (UK and USA, 1998 - 2004)
1. A study of 445 Internet users in UK --- Most addicts - around 30 years old women
2. A study of 496 Internet users by Young (USA)--- 396 classified as dependent users--- middle-aged women and unemployed
• Recent studies – Teens are in danger!!
• Addicts tend to use chat rooms/online dating, pornography, email, e-shopping, web surfing, online gaming
Calling time per day
none10%
0~1min15%
1~5hours39%
b/t 5 – 15 min15%
Over 15 min21%
Number of Sending & Receiving mails per day
~515%
5~2049%
20~5031%
50~1005%
Source: 2005 ETC100 class
StudiesStudies(ICU, 2005 a small scale study)(ICU, 2005 a small scale study)
39%, Use Mobile 1 – 5 hours
31%, M-Emailing20 – 50 times
Complications in Diagnosing Internet Addiction
Issue #1: Internet, not drugs
Issue #2: Internet, Useful tool
Issue #3: Difficult to diagnose (degree of dependency?)
Check Level of Internet dependency
http://www.netaddiction.com/index.php?option=com_bfquiz&view=onepage&catid=46&Itemid=106
Problem Solving: Discussion
Why is this issue important?Why is this issue important?
Academic problems
Academic problems
Familial proble
ms Occupational problems
Occupational problems
Emotional, cognitive, behavioral changes
What can you do to help What can you do to help Internet / Mobile dependents?Internet / Mobile dependents?
Well…Well…
Some solutionsSome solutionsControlle
d UseControlle
d Use
External stoppersExternal stoppers
Time management
Set goals
Reminder cards
Personal inventory
Abstinence
Time management
Set goals
Reminder cards
Personal inventory
AbstinenceClinic
Support group
Family therapy
Clinic
Support group
Family therapy