Internet Addiction

INTERNET ADDICTION

BY MOHSINE WAHIB

Master programme

Computer Skills

Pr. BELFAKIR

OUTLINEIntroductionWhat is Addiction?What is Internet Addiction?Types of Internet AddictionWhat makes internet use

addictive?SymptomsConsequences

INTRODUCTION

With the growing importance of the

internet in everyday life, more and

more people are accessing various

on-line resources each day. The

world wide web is informative,

convenient, resourceful , fun, but

also potentially way for internet

addiction.

WHAT IS ADDICTION?

The term "addiction" is used in many

contexts to describe an obsession,

compulsion, or excessive psychological

dependence, such as: drug addiction (e.g.

alcoholism, nicotine addiction), problem

gambling, crime, money, work addiction,

compulsive overeating, Oniomania

(compulsive shopping),

computer addiction, video game addiction,

pornography addiction, television

addiction, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction

The term addiction is also sometimes applied

to compulsions that are not substance-

related, such as problem gambling and

computer addiction. In these kinds of

common usages, the term addiction is used

to describe a recurring compulsion by an

individual to engage in some specific activity,

despite harmful consequences, as deemed

by the user himself to his individual health,

mental state, or social life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction

WHAT IS INTERNET ADDICTION?

Studies on Internet addiction originated in the US by Dr. Kimberly Young, who presented

the first research on Internet addiction in 1996 at the American Psychological

Association’s annual conference held in Toronto in her paper “Internet Addiction: The

Emergence of a New Disorder”.

“ Internet addiction is defined as the compulsive urge to continually use the

Net, whether it be to spend hours surfing the Web, hang around in IRC

chatrooms, or play on-line games.”

In Book Reviews, Chris Mitchell Kimberly S. Young: Caught In The Net

Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction disorder

Computer Addiction

Compulsive Internet

Use

Pathological Internet Use

Internet Dependence

Internet Overuse

TYPES OF INTERNET

ADDICTION

Web surfer

Pornography/Cybersexual

Chat rooms/online dating/social networking

Gaming (video/computer) and online gambling

WHAT MAKES INTERNET USE

ADDICTIVE?

Peel (1991) “ It gives you feeling and gratifying sensations of pain, uncertainty, or discomfort. It may create powerfully distracting sensations that focus and absorb attention. It may enable a person to forget or feel “OK” about some insurmountable problems. It may provide an artificial, temporary feeling of security or calm, of self-worth or accomplishment, of power and control, or intimacy or belonging ”

PDF article by Dr. Kimberly S. Young: Internet Addiction: Symptoms, evaluation and treatment

It is accessible 24/7 It can be anonymous It feels secure It is easy to use It provides the illusion of connection It can be inexpensive It is fun and very engaging

SYMPTOMS

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Dry Eyes Headaches Back Aches Eating irregularities (skipping meals) Sleep disturbances Inability to stop the activity Neglect of family and friends Feeling empty, depressed, irritable when not

at the computer Problems with school or job Having a sense of well-being or euphoria

while at the computer

CONSEQUENCES

PHYSICAL SIDE-EFFECTS

Sleep depravation

Risk of carpal tunnel syndrome

Back strain

Eyestrain

Headaches

FAMILIAL PROBLEMS

Marriages

Dating relationships

Parent-child relationship

Close friendships

ACADEMIC PROBLEMS

More time is spent “researching” than actually completing assignments.

Incomplete or Missing Assignments

Inability to concentrate on real life instruction

Grades begin to decline

Skipping classes to stay in chat room

Absenteeism

MY THOUGHTS

I believe that everyone has some form of internet addiction. The severity of the addiction is what differs.

Technology plays a huge role in today’s society.We rely on the internet for information and other daily activities.Most jobs require the use of internet/computer for job-related functions.

The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is the first validated and reliable measure of addictive use of the Internet. Developed by Dr. Kimberly Young, the IAT is a 20-item questionnaire that measures mild, moderate, and severe levels of Internet Addiction.

IAT Activity

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS USING THIS SCALE:1= RARELY2= OCCASIONALLY3= FREQUENTLY4= OFTEN5= ALWAYS

1. How often do you find that you stay on-line longer than you intended?

2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on-line?

3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?

4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow on-line users?

5. How often do others in your life complain about the amount of time you spend on-line?

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS USING THIS SCALE:1= RARELY2= OCCASIONALLY3= FREQUENTLY4= OFTEN5= ALWAYS6. How often do your grades or school work suffer

because of the amount of time you spend on-line?

7. How often do you check your e-mail before something else that you need to do?

8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the internet?

9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on-line?

10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the internet?


11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go on-line again?

12. How often do you fear that life without the internet would be boring, empty, and joyless?

13. How often do you snap, tell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are on-line?

14. How often do you lose sleep due to late-night log-ins?

15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the internet when off-line, or fantasize about being on-line?


16. How often do you find yourself saying, “Just a few more minutes,” when on-line?

17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend on-line and fail?

18. How often do you try to hide how long you’ve been on-line?

19. How often do you choose to spend more time on-line over going out with others?

20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back on-line?

RESULTS 20-49 points: You are an average on-line

user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.

50-79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the internet. You should consider their full impact on your life.

80-100 points: Your internet usage is causing significant problems in your life. You should evaluate the impact of the internet on your life and address the problems directly caused by your internet usage.

Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998)

Control yourself !Use The Internet smart !

SOME USEFUL LINKS

The following includes links to resources that further discuss IAD.

This site gives a basic overview of the disorder and the debate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder

This site gives a more detailed overview of the disorder and discusses the symptoms, treatments, and other information:http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Internet-addiction-disorder.html

This is a link to an essay that provides information about the disorder. It goes into detail on the debate as well as characteristics of the disorder:http://www.files.chem.vt.edu/chem-dept/dessy/honors/papers/ferris.html

Here are links to the two most addicting sites:http://www.facebook.comhttp://www.myspace.com

Health & Medicine

Internet Addiction