• Computer addiction may seem absurd to some of us.
• Computer addiction is an international phenomenon.
• Computer addiction is no less than any other kind of addiction.
• Definition of computer addiction.
• The problem of computer addiction is aggravating.
• PC games and the Internet are the two most important factors that make computer addictive.

• PC games are one of the most enticing and addictive characteristics of the computers.
• Effects of PC games on children.
• PC games addiction is a phenomenon that is confined to children as well as old people.
• Effects of PC games on workers.

• Definition of Internet addiction.
• Argument about Internet addiction.

• Internet is addictive because of the facilities it offers.
• Internet is addictive because of the information available on it.
• Internet is addictive because of the pornography available on it.
• Internet is addictive because of online chatting.

• Chat rooms are addictive because they are a likely place for people who lack self-confidence.
• Chat rooms is addictive because some characteristics, like being attractive and loved, which people may fail to have in real life, could be offered by the Internet.
• Chat rooms are addictive because they are a likely place for those people who are not able to from relationships in real life.
• People may also be addicted to chat rooms because they are seeking the need for achievement and mastery.

• It will turn the day upside down, which will lead to undesirable effects.
• It will break up marriages and may cause marriage problems.
• It will lead to family problems and may affect our social lives.

• If you continue using the Internet after spending too much money for phone bills.
• If you feel inappropriate when you try to reduce your Internet use or when you lie to your parents about the hours you spend online.
• When you feel that the Internet has become a daily life activity.
• When you find it difficult to quit this hideous habit.
• When think about the Internet, and feel inappropriate, anxious and unsatisfied while you are offline.

• We should not allow such a machine to control our lives.
• There are many other activities we can do instead of playing computer games and logging on.

The 20th Century’s wonder:

The 20th century has witnessed great development in technology and innovation and creation have become integral parts of our lives. Computer, one of the 20th century wonders, have found an easy way to flourish among people as it received a wide acceptance from people ever since its first appearance on the market. It has made a revolution in the world of technology. The computer, a magic machine has dominated our lives in many ways and has become indispensable in our modern world. Computers play a role in storing a huge amount of data and retrieving it whenever needed. It can solve complicated equations in a very short time. Scholars and businessmen use computers to store information about their projects and experiments. Students use it to do research and teachers use it to enhance the process of teaching. It is used in the making of movies, and in moving trains. It can also serve as a compelling entertainer. If we feel bored, we can just turn the computer on and choose a game to play. We can log on to the Internet, to chat, to download songs, and search for information. For every new evolving technology, there are disadvantages. However, the disadvantages of computers are completely different from the disadvantages of any other technology. Computer disadvantages are related to a new kind of addiction: Computer addiction! Computer addiction has become a growing concern among many people nowadays as it has various negative effects on them.

Introducing the idea of getting addicted to computers:

We are all familiar with drug, alcohol, and sex addiction, but have we ever heard about computer addiction! This kind of addiction may sound absurd and implausible to some of us; however, it is an indisputable fact and we should concede that it exists in Egypt, and deal with it accordingly. Not only does it exist in Egypt, but in many other countries around the world as well; it is, actually an international phenomenon. However, some people doubt or deny its existence, although it has become a maddening problem among people nowadays. They often call computer addiction a "joke", as Stephen points out in his article “An Internet Addict Confesses.” He says, “People still think it’s a one big joke” (26). However, it is no less than any other kind of addiction. This type of addiction has flourished ever since computers have dominated our lives and has become a major threat.
People who are not familiar with such kind of addiction wonder what computer addiction means. When a person uses the computer everyday for an average of 5 hours per day or more, we call this behavior "computer addiction". For instance, if you spend more than 5 hours per day to play games or to be online, then you are a computer addict. The problem of computer addiction is aggravating as the number of addicts is increasing at a quick pace, but in an unnoticeable way. Maressa Hecht Orzack, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School (MA, USA) says that she is seeing many new patients who are suffering from Internet addiction, each week (qtd. in Mitchell, 632). Computer addiction is, actually a phenomenon that people and physiologists should carefully consider. PC games and the Internet are the most important factors that make computer addictive in the sense that people use the computer for a long time to play PC games and to be online. How computer addiction affects people is often represented in how the PC games and Internet addiction affects people.

PC Games –The First addictive computer characteristic:

Personal computer games (PC games) are one of the most enticing characteristics of the computers and the first factor that makes computer addictive. They have power to seduce people and fascinate their users through their fabulous 3D graphics and the way they represent real life. Our children have become addicts to PC games. Michele Carelse, a clinical psychologist, in her article entitled “Computer Games; Are They Harming Your Children?” says “Many of the children I see in my practice spend more than 20 hours a week playing computer games. Some children referred to me have clear signs of addiction to the computer games.” PC games have snatched away our children’s minds. To realize how this phenomenon of PC games’ addiction is dangerous, we have to consider their negative effects. Children’s academic work is seriously affected just because of the time they spend on playing games. Michele Carelse, showing the negative effects of PC games on children, says, “Up until recently there have been strong correlations found between excessive computer games and concentration and learning problems in children.” Parents are always worried about their children health, which is affected by computers. Children keep staring at the computer screen and reacting to the game they play often for many hours, which is unhealthy. Spending too much time in front of the computer screen leads to poor eyesight. In our modern world, PC games have become children’s best source of entertainment. Other games like cards and monopoly have become obsolete, in the minds of children.
PC games addiction is not only confined to children but old people too, are affected. In an interview, Ahmed Hamdy, one of the PC games sellers, when asked “What kind of buyers visit you?” answered that most of the buyers were between the age of 8 to19 and that not only young people buy games from him, but old people do as well. He says, “One of the regular consumers of my shop, is a man about 40 years old, who visits me every 2 weeks just to check the newly launched PC games in the market.” He added that buyers rarely ask for programs, all their concern is about PC games. Therefore, PC games addiction is a phenomenon that concerns young people as well as old people. According to an article, entitled “Cyber Addict, Share My Cure,” a 40-year-old Columnist, called Richard Cohen of the Washington Post, publicly confessed his addiction to the solitaire game, a free game with every copy of Microsoft windows (Krauthammer, 78). Addiction to solitaire and similar games, like Minesweeper and others have become popular among many workers in many companies all over the world. Krauthammer, complaining about games addiction in Virginia, says, “Addiction to Solitaire (and other computer games) among state workers had reached epidemic proportions” (78). Actually, addiction to these games among workers is negatively influential. It may lead workers to ignore their work and play their favourite computer game, thereby affecting work productivity and efficiency. Deleting the games from any company’s computers is the wise decision in the case where playing games affects workers’ productivity and efficiency, for a company to succeed. For instance, this was my decision when I found many workers in my father’s company playing games during their working hours. I quickly chatted with my father about the case showing him the negative consequences of this phenomenon, and urged him to delete all the games from the company’s computers for the sake of the company’s success. The governor of Virginia also took this decision, when he found that PC games addiction has become dangerous in the state. Krauthammer says, "The Governor of Virginia ordered these amusements expunged from all government computers to save the state from massive waste, if not total collapse" (78).

The Internet – The second most addictive computer characteristic: Introduction to Internet addiction – A real disorder, not a joke!

Internet is the second factor that makes computers addictive. Internet addiction is often considered another form of computer addiction. It is actually the most serious form of computer addiction. Unlike PC games addiction, Internet addiction is a new phenomenon. It has actually been considered by scientists and researchers nowadays more than PC games addiction because it is somehow confusing and important than the case of PC games addiction. People who log on for a long time, for instance 5 hours per day, and ignore important daily life activities, are called Internet addicts. When a mother ignores her children and her husband, just to log on to the Internet, we call her an Internet addict. Internet addiction is defined as compulsive Internet use, as Mitchell states in his article entitled, “Internet Addiction: Genuine Diagnosis or Not” (632). Generally, the phenomenon of Internet addiction seems to confuse many people. A huge number of people do not believe that Internet addiction is real. Holden says, in his article entitled “Web of Addiction,” “Not everyone is willing to add the Internet to the list of addictions” (1073). Those who oppose the fact of Internet addiction, like Dan Velea, argue that it is an exaggeration of compulsive Internet use (qtd. in Mitchell, 632). However, this new kind of addiction is serious as any other kind of addiction and it has negatively interfered in our lives just like any type of addiction. In fact, this argument has missed two very important facts. First, there are many clinics spreading all over the world, which treat this new kind of addiction, especially in the United States of America where many people have access to the Internet. Dr. Young, a professor of psychology at the university of Pittsburgh, says, “Treatment centers are emerging all across the USA so Internet addiction is an accepted disorder, even one that our court and legal systems accept” (qtd. in Mitchell, 632). There are also many websites on the World Wide Web that deal with Internet addiction, like www.netaddiction.com, and www.computeraddiction.com . Consequently, Internet addiction is real, accepted and not an exaggeration as some people think and we should confess that it exists.
However, this is not the end of the scenario. It is worth considering Internet an addiction depending on the fact that the behavior of Internet addicts and the consequences are similar to other addictions. Dr. Young, linking Internet and alcohol addictions, says that many Internet addicts have tried to give up this unfavorable behavior but have failed (qtd. in Holden, 1073) This shows that Internet addiction has the common pattern that exists in almost all kinds of addiction, which is failure to quit a dangerous habit. Concerning consequences, Internet addicts like other addicts, admitted that the new kind of addiction has interfered with their work, fiancés and relationships. Aren’t those consequences similar to any other kind of addiction? Certainly, yes! A survey conducted by Dr. Young in November 1994 on the Internet, showed that there is a group of Internet addicts, who admitted that they spend 6, 8, even 10 hours online, everyday despite the problems this habit was causing in their families, their relationships, and their work life (Young, 4). Considering these proofs, the weak arguments that deny Internet addiction’s existence have no place to be believed.

Facts behind Internet addiction:

Have we ever asked ourselves what makes the Internet addictive? What is fascinating about it? Why is it seductive? Why do people get addicted to it? It is worth realizing the reasons behind Internet addiction, before considering its negative effects on people. First, Internet may be actually addictive because it offers many fascinating facilities that may not exist in real life. Bursky, in his article entitled “Internet Addiction? Or Is Drinking From A Fire Hose Safe?” says that the information and the entertaining facilities that exist on the Internet make it addictive (54). Considering Internet faculties, one can entertain oneself, and listen to any newly launched music CD without paying a pound. PC games addicts can play any newly launched game online for free, and even download it on their computers through the Warez web pages, a leading site in cracking games and programs. Can we listen to any newly launched music CD or buy a new game in the market for free? Undoubtedly, No! However, through the Internet, it is possible. Concerning other facilities, online gambling and Internet lottery are the most addictive entertaining facilities that exist on the World Wide Web although they exist in real life. Mitchell, in his article says, “Internet gambling sites and Internet shopping may be the bait that will draw yet more potential addicts into the Internet's web” (632). Many Internet users are getting involved in these spoiled habits because they are willing to try their luck and win valuable prices. Online casinos have a very important advantage that does not exist in real life, which is privacy. No one can see you, or know that you are gambling. Tucker, an executive director of the California Council on Problem Gambling Inc. in Palm Springs, showing the reasons for online gambling addiction says, “Unlike traditional gambling casinos, web casinos are designed to lure both occasional and problem gamblers with the promise of easy winnings made in the privacy of the home”(qtd. in Allan Stein). The Internet, actually, may force many of its users to get involved in this habit. For instance, many of the sites I have visited on the Internet open a pop-up window advertising for lottery and gambling online casinos that sometimes force some Internet users to visit them. I have receive countless messages on my mail without subscribing to any lottery’s newsletters, urging me to join and try my luck They often use seductive titles in their advertising to attract as many users as possible to their websites. They seduce people by their expensive prizes that they offer to winners. There a huge number of gambling sites exist on the Internet, which may increase the phenomenon of online gambling addiction. Tom Tucker says, “There are currently in excess of 1,000 online gambling sites or what they like to call themselves, 'Casinos Without Walls’" (qtd. in Allan Stein).
Information is the second most fascinating facility of the Internet. The Internet has a huge limitless library of information that is almost updated daily, which makes people feel curious to check the latest updated information. Bursky says in his article: “Our desire for the latest information has driven us to continually scan Web sites for new information, sometimes manually” (54). One can find information about any topic he likes in less than one minute with more ease than real life. Pornography that exists on the Internet is the second addictive characteristic of the Internet. Online pornography websites may actually be another possibility that makes Internet addictive because there are countless pornography websites; thereby merely a small censorship on them exists. Any person, anywhere can view pornography on the World Wide Web. Since many people spend a huge time logging on to pornography websites, it would appear that “pornography websites” is another motive that drive Internet users to get addicted to it. Vela, in an article, entitled “ Internet Addiction: Genuine Diagnosis or Not?” says that thirty percent of Internet addicts in France are addicted to online sex. Finally, it is online chatting, the most important activity on the Internet, that makes it addictive.

Chat rooms – The most addictive characteristic of the Internet: Introduction to online chatting & its effects.

Many people, who are addicted to the Internet, are addicted to chat rooms, especially women. What would you say if you saw a person smiling at the screen of a computer? If you are not familiar with online chat or if you do not have a computer, you might actually think that he is mentally retarded. However, that is not the truth. This person is in fact smiling at his or her cyber chat friend. Have a look at any person while he/she is chatting, you would be shocked. You will find him endlessly staring at the screen of the computer as if he were discussing the problems of the Middle East! Try to grab his attention while chatting and you will never mange to. Orzack says, “Older addicts and women are usually drawn to "chat rooms"--conversation groups in which people can anonymously exchange private messages, often for many hours, and often on sexual themes” (qtd. in Mitchell, 632). The message that chatters exchange is often in cyber chat language: “hi! how’u doin :)” “how r u..lol” If you not familiar with Internet chat language, you may not understand it. Ironically, the letter “u” refers to “you”, the letter “r” refers to “are”, and “lol” is a cyber word that expresses laughing. It stands for “Laughing Out Loud.” Finally, “: )” is a symbol that express that you are smiling. Those people who spend endless hours in chat rooms are the people who get addicted not only to chat rooms, but also to this chat language. Some people use this informal, cyber chat language in their mails, in their assignments, and exams. In this way, online chat is destroying the English language. Many of those people who are addicted to chat rooms, do not abide by any grammar rules. They ignore capitalization, they invent new words that never existed in the English language, they shorten some words, for example, “you” becomes “u”, “are” becomes “r” and many other words have experienced similar changes.

Facts behind online chatting:
Yu, a 21 year-old girl, says, "I always make promises I'm going to quit; that I'll just use it for research. But I don't. I use it for research for 10 minutes, then I spend two hours chatting" (qtd. in Hamilton, 60). The question is: What are the factors that make chat rooms addictive? First, those who lack self-confidence and those people who are unable to express themselves in real life or those people who fear to express their opinions in front of other people, find the Internet a likely forum. Velea says, in an article entitled “Internet addiction: Genuine Diagnosis or Not?” “People who lack self esteem are more likely to become Internet addicts (qtd. in Mitchell, 632). Through online chatting, they can express their opinion without fear of getting embarrassed from other people because they chat with faceless people who do not see or know them. Therefore, they will not care about them. Another factor that make chat rooms addictive is that some characteristics, like being attractive and loved, that people may fail to have in real life, could be offered by the Internet. Jeanne says of her chat-room experiences, “I felt attractive, interesting, and more at ease. These are feeling I had never experienced in my life” (Young, 19). Obviously, this person seems to lack certain characteristics. She never felt attractive, and interesting in her life. Isn’t this the aim of many people, to feel attractive and interesting? When the Internet offered Jeanne the opportunities that she had never had in her real life, it was enough to make her addicted to the Internet. Do not you feel comfortable when you go to a place where people consider you an attractive person! This is the same case as Jeanne’s. She got addicted to chat room, because it was the only place where she felt attractive and interesting.
Considering other factors, chat rooms are a likely place for those people who are not able to from relationships in real life, especially unsociable or shy people. People think it is easier to form relationships online than in real life. Consider an ugly girl, many guys may avoid her and she may not be able to make many friends in real because of her appearance. However, through online chat, she can make herself seem to be a beautiful girl, and therefore guys will fight to chat with her and she will actually be able to make many friends. One can easily change his personality through online chat. One can make oneself appear to be akin to Tom Cruise or Britney Spears. The unsociable person may alter himself to be a sociable person, the coward to a brave one. Some people, actually, deceive their Internet pals into thinking that they are rich, handsome, and smart. However, they may be ugly, poor and stupid.
People may also be addicted to chat rooms because they are seeking the need for achievement and mastery as John Suler, a psychologist, believes. He says, "In many online communities longstanding members can achieve an elevated status among the population. They can become a host, moderator, wizard, god, or "op" who has powers that ordinary users do not. Ambitions to achieve such honored positions fuels the desire to spend more time online." In chat rooms, “op” means dominance over other people. If you have an “op”, you are unique; you can kick anybody out of the room if you wish. Some Internet users I have met argue that an “op” in the IRC (Internet Reply Chat) gives a person a prestige and honor and when you become an “op” in any of the chat rooms, many people in the room fight to have a chat with you. All these reasons that explain why most Internet addicts get addicted to chat rooms go back to one single fact, which is failure to achieve satisfaction in real life. The Internet sometimes gives people a prestige and a fake desirable personality, and characteristics like attractiveness that people cannot obtain from real life. Aren’t these characteristics of online chatting enough to make it addictive?

Internet addiction various effects:

How Internet addiction affects our lives is an important question. Internet addiction, actually, has many negative effects on people. How many times did you fight with your family just because of the endless high phone bills? How many times did the busy signals bother your friends or relatives, when they tried to call you? How many times did the Internet affect your grades? Forty six percent of Internet users have gotten less than four hours of sleep, because they spend too much time online (Wolfe, 1). Has the Internet snatched away our peace of mind? Spending a huge time using computers negatively affects our lives. Imagine how the Internet will affect one’s life, if one logs on till 3 a.m. First, it will turn our day upside down, which will lead to undesirable effects. Consider a father who logged on till 3 a.m., will he be able to get up early in the morning at 7 a.m., to go to work. Indeed he may ignore his work, to sleep well. From the religious point of view, he will not pray at regular prayer times, which is sinful. What if he has children! This is another dilemma he may encounter. He may not be able to drive them to their schools. Consider a student who logged on till 3.a.m., will he be able to make progress in school? Actually, not. When he spends too much time online and is not sleeping well, how can he concentrate in class, or study? Unquestionably, he will face many academic problems. According to an article entitled “Internet Addiction: The Emergence Of A New Clinical Disorder,” 58% of the Internet addicts have admitted that the Internet has interfered with their life and severely affected their academic life, while no one admitted that it does not affect one’s academic life, one’s relationships, one’s finance, one’s occupation.
In an interview, Mohamed Hussein, a student at the University, admitted that the Internet has affected his academic life. He failed the English 112 course because he used to spend too much time online. He always ignores his assignments and studies, to be online. He attributes the bad grades he gets in his courses to spending too much time online. Consider a house-wife who logged on till 3.a.m., will she be able to cook for her husband and children? Will she have time to carry out household activities? I doubt it! She will not have enough time to cook or even carry out household activities. Second, it will break up marriages and or may cause marriage problems. Hamilton in his article, entitled “ They Log on, but They Can’t Log Off,” explained how dangerous Internet addiction might be, by discussing a case of an Internet addict. A 43 old woman, called Glenda, spend 18 hours online per day. Her marriage was dissolved and she became estranged from her children as a result of Internet addiction (60). This shows how seriously Internet addiction can affect our lives.
Finally, it may lead to family problems and may affect our social lives. Mohamed Hussein, when asked whether he believes in this new kind of addiction or not, answered, “Yes!” He admitted that he considers himself to be an Internet addict because the time he spends online is abnormal and unreasonable. He spends five hours everyday online. When I asked him how the Internet affected his life, he answered that it affected him in many ways, and most of these effects were negative. First, it has caused him many problems with his family. His parents always complain about his not spending much time with them because of the time he spends online. He always fights with his parents because they accuse him of using the Internet for having fun and not for academic work. His parents are always complaining about the amount of time he spends online, and about the highly shocking phone bills. Second, it has affected his social life. He said that sometimes he prefers chatting with his cyber pals on the Internet rather than going out with his friends. This has affected his relationship with his friends. He said that his friends have begun to hate him because he prefers chatting with faceless people on the net rather than going out with them. He added that he has become disconnected with his friends. He has ignored them many times, just to spend more time online. According to an article entitled “Internet Addiction: The Emergence Of A New Clinical Disorder,” 53% of Internet addicts have admitted that the Internet has severely affected their relationships (Young).

Symptoms of Internet addiction:

Many people are worried about Internet addiction; they want to know whether they are addicts or not. Actually, whether you are addicted or not is decided by Internet addiction symptoms. What are the symptoms of Internet addiction? The article entitled “Are You Becoming An Internet Addict?” listed many symptoms of Internet addiction. If you continue using the Internet after spending too much money on phone bills, then you are an Internet addict (7). This is a common behavior that exists in almost all kinds of addicts. For instance, drug addicts never give up this bad habit although they spend too much money to buy drugs. If you feel inappropriate when you try to reduce your Internet use or when you lie to your parents about the hours you spend online, then you are addicted to the Internet. (7). Some people believe that when you feel that the Internet has become a daily life activity that you cannot dispense with it you are certainly an Internet addict. Mohamed Hussein admitted that he has experienced this feeling. I asked him what he feels if he did not log on one day on the Internet. He answered that he feels that something is missing and the day has become very boring. He added that one day his computer was not working, so he went to a cyber café to log on. Mohamed for sure is an Internet addict, simply because the Internet has become part of his life. He cannot spend one day without logging on. In contrast, a normal person would do any other thing instead of logging on. One can go out with friends, watch television, and play cards.
Concerning other symptoms of Internet addiction, other people also believe that when you try to quit this habit and fail, then you are addicted. Consider smoking or alcohol addiction as an example. Do not smokers find difficulty in quitting smoking and they generally fail to quit smoking when they try to do so? Yes! The same applies for computers and Internet. When you find it difficult not to use the Internet just for one day, then sadly you have to realize that you are addicted. I noticed this symptom through my interview with Mohamed Hussein. He told me that every time he tries to stop using the Internet or decrease the number of days and hours he spends online, he finds it impossible to do so because he believes that when one enjoys doing something one likes, one will feel the time pass by quickly. He also believes that any user of the Internet is prone to Internet addiction and he may, one day, become an addict. He also believes that Internet addiction is very hard to quit. Many Internet addicts have agreed that they experience a certain feeling while they are offline. They always think about the Internet, while they are offline. They feel inappropriate, anxious and unsatisfied while they are offline. Consider drug addiction, drug addicts feel inappropriate if they did not take a dose of drugs everyday. The same case applies for Internet addicts. Internet addicts will not get satisfied unless they log on, and be online. According to an article entitled “Are You Becoming An Internet Addict?” the author believes that when one feel depressed or anxious while you are offline, then one is an Internet addict (672). These are the most important symptoms of Internet addiction. If you experience one of them, then you have to realize that you are a cyber addict.

Do not risk your life:

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Bursky, David . “Internet Addiction? Or Is Drinking From A Fire Hose Safe?” Electronic Design. 20 Nov. 2000 48.24:54 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Hamilton, Kendall. “They Log on, but They Can’t Log off.” News Week. 18 Dec. 1995 126.25:60 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Carelse, Michelle. (2001) “Computer Games; Are They Harming Your Children?” Gentle Parents. Online. 30 Nov. 2001 [http://www.gentleparents.com/ carelse.html]

Krauthammer, Charles. “Cyber Addict, Share My Cure.” Time. 27 Feb. 1995 145.8:78 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Mitchell, Peter. “Internet Addiction: Genuine Diagnosis or Not? “ Lancet. 19 Feb. 2000 335.9204:632 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Stein, Allan. “Internet Gambling Taking Toll In Dollars, Addiction.” Culture Notes. Online. 30 Nov. 2001 [http://www.culturenotes.com/article1009.html]

Stephen, Andrew. “ An Internet Addict Confess.” News Statesman. 19 June 1998 127.4390:26 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Suler, John. (March 1999) " To Get What You Need: Healthy and Pathological Internet Use." In The Psychology of Cyberspace. Online. 30 Nov. 2001 [http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/psycyber/getneed.html]

Wolfe, Alexander. “Cyber Junkies.” Electronic Engineering Times. 8 Apr. 1996 896:1 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

Young, Kimberly S. “Caught in The Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction – and A Winning Strategy for Recovery. - ” New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998.

Young, Kimberly S. (1996) “Internet Addiction: The Emergence Of A New Clinical Disorder” [On-Line] 26 Nov. 2001 [http://www.pitt.edu/~ksy/apa.html ]

“Are You Becoming An Internet Addict?” USA Today Magazine. May 2001 129.2672: 7 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the relationship between excessive computer use and mood, and personality. It also defines the Internet addiction and provides some symptoms that determine whether you are an dependent Internet user or not. It also gives some advice to Internet addicts.

Alsop, Stewart. “The Good News of My Addiction.” Fortune. 29 Oct. 2001 144.8:52 Academic Search Elite. Online 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the author’s opinions about broadband Internet connection and his addiction to it. How it has affected his life and what are the problems that arise when it does not work.

“A New Psych Disorder – The Internet. –“ Community College Week. 6 Sept. 1999 12.2 : 16 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the studies that done concerning Internet addiction. It also discusses how Internet addiction affects people.

Bursky, David. “Internet Addiction? Or Is Drinking From A Fire Hose Safe?” Electronic Design. 20 Nov. 2000 48.24:54 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article describes how different Internet connection speed is affecting people’s behavior. It explains what make people get addicted to the net and how engineers benefit from the Internet.

Carelse, Michelle. (2001) “Computer Games; Are They Harming Your Children?” Gentle Parents. Online. 30 Nov. 2001 [http://www.gentleparents.com/ carelse.html]

The article discusses the problem of computer games addiction and how it affects children.

Cohen, Michael. “On Webaholism and Other High-Tech Addictions.” Computerworld. 10 Jan. 2000 34.2:29 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses different types of high-tech addictions, like the parkaholic, the webaholic, the storaholic, and others.

Cooper, Carol. “Terminally Addicted.” Lancet. 16 May 1998 351.9114:1522 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses computers’ power to seduce children and effects of Internet addiction on our lives. Counseling services that deal with Internet addiction.

Ditlea, Steve. “Report from the Front: How to Beat Internet Addiction.” Interactive age. 13 Feb. 1995 2.8:12 Academic Search Elite. Online [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the author’s experience of Internet addiction.

Hamilton, Kendall. “They Log on, but They Can’t Log off.” News Week. 18 Dec. 1995 126.25:60 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the case of an Internet addict called Glenda, and how Internet addiction has affected her life.

Holden, Constance. “Web of Addiction.” Science. 21 Feb. 1997 275.5303:1073 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses some studies and surveys done concerning Internet addiction, and discuss the similarity between alcoholics and webaholics and support groups, counseling resources for Internet addicts.

Ingram, Scott. “Cyber safety: How Not to Get Caught in The Net.” Current Health 2. Dec. 2000 27.4:22 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the safety rules and guidelines that teenagers should consider while they are online.

Krauthammer, Charles. “Cyber Addict, Share My Cure.” Time. 27 Feb. 1995 145.8:78 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the case of computer games addiction among employees in the state of Virginia and the case of computer addiction. It also explains the author addiction to Minesweeper.

Mitchell, Peter. “Internet Addiction: Genuine Diagnosis or Not? “ Lancet. 19 Feb. 2000 335.9204:632 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article shows argument about whether Internet addiction is real or not. Is it an exaggeration of excessive computer use? The article somehow describes the profile of some Internet addicts. It also describes why people are Internet dependent. It also explains the link between computer addiction and Internet addiction and what women and men get addicted to on the Internet.

Oravec, Jo Ann. “Internet and Computer Technology Hazards: Perspectives for Family Counseling.” British Journal of Guidance & Counseling. Aug. 2000 28.3:309 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses computer’s effects on families and family problems that arise from computer and Internet addiction. It also explains computer hazards that households encounter.

Savva, Susan, Griffith Edwards, and John M. Grohol. “Book Reviews.” Addiction. Jan. 2000 95.1:139 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article is a review of the book “Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction and Winning Strategy for Recovery,'” by Kimberly S. Young.

Seaman, Debbie. “Hooked Online.” Time. 12 Oct. 1998 123.15:114 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses the problem of compulsive computer use. It also explains the signs of computer abuse in workplace and how mangers should handle computer addiction.

Stein, Allan. “Internet Gambling Taking Toll In Dollars, Addiction.” Culture Notes. Online. 30 Nov. 2001 [http://www.culturenotes.com/article1009.html]

The article discusses the problem of online gambling and how it affects people. It also discusses a case of a woman who is addicted to online gambling and how has the online gambling led to her death.

Stephen, Andrew. “ An Internet Addict Confess.” News Statesman. 19 June 1998 127.4390:26 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

This article is about a person who had an accident that made him stay home. He then decided to explore the world of Internet during the period he will stay home and finally he got addicted to the Internet.

Suler, John. (March 1999) " To Get What You Need: Healthy and Pathological Internet Use." In The Psychology of Cyberspace. Online. 30 Nov. 2001

The article discusses both the health and unhealthy use of the Internet, and the reasons that attract people to the Internet [Needs for sex, belonging, relationships, mastery and achievement].

Tori DeAngelis. “Is Internet Addiction Real?” Monitor On Psychology. April 2000 31.4 30 Nov. 2001 APA Monitor On Psychology. Online. [http://www.apa.org /monitor/apr00/addiction.html]

The article discusses the case of Internet addiction and its studies. It also focuses on the relationship between Internet addiction and online sex and chat rooms.

Wolfe, Alexander. “Cyber Junkies.” Electronic Engineering Times. 8 Apr. 1996 896:1 Academic Search Elite. Online. 25 Nov. 2001 [http://ehostvgw2.epnet.com/ehost.asp?key=204.179.122.140_8000_- 497685379&site=ehost&return=n]

The article discusses surveys and studies carried out by Victor Brenner, a Psychologist at the University of New York at Buffalo concerning Internet addiction. It also discusses how logging on for a huge time can affects us.

Young, Kimberly S. “Caught in The Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction – and A Winning Strategy for Recovery. - ” New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998.

The book explains the idea of Internet addiction. The book main purpose is to give advice to those people who are addicted to the Internet and how they can overcome this new kind of addiction. It also provides a list of symptoms of Internet addiction.

Young, Kimberly S. (1996) “Internet Addiction: The Emergence Of A New Clinical Disorder.” [On-Line] 26 Nov. 2001 [ http://www.pitt.edu/~ksy/apa.html ]

The article discusses researches and studies of Internet addiction among sociologists, psychologists. These studies investigated the existence of Internet addiction using an adapted version of the criteria for Pathological Gambling. The article concludes that Internet addiction does exist.

Appendix I: Mohamed Hussein.

• Do you believe in Internet addiction?
• Do you consider yourself an Internet addict?
• How many hours do you spend online?
• How has Internet addiction affected your life?
• What do you feel if you did not log on one day?

Appendix II: Ahmed Hamdy.

• What kind of visitors buys from you?
• Do visitors ask about programs?
• Are only young people your consumers of PC games?