Melissa sits at her computer desk. It is Monday at 4 o’clock am. Melissa is scheduled to work at 8 o’clock am, but thinks to herself that she is not going to break away from the computer to go to work. She’s been online chatting for twelve hours and has met some new friends under her alias screen name, Vanessa. Her online friends urge her to continue chatting instead of going to work. Meanwhile, in the other room, Melissa’s husband is sleeping with their one-year old daughter. He says that she’s been spending too much time online but Melissa thinks her husband is being unreasonable. When she is online she feels complete, a part of something real. She’s tried being online for less than seventeen hours a day, but it is too hard. She feels she just cannot do it. When she has tried she has been very irritable and unhappy.
Although the above narrative is fictional, it describes the life of those that suffer from what is now referred to as Internet Addiction Disorder. Symptoms for this disorder include becoming depressed when online sessions are cut short by outside influences, using the computer to escape problems such as helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression, compromising morals by using anonymous personae, suffering negative consequences from time spent on the internet, lying about time spent on the internet, having the inability to control time spent on the internet, and risking the loss of a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of online usage. Internet Addiction Disorder is not yet recognized formally as a chronic psychological problem, but is a worldwide recognized social problem affecting people of all ages.
The idea of Internet addiction was introduced in 1995 by a doctor named Ivan Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg posted “diagnostic criteria” on a web site as a joke and was surprised at an overwhelming response he received from people whose Internet usage was similar to that listed in his “diagnosis” and whose Internet usage was interfering in their lives. This initial “diagnosis” sparked a wide variety of studies and documentation of Internet addiction cases. Dr. Goldberg termed this excessive Internet use addiction, implying a disorder similar to substance dependence. Others argue that this type of Internet “abuse” is not so much an addiction than it is an impulse control disorder. Either way, the effects of this type of behavior can be catastrophic.
One might wonder why and how a person might become addicted to the Internet. Some users may develop emotional attachments to on-line friends and activities that allow them to escape from reality and fulfill unmet emotional and psychological needs without having to deal with real life relationships. Internet addicts who create on-line personas and secret identities may suffer from low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy and fear of disapproval from others leading to deeper depression and anxiety. One self-admitting addict revealed “I am 43 years old. I know that I have been using my online time as an escape. From physical and mental disability. From loneliness, fear, anxiety, and other human experiences.” This statement clearly shows the traits of someone who suffers from an Internet addictive disorder.
A study done by the Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society revealed that Internet usage causes social isolation. The study found that 27% of heavy Internet users reported that they spent less time talking to friends and family over the phone. It also showed that 15% of the respondents spent less time physically with friends and family and 15% spent less time attending events outside of the house. If a user is already experiencing feelings of low self-esteem, loneliness and depression, these statistics are not likely to help a user overcome these feelings. If anything, constant Internet usage will increase these insecurities and ferment this disorder.
Those who suffer from Internet addiction disorder not only suffer emotionally. Their internet abuse cause other problems such as financial problems due to their lack of wanting to get off the internet and go to work. They also lose what might have been very valuable friendships or relationships. Physical ailments also follow, as Internet addicts prefer to snack by the computer instead of eating regular meals. As can be seen, the problems associated with their pathological Internet use are behavioral, occupational, physical, and social.
This addiction is a worldwide problem and is being addressed in an interesting way in the country of Germany. In Germany, many children attend school for only four and a half-hours a day. The children come home and engulf themselves in various Internet or computer related activities. Every day, while they await their parents’ arrival, they build a stronger relationship with their computer or Internet activities and abandon outdoor activities such as kickball or soccer. German parents whose children show signs of the affliction are sending their children to a unique camp to get help with this problem. The summer camp is in the seaside town of Boltenhagen in northern Germany. German social security services set up the camp to wean children off the computer and show them that other aspects of life away from the computer. Outdoor activities at the coastal strip on the Baltic Sea are encouraged to help with physical ailments caused by their internet addiction (overweight due to incessant snacking at computer). The site has only one computer on site and can be used for at most half and hour a day. The children attend counseling sessions held by the camp psychologist. The sessions are followed by various supervised physical activities. This is a vast change for these young Internet addicts. The 28-day program provides a good glimpse of what is out in the world, other than the computer and the Internet. The program has proven to be helpful in restoring some self-confidence the children may have lost due to their inability to interact with other people after spending too much time on the Internet or computing. It has also helped the children learn to interact socially and make friends and maintain a healthy diet.
As can be seen, excessive internet usage has been known to isolate people from society, causes greater depression and anxiety for those who already have low self esteem, and depending on if action is taken, can have serious consequences. A person may lose their family, job, identity, self worth and even good health. Ironically, the Internet provides us with information on how to guard ourselves from this type of disorder. As with most things in life, the best advice is moderation.
