Internet Addiction

659 Words2 Pages

Nerdy, geeky males that knows a plethora of things about computers and spend most of their time on the computer, that’s the first kind of person the average individual thinks of being in danger of becoming a computer addict. However it is estimated that internet addiction affects at least 1 in 8 Americans. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), internet dependency, and internet compulsions are all the same thing. According The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, internet addiction disorder refers to the problematic use of the various aspects of its technology, such as electronic mail (e-mail) and the world wide web. Internet addiction, also known as IAD, covers impulse control problems.

There are several types of addictions involving things concerning the internet and computers. A few of the most common are online gambling and cyber relationships. Gaming, instant messaging, social networking, and blogging are all parts of internet addiction.However there are other addictions that involve computer addiction and net compulsions. Computer addiction is obsessive off-line computer games such as Solitaire or Minesweeper, or obsessive computer programming. Information overload is compulsive web surfing or database searching, leading to lower work productivity and less social interaction with family and friends. Net compulsions is such as compulsive online gaming, stock trading, or compulsive use of online auction sites such as eBay, often resulting in financial and job-related problems.

As a person gets older, their likely-hood to become and internet addict decreases. For example, China and South Korea are among the highest rates of internet addiction. In China and South Korea 30% of their citizens are addicted. However, in America o...

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... feels bad about being online for amounts of time or become defensive about being online. They socialize with friends and forget the importance of real friends. If a person is addicted to the internet they may have several other addictions, for example alcohol or drugs could be one.

Works Cited

"Addictions in Children and Adolescents | Ohel Children's Home and Family Services." Addictions in Children and Adolescents | Ohel Children's Home and Family Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
"Internet Addiction." Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
"Internet & Computer Addiction." Internet and Computer Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
"Mental Disorders." Internet Addiction Disorder. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
"Online Addiction – Who Is at Risk?" N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014

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