Internet Addiction

Computers are considered to be one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. As time goes on, computers have become more and more important in our lives. We use computers at school, at home, and at work and most of us can’t imagine life without them.

Although computer use has become an everyday activity in our lives, its excessive use can have negative effects such as failure in our relationships, school-work and responsibilities.

The internet itself is a tool created to help us research whatever subject we are interested in. It is quick, convenient and easy to use. However, there are some people who cannot control their desire to spend all their time in front of a computer. Internet addiction is a quickly growing phenomenon. According to the Pew Research Center, “Internet use in the USA alone has grown from just less than half of American adult in 2000 to about 59% of adults at the end of 2002, and studies suggest that nearly 6% of online users suffer from Internet addiction.” (Internet Addiction Kimberly S. Young, pag.402).

In her article “Internet Addiction”, Kimberly S. Young accuses the researchers that affirm the term addiction should be applied in reference to drug use. As the author herself puts it, “defining addiction has moved beyond this to include a number of behaviors that do not involve an intoxicant, such as compulsive gambling, video game playing, exercise, love relationships, and television viewing” (Internet Addiction Kimberly S. Young, p.404). Young suggests that it is very important make the difference between normal from pathological internet use. In the Paper presented at the 104th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association on the 15th of August 1996, Young states that even if the ...

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...dents use Chat Rooms and Multiuser Dungeons, which allows them to simultaneously communicate in real time. While some of them prefer to chat, other dependents use the Internet for the application called Information Protocol which allows them to find new files access library or download different software. However, the Information Protocol is the last one in the list of Dependents, which suggests that database searches, while interesting and time-consuming can rarely cause net-addiction.

While for Dependents find hundred of advantages of the computer, the Non-dependents declare that Internet is an useful tool for personal and business communication. While Non-dependents appreciate real-life relationships and enjoy their spent time with friends, the Dependents see on-line friendships as highly intimate, confidential and less threatening than real-life friendships.