Internet Addiction: Government Policy or Personal Responsibility?

In this essay, the author

• Explains that internet addiction is an issue of government policy or a personal responsibility. a pew internet and american life project study finds two thirds of all americans use the internet to frequently participate in internet related activities.
• Argues that digital/internet addiction is a growing problem, which is inclusive but not exclusive to adolescents, college students, and middle aged americans.
• Argues that technological progress and american dissatisfaction complement each other.
• Explains that the x and millennia generations are "digital immigrants" who are born into a digital world with an innate computing skill set.
• Explains that internet addiction is a mental health issue that closely resembles and includes symptoms of other addictions.
• Explains that dr. kimberly young was the first researcher to address the academic arena regarding internet addiction.
• Describes the reasons why they feel preoccupied with the internet, need to use it with increasing amounts of time, and unsuccessful attempts to control, cut back, or stop internet use.
• Describes the reasons why people use the internet to escape from problems or relieve a dysphoric mood.
• Explains that psychiatric disorders are constructed through society and sanctioned in the diagnostic and statistical manual (dsm).
• Explains that the proposed version of the manual includes a number of disorders that are creating skepticism among stakeholders in the field.
• Argues that the internet is a communication medium that allows others to converse and connect to other individuals, making the psychiatric disorder plausible.
• Explains that internet addiction is growing predominantly among males, although cases of female addiction are documented. asian countries have the highest level of internet addicts.
• Explains the risk factors for internet addiction in a case study of adolescents in the southern chinese city of guangzhou.
• Analyzes the findings of the case study, stating that males are 50% more likely to become addicted to the internet than females.
• Explains the physical, social, and financial costs of internet addiction. the addicted user may spend time online rather than working on social relationships, career advancement, or other "healthier" activities.
• Proposes a long-term study where research is done on internet addiction correlated to health implications.
• Explains that the extreme user has a number of social costs ranging from one partial withdrawal from society to one total withdrawal.
• Explains that the constant chase with the jones's is creating a society where the next consumption of one thing is providing.
• Explains that there is a body of research that contradicts the above costs; it even goes as far as saying online addiction may prove beneficial in some social circles.
• Explains that addiction is costly financially and shows the magnitude and dependence of games/software, even in a recession year.
• Explains that rehabilitation facilities in the u.s. are only private, meaning costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
• Proposes a public strategy but first, let us examine other cases from abroad.
• Explains that the korean government has implemented a number of policies to alleviate addiction.
• Explains that china has some very intense cases of internet addiction and even more intense strategies to break youth internet addiction.
• Explains that while life-threatening cases may be more of an exception than the rule, it is rather unsettling something like death could be a result of internet addiction rehabilitation. china has implemented policies that are less life threatening and builds awareness.
• Explains that the internet-addiction campaign funds eight in-patient rehabilitation centers across the country, but human rights activists are opposed to some of the treatment methods currently being used.
• Opines that a u.s. public policy should bring awareness but not limit individual’s freedom.
• Opines that a policy should be multi-faceted, bring about change and address the issue directly.
• Proposes a budget for internet addiction help, which allows individuals with-out the means to pay for the expenses. additional measures may come about more easily if an internet driver’s license is made mandatory.
• Opines that internet addition is a growing problem that, if left unchecked, could create large problems in the near future.
• Opines that implementing such policies will require action that is motivated through a better understanding of the risk variables and the negative attributes associated with internet addiction.
• Explains that 2 million internet addicts in south korea are targeted for help.
• Cites collier, r., demick, b. (2009, april 22), china's internet-addiction camps turn deadly.
• Cites jiang, j., peng, z.-w, mai, and jing for their research on internet addiction among adolescents.
• Explains npd group's 2009 u.s. video game industry and pc game software retail sales reach $20.2 billion.
• Cites prensky, rosen, saville, gisbert, kopp, telesco, and sorboro, j.
• Cites wack, e., tantleff-dunn, and young, k. (2010). a growing epedemic; signs of internet addiction.