Community :: Internet Addiction - Fact or Fiction?
I don't get it. I'm hearing more and more in the news about internet addiction. This topic even made the front page of Huffingtonpost.com today, linking to a story on a place called reSTART - a "residential detox center" for internet addicts located in Seattle.
How can you be addicted to a communication medium? The medium is just a neutral mechanism to access the CONTENT. Its the content that is addictive, NOT the medium. People get addicted to the chemical properties of TCH, not leaves, rolling papers and pipes. Alcohol is addictive, NOT the bottle it came in! Cocaine is addictive NOT short straws (or dollar bills)!
Do people loose their jobs, family, friends and destroy their lives because all they do all day is stare at a computer screen? Absolutely...but they're not staring at a blank screen, and it's not the 1900 x 1200 random pixels that are to blame. They're addicted to the CONTENT - the pornographic videos, the video games, or the imagined sex partner or lost love of their life responding on the other end of an email or live chat.
It's the compelling nature of the content that is addictive, not the medium. The solution calls for helping people create a more fulfilling, engaging and interesting life that balances online and face to face activities and relationships. Not "detoxing" them from using the internet. That would be like trying to treat pathological gamblers by having them stay away from money for 28 days.
What do you think?
Internet Addiction is a fact. Now a days it is increasing constantly and number of people are addicted to internet. In USA this number of more as compare to other countries. Even small children also addicted to Internet. some time people get addicted toward this and It will become an uncontrollable.