Is Internet Addiction Even Real?
The Internet is unlike anything we have ever seen before. It is a socially connecting device that is socially isolating at the same time. With the increasing number of users and the social problems that people are finger pointing at, it is not surprising that there is an uprising concern about the use of Internet.
However, no research has yet established that there is a disorder of Internet addiction that is separable from problems such as loneliness or pathological gambling, or that a passion for using the Internet is long-lasting.
Much of the original research was based upon the weakest type of research methodology, namely exploratory surveys with no clear hypothesis or rationale backing them. Therefore, we cannot establish causal relationships between specific behaviors and their cause.
Years have gone by and there are more than a few studies out there looking at Internet addiction. Yet none of them agree on a single definition for this problem, and all of them vary widely in their reported results of how much time an “addict” spends online. If they cannot even get these basics down, it is not surprising the research quality still suffers.
For now, this and other questions about Internet use will remain unanswered until more controlled studies are done.
Do some people have problems spending too much time online?
Sure they do. Some people also spend too much time reading, watching television, and working, and ignore family, friendships, and social activities. That does not suggest they have a TV addiction disorder, book addiction, and work addiction that is legitimate mental disorders in the same category as schizophrenia and depression. It is the tendency of some mental health professionals and researchers to want to label everything they see as potentially harmful with a new diagnostic category. Unfortunately, this causes more harm than it helps people.
Some people online who think they are addicted could possibly be suffering from desires not to want to deal with other problems in their lives. These problems could include a mental disorder (depression, anxiety, etc.), a serious health problem or disability, or a relationship problem. In this case, it is no different than turning on the TV so you won’t have to talk to your spouse, or going “out with the boys” for a few drinks so you don’t have to spend time at home. Nothing is different except the modality.
On the other hand, some people who spend time online without any other problems present may suffer from compulsive over-use. Compulsive behaviours, however, are already covered by existing diagnostic categories and treatment would be similar. It is not the technology (whether it be the Internet, a book, the telephone, or the television) that is important or addicting – it is the behavior. And behaviors are easily treatable by cognitive-behavioural techniques in psychotherapy.
Is it possible for people to become addicted to chat rooms?
As explained above, I will now use the word addiction in a different manner.
Time alone cannot be an indicator of being addicted or engaging in compulsive behavior. Time must be taken in context with other factors, such as whether you are a college student (who, as a whole, proportionally spend a greater amount of time online), whether it is a part of your job, whether you have any pre-existing conditions (such as another mental disorder), whether you have problems or issues in your life which may be causing you to spend more time online (e.g., using it to “get away” from life’s problems, a bad marriage, difficult social relations), etc. So talking about whether you spend too much time online without this important context is useless.
There are evidence that suggests that the time people spend chatting online is phasic and can be explained in terms of three phases:
Stage I: Enchantment (Obsession)
Stage II: Disillusionment (Avoidance)
Stage III: Balance (Normal)
That is to say that people first are enchanted by the activity (characterized by some as obsession) especially when they are new users, followed by disillusionment with chatting and a decline in usage, and then a balance was reached where the level of chat activity normalized.
What can lead to such an addiction?
How do people get caught up in the Internet? For one thing, human beings are curious. People like to see more and do more. People like to feel competent and in control. Online, they can act in ways that are exciting and they can do so without leaving their chair of being with a real person. Especially in chat rooms and a virtual society - accountability, supervision and social consequences are almost non-existent.
People also like to feel better and they don’t like to feel bad. We like to do things that feel good and avoid things that feel worse. We especially like doing pleasurable things more and more.
On the Internet, people do not have to go out and find real people and have an honest relationship. They can stay in their own chair and explore endless activities. They can walk away and come right back. There is always something happening.
People will even miss you and ask you to come back.
The seduction and addictive nature of the chat rooms can be understood primarily in terms of a behavior modification process called a variable reinforcement schedule. That means you don’t know how much of a reward you will get and when for your behavior (ie. praises, expressions of longing, admiration, intimacy, true friendships, etc). And a variable reinforcement schedule is the most addictive reward system.
Being on the Internet is not necessarily about having a good time. Being on-line might make you feel better but it might just change how you feel. It can be an escape from reality that isn’t necessarily better for you.
Prolonged chats on-line and mouse clicking on the Internet will produce a dissociative state whereby Internet users can separate from reality and enter cyber reality. Anyone with children has seen how children can watch television for countless hours. Children and even adults watching television long enough will enter a “hypnotic trance.” They “meld” into the television and disconnect from reality.
People can disappear into a good book or a movie, but there is always an end to a book or a movie. The Internet is especially addictive because it is endless, interactive, social and exploding with never ending images and information. The Internet offers exciting relationships 24 hours a day all over the world.
Limited use is a form or healthy recreation or escape. Prolonged and repeated use can create problems.
What do you think is the pull or the attraction for many young people today to communicate and express themselves and make friends via chat rooms as opposed to meeting people the old fashioned way?
Nearly 20% of the people going on-line will encounter one or more of the following problems.
* Personal neglect
* Social anxiety
* Lack self esteem and self confidence
* Compulsive checking and “clicking”
* Isolation and avoidance from people
* Depression
* Relationship problems
* Academic failure
Apart from that, meeting real people and developing friendships takes a longer time and much more effort and in this century, I see young people having heavier schedules than the average adult! Piano lessons, tuition classes for all subjects, competitive sports, you name it.
Meeting people online also seems to be more convenient and cost effective for young people. They don’t have to negotiate with their parents for money, transportation and curfew time.
To a certain extend, meeting real people means taking a risk. A risk of getting hurt, embarrassed, humiliated and many more. And if that happens online, you can just change your name, age and marital status and just start over.
The reasons why young people choose online chat rooms instead of real life interactions are varied and endless.
Furthermore, some people do have serious challenges in real life social interactions such as social anxiety disorders, depression, shyness, lack self esteem and many more. The most important to bear in mind is to seek professional treatment for it. Help is readily available without needing to create all these hoopla about a new diagnosis.
Nearly any well-trained mental health professional will be able to help to slowly curve the time spent online, and address the problems or concerns that may have contributed to online overuse.
Finally, prevention is more likely to be assured if you maintain balance in your life. People go on-line looking for something missing in their life or they become involved in content and relationships on-line that begin to interfere with important routines, responsibilities and relationships. Making a conscious effort and commitment to a balanced life in crucial.