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Internet Addiction Among Techies

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DQI Bureau
New Update

I remember last year when the IRIS game challenge was on the

Net. The prize was a measly amount, but it was shocking to see people stay up

throughout the night discussing on online forums, just so that they could get

help as to how to break into the next level. The frenzy, begging for clues and

revealing personal information just so they could be 'helped' to the next

level was unbelievable. For those of you who do not know about IRIS, it is the

annual cultural meet organized by IIM, Indore and this game was put online by

the IT team in IIM, so anyone could participate. What was meant to be a brainy

strategic challenge became an obsession to many, especially those in technical

institutions and computing professionals.

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A disturbing trend is emerging among technical professionals

over the past few years that in some countries such as Singapore and South

Korea, governments had to help the technical workers by bringing in mental

health professionals.

It all started in 1995 when author Kimberly Young, did a

three year survey of Internet and computer addicts and published her path

breaking book, "Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet

Addiction-and a Winning Strategy for Recovery" on the new malady

affecting the technical professional namely Internet addiction.

Psychological

Symptoms
  • Having a sense of

    well-being or euphoria, while at the computer

  • Inability to stop the

    activity

  • Craving for more and

    more time at the computer

  • Neglecting family and

    friends

  • Feeling empty,

    depressed, and irritable when not at the computer

  • Lying to family and

    friends about activities

  • Problems with school or

    work

Physical

Symptoms
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

  • Dry eyes

  • Migraine headaches

  • Backaches

  • Eating irregularities,

    such as skipping meals

  • Neglecting personal

    hygiene

  • Sleep disturbances and

    changes in sleep patterns

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What is Internet Addiction?



It is an understatement to say that the computer and the Internet have

changed the way we live and communicate. We turn to our computers in search of

information, e-mail friends rather than pick up the phone or write a letter.

Many of us have more faceless online friends, customers, and people we

communicate with than those whom we have seen and know. Some of us shop over the

Internet, while others spend hours reading and replying to email, playing games,

or even look for romance and/or matrimonial alliances.

However, unlike socially established addiction, which we are

all aware of like addiction to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and TV, many

are unaware of computer and Internet addiction.

According to Jeri Samson and Beth Keen, Ph.D. who run the 'not

my kid' website for Internet addicts, "The term 'Internet addiction'

actually refers to a broad range of behaviors. Researchers in the field have

identified five different types of Internet addiction. They are as follows:

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  • Net-Gaming: This doesn't include just playing games

    online, but also gambling in virtual casinos, e-auctions, and online

    shopping. This type of addiction can be expensive as these individuals may

    rake up charges on a spouse's credit card or a hefty Internet phone bill.

  • Cyber-Relational Addiction: Online relationships in chat

    rooms become more important than relationships with family and non-internet

    friends. Concerns that the individual may attempt to meet an online

    acquaintance in person should be taken seriously, as there is no way of

    knowing whom someone met over the Internet.

  • Information Overload: The amount of data available on the

    Internet is virtually unlimited. Some individuals may become obsessed with

    tracking down certain types of information and organizing it. Surfing the

    Web and conducting extensive searches of online databases may become an

    all-consuming activity, reaching obsessive-compulsive levels.

  • Computer Addiction: While not a true Internet addiction,

    computer addiction shares a lot of the same qualities. Computer games that

    can be played without access to the Internet can also become addictive to

    some individuals. This may also happen with games played on platforms such

    as Sega and Play Station.

  • Cyber sexual Addiction: Pornography is easily obtainable

    on the Internet. A determined Internet user may get access to pornographic

    websites despite the use of the most sophisticated parental control

    software. Adolescents and adults who have a cyber sexual addiction typically

    spend time viewing, downloading or trading online pornography. They may also

    participate in adult fantasy and/or role-play chat rooms, typically with

    members much older than themselves. These people may even be enticed to send

    pornographic pictures or videos of themselves to other online users.

Who Can Become an Internet Junkie?



Unfortunately, those who have to spend even their work hours on the

computer, especially those in support services are considered to be mostly at

risk. However, it can be anyone who can access the Internet or computer. With

broadband, work at home projects, and increasing number of B2Bs in India, the

number of affected people can become endless.

Computer Addiction

Services

http://www.computeraddiction.com





Details of symptoms, evaluation techniques, and ways they might be helped.

The Center for Online

Addiction

http://www.netaddiction.com

Recognizing Internet

Addiction in Children

http://www.notmykid.org

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Sikan*, a 45 year-old businessperson and CEO of a computer

services company in Chennai, just cannot stop playing 'Spider Solitaire' on

his computer. He says, "What is wrong with sitting in front of a computer

screen for several hours each day? Most of my employees' do the same, as it is

a computer related business. Therefore, I take a break by playing games. So

what? My family and lot of Indians sit in front of their TVs for similar amounts

of time each night."

Sikan may justify his addiction versus his family's

watching TV, but unfortunately, both are addictions. The problem with Sikan is

that the borderline between work and addiction has been breached. Also, this is

a symptom of the larger problem, namely dysfunctional families.

Sara*, a 15 year-old in India took to her new computer like

fish to water. Her parents were extremely proud that she could do so many things

they couldn't. 'Computer Wiz', is how they referred to her as. They

noticed things were wrong only when she started refusing to go to school and

would spend her time playing computer games at night instead of sleeping. Today,

Sara is a drop out and her parents are trying to get her back into school.

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Why Should Internet Addiction be Taken Seriously?



There is a very wide range of behavior that might be considered addictive,

and not all of it is necessarily harmful. The positive benefits derived from the

pleasure of the addiction need to be weighed against the negative effects it may

have on the rest of a person's life. It is clearly negative if Internet use

becomes obsessive, causing financial, emotional, social, health or marital

problems.

When I asked Dr Alan Auerbach, author and psychology expert,

Canada, if this addiction can cause emotional disorders, he replied, "As

with all addictions, it's hard to state a straight-line connection. Someone

obsessed with making money, for instance, might be happy and productive only

when doing so, whereas someone equally obsessed with a movie star might feel

distress and seek treatment when others deem this to be inappropriate and

wasteful. Moreover, how do we separate the addiction from the secondary effects?

For instance, one gambling addict becomes suicidal when all the money is gone,

whereas another, who gambles only 'on paper,' writes books on probability

theory. A common concern with computer addiction is that it's

anti-social."

Computers have become essential to our daily lives and it is up

to us, to determine, if we wish to be addicts or not. However, if you or you

know someone who is an Internet addict, remember you need to stop living in

denial and seek help. You can find help online or with help of family and 'real'

friends, and make a conscious choice to change. The Internet makes our planet a

small world, but just make sure that this wonderful tool, which binds us, does

not become bondage.

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*Names changed on request.

-Deepa Kandaswamy

The author is the founder-moderator of the IndianWISE e-group

These are personal views

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