Internet Addiction Among Techies

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.

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.

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:

• 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.

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.

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.

*Names changed on request.

-Deepa Kandaswamy

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

These are personal views