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Essay on Computer Addiction | Computer Addiction Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Computer Addiction Essay: Computers become a necessary item in everyone’s life for their office, college work and school work. This piece of technology is very important as, without it, the life of every person would be difficult and hard to manage. The computer has so many advantages, for instance, it can store any document— you can keep records of financial status and save photos and videos as well. However, too much usage of computer is not considered healthy for the mind and the body. In this essay, we will discuss our views on Computer Addiction.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Computer Addiction for Students and Kids in English

A long Essay on Computer Addiction of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for higher class students. For the reference of students, a short Essay on Computer Addiction of 100-150 words has been provided.

Long Essay on Computer Addiction 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Computer Addiction is helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Computer addiction is becoming a serious illness nowadays as people, especially children are spending hours and hours in front of a computer screen watching cartoons and playing games and more. Not only it affects their mental health but also damages their eyesight. With the introduction of Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, and other social media and messaging sites, people spend most of their time texting their friends and practice other online activities.

This makes people lazy and uninterested in other stuff as they want to sit in front of the computer and play games or watch movies in a relaxed manner. Many offices are reliable on the computer for completing their work so employees have to work on the computer for at least 6-8 hours continuously. It affects the mental health of the person along with affecting their physical health. Computer addiction may lead to various things like online gambling, shopping, collection of data, watching adult movies, and more, which is not good for you. If a person is spending more time than usual on a computer that means he/she is suffering from computer addiction.

There are many signs which can tell you that a person is addicted to the computer. One of them is the person won’t have any excitement towards outdoor activities or spending time with family or friends. He/she would prefer sitting in front of the computer and surf the internet for hours. There are four major types of categories for this addiction, which is as follows:

• Information overload: This leads to decreased time with friends and family.
• Compulsions : In this type, work often gets affected by excessive time spent in online activities such as trading of stocks, gambling, gaming, etc.
• Cybersex addiction: Excessive surfing of porn sites leads to stress in real-life relationships.
• Cyber-relationship addiction: Here, the user excessively surfs social networking sites to create relationships and bonds online rather than spending quality time with friends and family.

As a parent or teacher, it is very important to consult the child and advice him/her not to spend too much time on the computer as it is not good for their health. Also, advise your children to share things with you as that makes them feel confident, connected and loved. To prevent computer addiction, you should limit the usage time and should allow your children to use the computer only when necessary.

Give them your time and care so that they get busy with you rather than a computer. Encourage them to play outdoor sports and sometimes join them too. With these precaution and prevention techniques, you can help your kid with computer addiction and make them attentive towards study. Make your kid’s mind active and sharp rather than dull and busy in computers. You can also book an appointment with a psychologist for the cure. Often times, even adults can face this problem, but with proper guidance and motivation, it can be cured.

Short Essay on Computer Addiction 150 words in English

Short Essay on Computer Addiction is helpful to students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Computer addiction is becoming a serious problem in today’s time as people, especially children spend most of their time either on computers or laptops. Children spend the whole day surfing on the internet, watching videos and playing games. These days they also eat their meals while surfing the computer. Addiction to the computer or the web is very dangerous as it will make the person dull and lonely. If a person is addicted to the computer, then he/she will show no interest in any other events.

Many parents are considering this situation as they don’t want their children to just stay in front of the computer screen and become lazy and inattentive. So to avoid these situations, it is important to seek proper guidance. Also, there are many counselling classes where they can help people get rid of computer addiction. The problem can also arise in arising but with a strong urge to stay motivated, the problem can be resolved.

10 Lines on Computer Addiction Essay in English

• Computer addiction is a common problem these days.
• This problem is mostly found in children going to school.
• Computer addiction leads to problems like weak eyesight and mental problems.
• If a person spends more than usual time on the computer that means he has computer addiction.
• Computer addiction makes a person non-interested in other events.
• One of the major reasons for computer addiction is the internet.
• People spend hours and hours on the internet collecting information.
• They become habitual which is not good for their mental as well as physical health.
• To prevent this problem, consult someone who is an expert on these topics.
• Computer addiction is like drug addiction, so it often needs counselling.

FAQ’s on Computer Addiction Essay

Question 1. Which age group has the most cases of computer addiction?

Answer: The cases of computer addiction are mostly found in children and teenagers.

Question 2. What problems can be caused because of computer addiction?

Answer: Problems like weak eyesight, weak mental capability, and headache are common in Computer addiction.

Question 3. How to prevent Computer Addiction?

Answer: You can prevent it by various methods like limiting the time you spend online and allowing the use of the computer only when necessary.

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How to Overcome Your Digital Addiction

In his latest book "digital minimalism," computer science professor cal newport says our drive for social approval is one factor behind the rise of digital addiction..

In a 2016 essay, “ I Used to Be a Human Being ,” Andrew Sullivan explored his debilitating digital addiction. The subtitle of Sullivan’s essay grabs our attention:

An endless bombardment of news and gossip and images has rendered us manic information addicts. It broke me. It might break you, too.

There is at least a bit of Sullivan in many of us, judging by the popularity of computer science professor Cal Newport’s latest book Digital Minimalism . Are we mindlessly spending too much time online and not enough time in the real world?

If your online habits are interfering with your productivity , your leisure time, or your relationships, Newport deserves your rapt attention. Newport has already written several of the most important professional and personal development books of the past decade. In So Good They Can’t Ignore You , Newport debunks the conventional wisdom that following your passion leads to success. In Deep Work , Newport convincingly argues that we’ve fooled ourselves into believing we are effective multitaskers; we would all benefit by more “distraction-free concentration.”

You May Be Addicted

Some scoff at the idea of social media addiction, thinking addiction as something afflicting drug or alcohol abusers.

Facebook and other social media sites are designed to addict you. They use, in Newport’s words, “intermittent positive reinforcement and the drive for social approval” as tools to get you to use their products at the expense of better uses of your time.

Former Google engineer Tristan Harris likened the frequent checking of your phone to using a slot machine:

Every time I check my phone, I’m playing the slot machine to see, “What did I get?

When you post, Newport asks, “Will you get likes (or hearts or retweets), or will it languish with no feedback? The former creates what one Facebook engineer calls “bright dings of pseudo-pleasure.” In 2017, Sean Parker, the first president of Facebook, described “exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology” with the aim of hijacking our attention :

“How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?” It was this mindset that led to the creation of features such as the “like” button that would give users “a little dopamine hit” to encourage them to upload more content.

If you aren’t a Facebook user, don’t think you’re immune from digital addiction. Newport writes,

Many people have the experience of visiting a content website for a specific purpose—say, for example, going to a newspaper site to check the weather forecast—and then find themselves thirty minutes later still mindlessly following trails of links, skipping from one headline to another. This behavior can also be sparked by unpredictable feedback: most articles end up duds, but occasionally you’ll land on one that creates a strong emotion, be it righteous anger or laughter.

Another factor reinforcing “behavioral addiction” is “the drive for social approval.” Newport explains:

In Paleolithic times, it was important that you carefully managed your social standing with other members of your tribe because your survival depended on it… If lots of people click the little heart icon under your latest Instagram post, it feels like the tribe is showing you approval—which we’re adapted to strongly crave. The other side of this evolutionary bargain, of course, is that a lack of positive feedback creates a sense of distress.

With this sense of distress, “an urgent need to continually monitor this ‘vital’ information” can develop.

Towards a Philosophy of Technology Use

If your attention has been hijacked, Newport is convinced you need

a full-fledged philosophy of technology use , rooted in your deep values, that provides clear answers to the questions of what tools you should use and how you should use them and, equally important, enables you to confidently ignore everything else.

Newport recommends Digital Minimalism:

A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.

Are You a Technological Minimalist or a Maximalist?

Most of us, Newport observes, deploy our digital life with an unquestioned maximalist mindset. With a maximalist mindset “any potential for benefit is enough to start using a technology that catches your attention.”

The maximalist is like a politician who looks at the benefits of a program without ever considering its costs.

“Techno-maximalism,” Newport writes, “contends more is better when it comes to technology—more connections, more information, more options.” On the surface techno-maximalism, Newport writes, seems to dovetail

with the general objective of the liberal humanism project to offer individuals more freedom, making it seem vaguely illiberal to avoid a popular social media platform or decline to follow the latest online chatter.

On the contrary, Newport warns, a techno-maximalism approach may not be leading you to freedom:

Outsourcing your autonomy to an attention economy conglomerate—as you do when you mindlessly sign up for whatever new hot service emerges from the Silicon Valley venture capitalist class—is the opposite of freedom, and will likely degrade your individuality.

Be wary, Newport advises

of low-value activities that can clutter up [your] time and attention and end up hurting more than they help.

Out of a fear of “missing out on small things,” are we “diminishing the large things” that “make a good life good”?

If You Want to Change

Awareness of an issue is the foundation for change. A next step is behavioral change. Newport provides many suggestions for behavioral change that may inspire our own. Here are just a few:

Consider a digital declutter.

Are you cluttering your life “with too many devices, apps, and services … that can swamp the small benefits that each individual item provides in isolation”? If so, become more intentional about how you engage with technology.

For example, I gave up on Twitter many years ago; it just took too much of my time and attention. Newport observes,

When people consider specific tools or behaviors in their digital lives, they tend to focus only on the value each produces. Maintaining an active presence on Twitter, for example, might occasionally open up an interesting new connection or expose you to an idea you hadn’t heard before. How much of your time and attention… must be sacrificed to earn the small profit of occasional connections and new ideas that is earned by cultivating a significant presence on Twitter?

Newport exhorts us to

treat the minutes of our life as a concrete and valuable substance—arguably the most valuable substance we possess—and to always reckon with how much of this life we trade for the various activities we allow to claim our time.

Remove social media apps from your phone.

Having removed apps from your phone, you won’t “browse their accounts as a knee-jerk response to boredom.” Newport points out that you can still gain the benefits of those sites through your browser.

Engage in more real-world conversations.

Millennials and others are struggling with face-to-face communications . Newport, building on the work of MIT professor Sherry Turkle, points out that digital interactions are no substitute for face-to-face conversations. Face-to-face, in Turkle’s words, is

where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard, of being understood.

Digital interaction makes a connection but “doesn’t count as conversation” because we miss “nuanced analog cues, such as the tone of [someone’s] voice or facial expressions.”

Reclaim Your Leisure.

Newport points to a crucial element of lasting change: “[B]y cultivating a high-quality leisure life first , it will become easier to minimize low-quality digital diversions later .”

Newport observes,

It’s now easy to fill the gaps between work and caring for your family and sleep by pulling out a smartphone or tablet, and numbing yourself with mindless swiping and tapping.

His recommendation: “Prioritize demanding activity over passive consumption.”

Build things and fix things. Write something. Compose something. Learn to cook. Turn back towards long-abandoned hobbies. Discover new hobbies . You may have abandoned the piano or guitar years ago, but you can begin again.

Newport endorses “activities that require real-world, structured social interactions.” For example, Newport waxes eloquently about the camaraderie in today’s CrossFit community. Until my 30s, hiking club and bicycling club activities were a major part of my leisure activity. Clubs such as the Appalachian Mountain Club still thrive in today’s digital era.

The Question Social Media Companies Don’t Want You to Ask

It’s easy to see why we use social media, but the question we rarely ask is how we use it. Newport writes, “Once people start thinking seriously about the [how], they tend to recognize that they’re spending way too much time online.” Consider this,

Facebook, which had fewer than a million users ten years ago, now has over two billion and is the fifth most valuable company in the US, with a market cap of over $500 billion. ExxonMobil, by contrast, is currently worth around $370 billion. Extracting eyeball minutes , the key resource for companies like Google and Facebook, has become significantly more lucrative than extracting oil.

Newport’s book helps us examine how we use technology and offers “highly selective and intentional ways [to use it] that yield big wins.”

With mindful use of technology, we can say: “Because of technology, I’m a better human being than I ever was before.”

Barry Brownstein is professor emeritus of economics and leadership at the University of Baltimore. 

To receive Barry's essays subscribe at his Substack,  Mindset Shifts .

His essays also appear at the American Institute for Economic Research, Intellectual Takeout, Learn Liberty, The Epoch Times and many other publications. Barry’s essays have been translated into many languages, most frequently Spanish and Portuguese. He is the author of The Inner-Work of Leadership.

Barry holds a Ph.D. in economics from Rutgers University and a B.S. in mathematical statistics from CCNY. 

More By Barry Brownstein

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How to Know If You Have an Internet Addiction and What to Do About It

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

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• Top 5 Things to Know

Internet Addiction in Kids

• What to Do If You're Addicted

Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes dependent on the Internet or other online devices as a maladaptive way of coping with life's stresses.

Internet addiction has and is becoming widely recognized and acknowledged. So much so that in 2020, the World Health Organization formally recognized addiction to digital technology as a worldwide problem, where excessive online activity and Internet use lead to struggles with time management, sleep, energy, and attention.

Top 5 Things to Know About Internet Addiction

• Internet addiction is not yet an officially recognized mental disorder. Researchers have formulated diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction, but it is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) . However, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is included as a condition for further study, and Internet addiction is developing as a specialist area.
• At least three subtypes of Internet addiction have been identified: video game addiction , cybersex or online sex addiction, and online gambling addiction .
• Increasingly, addiction to mobile devices, such as cellphones and smartphones, and addiction to social networking sites, such as Facebook, are being investigated. There may be overlaps between each of these subtypes. For example, online gambling involves online games, and online games may have elements of pornography.
• Sexting , or sending sexually explicit texts, has landed many people in trouble. Some have been teens who have found themselves in hot water with child pornography charges if they are underage. It can also be a potential gateway to physical infidelity .
• Treatment for Internet addiction is available, but only a few specialized Internet addiction services exist. However, a psychologist with knowledge of addiction treatment will probably be able to help.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database .

As Internet addiction is not formally recognized as an addictive disorder, it may be difficult to get a diagnosis. However, several leading experts in the field of behavioral addiction have contributed to the current knowledge of symptoms of Internet addiction. All types of Internet addiction contain the following four components:  

Excessive Use of the Internet

Despite the agreement that excessive Internet use is a key symptom, no one seems able to define exactly how much computer time counts as excessive. While guidelines suggest no more than two hours of screen time per day for youths under 18, there are no official recommendations for adults.

Furthermore, two hours can be unrealistic for people who use computers for work or study. Some authors add the caveat “for non-essential use,” but for someone with Internet addiction, all computer use can feel essential.

Here are some questions from Internet addiction assessment instruments that will help you to evaluate how much is too much.

How Often Do You...

• Stay online longer than you intended?
• Hear other people in your life complain about how much time you spend online?
• Say or think, “Just a few more minutes” when online?
• Try and fail to cut down on how much time you spend online?
• Hide how long you’ve been online?

If any of these situations are coming up on a daily basis, you may be addicted to the Internet.

Although originally understood to be the basis of physical dependence on alcohol or drugs, withdrawal symptoms are now being recognized in behavioral addictions, including Internet addiction.

Common Internet withdrawal symptoms include anger, tension, and depression when Internet access is not available.   These symptoms may be perceived as boredom, joylessness, moodiness, nervousness, and irritability when you can’t go on the computer.

Tolerance is another hallmark of alcohol and drug addiction and seems to be applicable to Internet addiction as well.   This can be understood as wanting—and from the user's point of view, needing—more and more computer-related stimulation. You might want ever-increasing amounts of time on the computer, so it gradually takes over everything you do. The quest for more is likely a predominant theme in your thought processes and planning.

Negative Repercussions

If Internet addiction caused no harm, there would be no problem. But when excessive computer use becomes addictive, something starts to suffer.

One negative effect of internet addiction is that you may not have any offline personal relationships, or the ones you do have may be neglected or suffer arguments over your Internet use.

• Online affairs can develop quickly and easily, sometimes without the person even believing online infidelity is cheating on their partner.
• You may see your grades and other achievements suffer from so much of your attention being devoted to Internet use.
• You may also have little energy for anything other than computer use—people with Internet addiction are often exhausted from staying up too late on the computer and becoming sleep deprived.
• Finances can also suffer , particularly if your addiction is for online gambling, online shopping, or cybersex.

Internet addiction is particularly concerning for kids and teens. Children lack the knowledge and awareness to properly manage their own computer use and have no idea about the potential harms that the Internet can open them up to. The majority of kids have access to a computer, and it has become commonplace for kids and teens to carry cellphones.

While this may reassure parents that they can have two-way contact with their child in an emergency, there are very real risks that this constant access to the Internet can expose them to.

• Children have become increasingly accustomed to lengthy periods of time connected to the Internet, disconnecting them from the surrounding world.
• Children who own a computer and have privileged online access have an increased risk of involvement in cyberbullying , both as a victim and as a perpetrator.  
• Children who engage in problematic internet use are more likely to use their cellphone for cybersex, particularly through sexting, or access apps which could potentially increase the risk of sex addiction and online sexual harms, such as Tinder.  

In addition, kids who play games online often face peer pressure to play for extended periods of time in order to support the group they are playing with or to keep their skills sharp. This lack of boundaries can make kids vulnerable to developing video game addiction.   This can also be disruptive to the development of healthy social relationships and can lead to isolation and victimization.

Children and teens are advised to have no more than two hours of screen time per day.

What to Do If You Have an Internet Addiction

If you recognize the symptoms of Internet addiction in yourself or someone in your care, talk to your doctor about getting help. As well as being able to provide referrals to Internet addiction clinics, psychologists, and other therapists, your doctor can prescribe medications or therapy to treat an underlying problem if you have one, such as depression or social anxiety disorder.

Internet addiction can also overlap with other behavioral addictions, such as work addiction, television addiction , and smartphone addiction.

Internet addiction can have devastating effects on individuals, families, and particularly growing children and teens. Getting help may be challenging but can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

Dresp-Langley B, Hutt A. Digital addiction and sleep .  IJERPH . 2022;19(11):6910. doi:10.3390/ijerph19116910

American Psychiatric Association. Internet Gaming .

Young KS, de Abreu CN. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment . New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.; 2011.

Holoyda B, Landess J, Sorrentino R, Friedman SH. Trouble at teens' fingertips: Youth sexting and the law .  Behav Sci Law . 2018;36(2):170-181. doi:10.1002/bsl.2335

Jorgenson AG, Hsiao RC, Yen CF.  Internet Addiction and Other Behavioral Addictions .  Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am . 2016;25(3):509-520. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2016.03.004

Reid Chassiakos YL, Radesky J, Christakis D, Moreno MA, Cross C. Children and Adolescents and Digital Media . Pediatrics . 2016;138(5):e20162593. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2593

Musetti A, Cattivelli R, Giacobbi M, et al. Challenges in Internet Addiction Disorder: Is a Diagnosis Feasible or Not ?  Front Psychol . 2016;7:842. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00842

Walrave M, Heirman W. Cyberbullying: Predicting Victimisation and Perpetration . Child Soc . 2011;25:59-72. doi:10.1111/j.1099-0860.2009.00260.x

Gámez-Guadix M, De Santisteban P. "Sex Pics?": Longitudinal Predictors of Sexting Among Adolescents . J Adolesc Health. 2018;63(5):608-614. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.05.032

Hilgard J, Engelhardt CR, Bartholow BD. Individual differences in motives, preferences, and pathology in video games: the gaming attitudes, motives, and experiences scales (GAMES) . Front Psychol. 2013;4:608. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00608

Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M. Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views .  Int J Prev Med . 2012;3(4):290-294.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2013.

By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. 

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How to Avoid Internet Addiction

Last Updated: April 17, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Wes Pinkston . Wes Pinkston is a Certified Holistic Life Coach and the Founder of Wes Pinkston Life Coaching. With more than five years of experience, he specializes in helping people achieve greater fulfillment and understand their full potential. He received his Holistic Lifestyle Coach Certification from The CHEK Institute. This article has been viewed 651,187 times.

Internet addiction is a common problem that can be just as damaging as any other form of addiction. If you are concerned that you may be too dependent on the internet, there are several strategies you can use to curb your internet usage. Start by limiting when you will allow yourself to use the internet, such as by keeping a diary of your internet use and specifying when you will allow yourself to log on. You can also remove the temptation to go online by shutting off devices, putting devices in another room to charge, or unplugging your wifi. Developing healthy habits can also help you to cut back on your internet use and feel better overall.

Block Tempting Websites

• If you are worried about missing an urgent phone call or text, set your phone to silent, but with an exception to ring or buzz for phone calls or texts from certain contacts.

Did you know? Bedtime browsing can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep due to the blue light that your smart phone emits, so stopping bedtime browsing may also help you to sleep better . [6] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

• If the temptation to browse is strong and you find yourself absentmindedly logging on, always unplug your wifi router for a portion of the time you are at home. Unplugging is also a good option if you have other household members who want to cut back on their internet usage.

Developing Healthier Habits

• For example, you could keep a knitting project in your purse and pick it up any time you find yourself wanting to check social media.
• Or, you could keep a small paperback book with you during the day and read whenever you’d normally browse the internet.

• Going for a walk in nature
• Calling a friend to talk
• Taking a bubble bath
• Engaging in a favorite hobby

Tip : Some people turn to the internet is because they feel lonely, but the internet is not a substitute for connecting with people in-person. Make sure to balance your virtual socializing with in-person socializing.

• Internet usage interferes with your normal daily activities, such as making you late for appointments, school, or work.
• Staying up late browsing the internet becomes the norm and you get less sleep as a result.
• You find it difficult to focus on other tasks, such as work or school assignments, because you keep logging on to check things.
• Cutting back on your internet use makes you feel irritated or anxious.
• You withdraw from social activities and lose interest in doing things you use to enjoy. [15] X Research source
• You feel worried that you might miss out on something if you don’t check the internet regularly. [16] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

Tracking and Limiting Internet Use

• For example, you might limit your internet use to the hours of 3:00-5:00 pm daily and make the internet off limits at other times of day.
• Or, you could break your internet use into 2 time blocks, such as from 9:00-10:00 am and 7:00-8:00 pm daily.

Tip : Avoid distracting yourself with things that are like using the internet, such as computer or video games. Try to do something immersive that does not involve looking at a screen.

• For example, you could start by waiting 15 minutes to check the internet, then wait to check it again for 30 minutes, then wait 45 minutes, then wait 1 hour, and so on.
• See what feels comfortable for you. You may be able to increase your time in 20 or 30 minute increments, or you might find that you need to increase it more gradually, such as 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, and so on.

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

Tips from our Readers

• For me, I will feel super defensive when my mom or a friend tells me I've been on the internet for too long. But I started to realize that if other people are noticing how often I'm online, it might be a problem. If people are telling you to spend more time offline, hear them out.
• Just some motivation: I deleted all of my social media like Snapchat and Instagram, and was able to beat the addiction. Deleting the apps really helped me, and it might help you.
• Start playing some in-person games with friends, such as board games or RPGs. There are lots of real life games that are just as fun as internet games.
• If you can't stop playing on your computer or phone before bed, give it to someone you trust so you can't use it.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/smartphone-addiction.htm
• ↑ Tiffany Douglass, MA. Founder, Wellness Retreat Recovery Center. Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.
• ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-quit-mindlessly-surfing-the-internet-and-actually-get-stuff-done/
• ↑ https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9af2/93c4e273434b419c849f8e971f086e3bc8e7.pdf
• ↑ Wes Pinkston. Certified Holistic Life Coach. Expert Interview. 18 January 2022.
• ↑ https://www.womansday.com/relationships/family-friends/a4508/is-your-child-addicted-to-the-internet-101986/

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Overcoming internet addiction can be really hard, but by limiting your time on computers and keeping busy with other things, it'll be much easier. Try setting a timer when you're online, so you don’t lose track of time and waste your evening. It’s okay to go on the internet to entertain yourself sometimes, but make sure you finish your studying, work, and chores so it doesn’t disrupt the important things in your life. You should also schedule time to hang out with your friends to give you quality time away from the internet. Start a hobby that doesn’t involve technology, like playing a sport, learning a musical instrument, or drawing, if you don’t already have one. This will give you something fun to do when you're not online. For more tips, including how to have fun with your family without the internet, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Internet Addiction

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

More a popular idea than a scientifically valid concept, internet addiction is the belief that people can become so dependent on using their mobile phones or other electronic devices that they lose control of their own behavior and suffer negative consequences. The harm is alleged to stem both from direct involvement with the device—something that has never been proven—and from the abandonment of other activities, such as studying, face-to-face socializing, or sleep.

• What Is Internet Addiction?
• Signs of Excessive Internet Use
• Internet Use and Mental Health
• What to Do About Internet Addiction

There is much debate in the scientific community about whether excessive internet use can be classified as a true addiction. In an addiction to substances such as drugs or alcohol , consumption ceases being pleasurable but continues and is difficult to escape even as the likelihood of harm to the body and life mounts. In the case of internet use, there is no clear point at which being online becomes non-pleasurable for most individuals. In part for this reason, behavioral "addictions," including using the internet, remain controversial: Experts debate where the line should be drawn between passionate absorption in any activity—say, devoting a lot of time to playing the cello or reading books—and being stuck in a rut of compulsivity that stops being useful and detrimentally affects other areas of life.

In preparing the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , psychiatrists and other experts debated whether to include internet addiction. They decided that there was not enough scientific evidence to support inclusion at this time, although the DSM-5 does recognize Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting further study.

Most often, the word “addiction” is used in the colloquial sense. Common Sense Media finds that 59 percent of parents “feel” their kids are addicted to their mobile devices—just as 27 percent of the parents feel that they themselves are. Sixty-nine percent of parents say they check their own devices at least hourly, as do 78 percent of teens. Spending a lot of time on the internet is increasingly considered normal behavior, especially for adolescents. Much of their social activity has simply moved online. Like any new technology, the computer has changed the way everyone lives, learns, and communicates. It is possible to be online far too much, even though this does not constitute a true addiction in the eyes of most clinicians. 

Internet content creators leverage the ways in which the brain works to rally consumers '  attention . One simple example: A perceived threat activates your fight-or-flight response, a part of the brain known as the Reticular Activating System mobilizes the body for action. So online content exploits potential dangers—violence, natural disaster, disease, etc.—to attract and hold your attention.  

Problematic or excessive internet use can indeed pose a serious problem. It can displace such important needs as sleep, homework, and exercise, often a source of friction between parents and teens. It can have negative effects on real-life relationships. 

The idea of internet addiction is a particular concern among parents, who worry about the harmful effects of screen time and often argue about device use with their children. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Common Sense Media, children aged 8 to 12 now spend 5 hours a day on digital devices, while teens clock more than 7 hours—not including schoolwork. Teen screen time is slowly ticking upward, and most teens take their phones to bed with them.

Whether classified as an addiction or not, heavy use of technology can be detrimental. It can impair focus, resulting in poor performance at school or work. Excessive internet consumption also makes it more difficult for people to communicate normally or to regulate their emotions. They spend less time on non-internet-related activities at the cost of relationships with friends, family, and significant others.

One way to assess whether you’re using the internet too much is to ask yourself if your basics needs (or your child’s, if they are the concern) are being met. Do you sleep enough, eat healthy, get enough exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time socializing in-person? The real harm of screen time may lie in missed opportunities for growth and connection.

Excessive screen time can be particularly harmful to a developing brain: It decreases focus and attention span while increasing the need for more constant stimulation and instant gratification. Those who use the internet excessively may feel anxious if their access to their device gets restricted. They tend to be more impulsive and struggle to recognize facial and nonverbal cues in real life.

Internet use becomes a problem when people start substituting online connections for real, physical relationships. The effects of technology on relationships include increased isolation and loneliness . Defaulting to online communication also denies us the opportunity to hear someone’s voice and read their facial cues in-person; it can also lead to poorer outcomes and miscommunication. Experts recommend that we save the important conversations for when we can be face-to-face for just this reason.   

Online content has been designed to elicit specific “checking habits,” which can result in distraction and poor performance at school or work. Constantly checking your smartphone or another device can also lead to relationship-sabotaging behaviors, like phubbing (snubbing loved ones for the instant gratification of checking the internet on your device). As more time is spent online, less is devoted to the natural pleasures of everyday life.  

Excessive use of the internet is known to negatively impact a person’s mental health. It has been associated with mental health issues, such as loneliness, depression , anxiety , and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research suggests that people are likely to use the internet more as an emotional crutch to cope with negative feelings instead of addressing them in proactive and healthy ways.

This is a subject of debate at present. While internet addiction is not in the DSM-V, it is clearly a behavior that negatively impacts mental health and cognition for many, and many struggle to cut back on their time online. The term "addiction" is often used as a shorthand for, “My child spends a lot of time on social media , texting friends, or playing video games, and I’m worried how it will affect his or her future development and success.” At the same time, many people label it a behavioral addiction, engaging reward circuitry seen in other problematic behaviors such as gambling.

Time online is also sometimes used as an escape from boredom or relief from loneliness or other unpleasantness. Occasionally, excessive screen time masks a state of depression or anxiety. In such cases, digital engagement becomes an attempt to remedy the feelings of distress caused by true mental health disorders that could likely benefit from professional or other attention.

Given how much people rely on technology to complete everyday tasks, from online schooling to paying bills to ordering food to keeping in touch with loved ones who are far away, it isn’t feasible to stop using the internet altogether. In most cases, the goal should be to reduce the time spent online. Many of those who’ve struggled to balance internet use with other activities recommend such simple “digital detox” measures as leaving devices in the kitchen or any other room but the bedroom at night. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help address addiction-like behaviors, like constant checking habits. 

Amidst growing concerns about the increased amount of time people are spending online, the “digital detox” has become a popular way to cope. A digital detox involves temporarily abstaining from using devices, like computers and smartphones. Someone may go on a digital detox in order to re-engage with a passion or activity, focus more on in-person interactions, or break free of a pattern of compulsive or excessive use. Digital detoxes also allow more time for self-care that a person may have been neglecting in order to stay plugged into the internet, which can lead to lower stress levels and better sleep.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You may want to digitally detox if you notice that you’re experiencing sleep disruptions due to staying up late or waking up early to be on a device, if the internet is making you feel depressed, or if the constant need to be connected causes you stress. Other signs may include feeling anxious if you can’t locate your phone, having FOMO ( fear of missing out) if you’re not checking the internet or social media, struggling to focus without (or due to) constant checking behaviors, etc.

Unlike other detoxes where the goal is to abstain completely, digital detoxes are more flexible and tailored to the individual. It may not be possible due to work or personal obligations to shut your devices off entirely for long periods of time. If it’s time for a digital detox , there are some strategies you can try: Block off non-screen time during the day and/or night, set a “digital curfew” for using devices at night or on weekends, specify digital-free spaces in your home (e.g., the bedroom or dinner table), and use the additional time in fulfilling ways (e.g., socialize, rekindle old interests, volunteer, etc.).

Use the internet and social media with purpose; set time limits on your unstructured use to avoid going down long and unfulfilling rabbit holes. Take advantage of the extra free time you suddenly have. Spend more time socializing in-person and volunteer. Rekindle old interests or take up a new hobby. Go outside. Pay more attention to how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally.

Turning off your phone notifications is good for you and your kids. Try intermittent phone fasting for a few days and see if you agree!

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Internet Addiction

Overview of internet addiction.

Internet addiction is defined as an unhealthy behavior that interferes with and causes stress in one’s personal, school, and/or work life. Like other addictions, compulsive Internet usage completely dictates a person’s life. Addicts struggle to control their behavior, causing a sense of despair, leading them to dive further in their addictive pattern. After some time, addicts become dependent on cyberspace to feel normal.

Signs & Symptoms

Some of the signs and symptoms are lack of sleep and excess fatigue; withdrawal from campus and social activities and events; declining grades; lying about how much time is spent online and what they do there; and general apathy, edginess, or irritability when off-line.

The best prevention is education about the difference between Internet use and abuse and to raise awareness. One should also have a good understanding of the importance of social interaction. Ultimately, face-to-face contact contributes to a sense of psychological security and happiness. Lastly a person should have a general knowledge of the social activities and events the campus has to offer.

Abstinence from the Internet is not recommended for Internet addicts because the use of the Internet is sometimes required for ones work or school life. For some people treatment may involve learning time management skills, setting goals, using reminder cards, or developing a personal inventory. Others may want to seek counseling and support groups or family therapy.

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Computer Addiction in Modern Society Essay

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Introduction

What is it, reference list.

In psychology, addiction put in simple terms is dependency on substance or behavior. Dependency here is taken to imply an individual will do something to the extent of interfering with normal life functions; moreover, no matter how he/she tries to quit this action or behavior, he/she encounters difficulties.

Historically, addiction was taken to imply dependency on psychoactive substances; however, in contemporary times psychologists consider including things like pornography, work, computers, and gambling among others in the definition of addiction.

Maressa Hecht Orzack comes in at this point where she introduces computer addiction by claiming it is addiction just like any other addiction; for instance, alcohol addiction. Maressa’s definition that, computer addiction is an accurate description of what goes on when people spend large amount of time working on computers or online is true, timely, and ‘accurate’ and the writer of this paper strongly agrees with these claims.

In her paper, Drug Addiction, What Is It? Maressa brings in a deep analysis of what she perceives as a new trend of addiction, ‘computer addiction.’ Psychologists agree that addiction is a ‘hiding place’ where people resort when under pressure or when running from something in their lives say, a duty or one’s past.

Similarly, those caught in this newfound addiction have boldly confessed to be running from something in their lives. For instance, Maressa opens her paper by confessing she almost fell into this addiction; reason, she was running from her anger and inability to understand a new computer program manual, something that led her to escape to solitaire.

The habit of finding reprieve in something more interesting and pleasing in trying times is common with human nature. People tend to evade the reality, choosing to live their own lives as they find convenient. Unfortunately, fantasy does not mimic reality; sooner, these people find themselves at the point where they started with unmet obligations. Probably, Maressa had to face the reality of learning the computer programs with patience and persistence.

Taking a closer look into the events of addicts according to classical definition of addiction, one realizes a common factor, excessive use, and dependence on a substance. Maressa draws from this observation when she notes, “I concluded that this inappropriate and excessive use of the computer might be a distinct disorder” (Orzack, 1998).

Note the words she uses; ‘inappropriate,’ and ‘excessive’ and this fits well in the classical definition of ‘addiction’ as aforementioned. Moreover, in spite of knowing the debilitating effects of this behavior, the affected people compulsively continue practicing it, implying they have no control over themselves; hence dependency. In another case presented, by Maressa, Patient D resorted to computer games running away from her car wreckage.

This goes back to the initial argument that addicts are ever running from something in their lives. Maressa notes that people are hooked to computers because they derive some form of satisfaction and pleasure from it. This satisfaction and pleasure leads one to spend unusually more time on computer hence addiction. Nevertheless, there has been controversy concerning this issue; fortunately, Maressa offers a way out.

Maressa notes categorically that there is thin line between productive use of computer and addiction. However, she is quick to point out even productive practices may turn addictive. For instance, she cites a group of people working on developing new computer hardware.

These people excluded themselves from normal lives, spending most of their time in laboratory, something that affected their social lives with regard to family and friends. Even though this practice was productive, it led to addiction and this qualifies Maressa’s definition of addiction. Unfortunately, computer usage is becoming inevitable with the revolution that information technology is causing in all life practices. What is the way out of this quagmire? Maressa offers insight to this issue by comparing it with eating disorder.

Feeding is inevitable and there is no way individuals can abstain from eating even those addicted. Nevertheless, these individuals can adopt healthy feeding habits; similarly, computer addicts can adopt healthy computer usage practices with help of professionals to overcome their addiction. Therefore, Maressa’s observation on computer addiction is correct given that, it shares most factors with other known forms of addiction.

Computer addiction as Maressa defines it is an accurate description of what goes on when people spend large amount of time working on computers or online. Based on knowledge from earlier studies on addiction, this definition fits in clearly. Classical definition of addiction considered addiction as dependency on substance use characterized by continued and compulsive use of drugs.

Based on this observation, the key words here are ‘continued’ and ‘compulsive’ and when applied in computer usage, these terms qualify such a practice abusive. Maressa gives a detailed account of how people in the past have used computer to hide from life realities thus being hooked including her experience in 1995 when she was trying to run from studying new computer programs. Therefore, Maressa’s definition of ‘computer addiction’ is true and precise.

Orzack, M. H. (1998). Computer Addiction. What Is It? Psychiatric Times. Web.

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Essay on Computer Addiction in English

Table of Contents

Many people around the world are addicted to their computer screens. They sit in front of their computer systems for hours and neglect all the other tasks that need to be completed. They grow so addicted to computer that it begins to have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives. It also affects their health.

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Long and Short Essay on Computer Addiction in English

Here are essay on computer addiction of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exam.

These long and short Computer Addiction Essay are written in simple English to let to easily understand the subject.

After going through the following Computer Addiction essay you will know what computer addiction is, what the symptoms of computer addiction are, how is computer addiction equivalent to drug addiction, ways to treat computer addiction, etc.

So go ahead and choose your needed ones from the following variety of essays:

Short Essay on Computer Addiction 200 Words

Computer addiction is among one of the many new age addictions impacting the lives of millions across the globe. Just like other types of addictions such as alcohol addiction, mobile addiction, gaming addiction and drug addiction, computer addiction is also impacting people’s life in many ways.

Many people turn to their computers just to kill boredom, others view it as an escape from their problems while yet others use it to explore all that it has to offer. While it is alright to use the computer for all the above reasons, it is important to know when to stop. You need to define the number of hours you shall be spending on the computer and stick to it. This is a good way to discipline your life and avoid getting addicted to the computer.

People suffering from computer addiction lead a miserable life. They incur various health problems such as neck and back ache, itchy and dry eyes, chronic migraine, excessive weight gain, carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia and even depression. They also grow distant from their loved ones and suffer from loneliness. They lose interest in work and other activities that are necessary for their mental and physical development. Their professional life also goes for a toss.

Thus, computer addiction is as bad as any other kind of addiction. It must not be taken lightly. A therapist can help you get over it.

Essay on Computer Addiction 300 words: A Cause of Concern

Persistent and compulsive usage of computer is termed as computer addiction. Many people in the modern day society are addicted to computer. They spend a lot of time playing games, surfing the internet and chatting online on their computer systems. They give priority to these activities over other things in life. This strains their relationships, harms their health and degrades their performance at work.

Signs and Symptoms of Computer Addicts

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of computer addicts:

• They are always preoccupied with computers. You will always find them sitting in front of it.
• They look for reasons to get back to the computer.
• They begin to ignore their loved ones.
• They skip family gatherings and important business meetings just to stay back with their computer.
• They lose interest in real activities.
• They act defensively when asked about the amount of time spent on the computer. They try to justify their computer usage and deny that they are addicted to it.
• They feel irritated and restless when asked to turn off the computer.
• They experience frequent mood swings.
• They lose sense of time and delay important tasks.
• They feel happy only when they are in front of their computer screens.

Computer Addiction: Bad for Health

Computer addiction is extremely bad for a person’s health. First of all, it causes sleep disturbance. Computer addicts find it hard to get away from the computer and thus begin to sleep late at night. Their sleep pattern is disturbed and they often experience sleep deprivation. This leads to lethargy, migraine and strained eyes. Dry and itchy eyes and weakened eyesight is a common problem among computer addicts. Sitting in front of the computer for long hours also causes neck and back ache. Computer addicts also experience carpal tunnel syndrome.

Most of them gain weight and stand a high risk of developing problems like heart disease and diabetes.

Computer addiction can take a toll on a person’s life. It is important to get rid of this addiction to improve the quality of life.

Essay on Computer Addiction 400 words: as Dangerous as Drug Addiction

Most people are not ready to indulge in outdoor activities these days. They are mostly busy watching TV, surfing the internet or engrossed in their mobile or computer. Over the time, these sources of entertainment turn into serious addictions. One such addiction is the computer addiction. Many people around the world are known to be addicted to their computer screens. They spend several hours a day in front their computer screens and even the thought of leaving it makes them feel restless.

Similarity between Computer Addiction and Drug Addiction

Computer addicts are as vulnerable as drug addicts. Just as drug addicts aren’t able to get rid of their habit of using drug computer addicts are not able to leave their computer. They gain pleasure by its use. It takes them into a state of euphoria. It is quite similar to the effect rendered by different drugs.

Both computer addicts and drug addicts display compulsive behaviour. They begin to isolate socially. They ignore their parents, children, spouse and friends, miss social events and avoid real interactions. They love staying hooked to their respective addictions. It is the only thing that makes them happy.

However, the happiness rendered by both these addictions is temporary. Soon, these addicts begin to experience the negative impact of these addictions. They feel lonely and depressed. Their performance dips and they are unable to focus on anything. They also grow weak physically and are at a risk of incurring serious illnesses.

Their mental health deteriorates. They become forgetful, restless and often develop anxiety issues. Many of them go into depression. It has also been observed that computer addicts are at a greater risk of developing drug and alcohol addiction. When someone suffers from both the conditions, it is referred to as dual diagnosis.

It is possible to overcome both these addictions with some effort. Some changes in the lifestyle and support from family and friends can help in this direction. One can also seek professional help to get rid of these addictions. Special therapy sessions are conducted to help the addicts. It may take some time to heal these and there are chances of relapse in both the cases.

Computer addiction must be taken seriously. If you find yourself wasting time in front of the computer unnecessarily and feel it is harming your personal and professional life then it is time to take charge of the situation. You must get rid of it while there is still time.

Long Essay on Computer Addiction 500 words: Ways to Treat

Most working professionals these days spend a lot of time in front of their computer screens. They feel relieved when they finally turn it off and head back home. Computer addicts also spend several hours in front of their computer screens. However, they find it difficult to turn off their computer and feel anxious even at the thought of parting with it. Computer addicts feel the urge to stay logged on to their computer systems all the time. This condition should be cured well in time else it can have numerous negative repercussions.

Ways to Treat Computer Addiction

Getting rid of computer addiction is as difficult as treating any other kind of addiction. However, one can get over it with persistent effort, determination and support from loved ones. Here are few ways to help computer addicts overcome their addiction:

• Limit Computer Usage

One of the first things you should do is to define the number of hours you will be using the computer. You must make sure you do all that you want to on your computer during that time. Do not exceed the number of hours if you are really aiming to get over your computer addiction.

• Seek Support from Loved Ones

Your loved ones will always be glad to help you overcome any bad habit or addiction. You just have to discuss things with them and they will support you.

Try to spend more and more time with your family members. Talk to them, help them with their tasks, go out with them and indulge in other activities that you love doing together. Similarly, plan outings with your friends or invite them over to your place. This is a good way to stay away from your computer system.

• Use Computer only for Essential Tasks

Use your computer only when you require doing an essential work that cannot be avoided. Do not use it just to kill boredom and waste time. Also, if you can refer to a book to complete your assignment then use it rather than looking for information on the computer.

Channelize your energy in activities that impact your health, growth and development in a positive way. It is a good idea to develop a workout routine. This will keep your mind off the computer. It will also help combat stress that is caused when you are away from your system.

• Join a Hobby

It is suggested to join a hobby class or indulge in an activity you love. Make it a habit to devote at least an hour to such an activity every day. You will enjoy it and l look forward to it. It may soon replace a substantial time spent on the computer.

• Seek Professional Help

There are therapists and counsellors that can help you overcome computer addiction by providing professional guidance. If you are not able to get rid of this addiction even after trying all the above then it is suggested to seek professional help.

Though it is difficult to get over computer addiction, you can do so with some effort. You just require distracting your mind with something interesting and positive. It may take time but eventually you will be able to achieve your goal.

Essay on Computer Addiction 600 words: Impact

Computer addiction is a bigger problem than many of us think. Its impact is similar to any other addiction. Computer addicts begin to give priority to the computer more than anything else in life. They ignore their studies, work, relationships and health. This impacts their health as well as social life that ultimately leads to suffering at different levels.

Impact of Computer Addiction

Here is a look at the negative impact of computer addiction:

• Social Isolation

Computer addicts avoid social gatherings and important events just to spend time on their computer. They gradually become socially isolated and find it difficult to interact with people in real life. As a result, many of them develop low self esteem. This hampers their personal as well as professional life.

• Strained Relationships

Computer addicts ignore their loved ones and gradually grow apart as they have no time for them. All their time is spent on their computer systems. This can be heart breaking and impacts the addicts as well as those around them.

• Loss of Interest in Real Activities

They lose interest in real life activities and events. This impacts their growth and development. Students and young professionals addicted to computer are thus worst affected by it. At an age when they should learn and grow, they are glued to their computer screens.

• Dip in Performance

Students addicted to computer ignore their homework, neglect important assignments, do not devote enough time to learn their lessons and miss their coaching classes. Academic performance of these students dips. They also lose interest in sports and other co-curricular activities. Working professionals lose interest in their work and thus miss good opportunities for career growth. Many of them skip important business meetings, take unnecessary leaves and miss deadlines due to this addiction.

• Inability to Concentrate

Computer addicts lose the ability to focus on anything other than computer. They aren’t able to concentrate on any productive task.

• Mental Health at Stake

The mental health of computer addicts deteriorates. They feel stressed because of excessive use of computer and also when they are away from it. They are more susceptible to incurring problems such as depression and anxiety.

• Behavioural Issues

Computer addicts often grow irritable, restless and aggressive. They experience frequent bouts of anger and react inappropriately in most situations. They have frequent mood swings.

• Weight Gain

They begin to lead a sedentary life and gain weight. This leads to many serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension to name a few.

• Frequent Headache

Staring at the computer screen for hours leads to frequent headache. Many computer addicts develop chronic migraine.

• Weakened Eyesight

Staying glued to the computer screen for hours strains the eyes. The eyesight of computer addicts weakens over the time.

• Disturbed Sleep Pattern

Computer addiction disturbs the sleep pattern as addicts lose sense of time. They are unable to leave their computer systems until late at night. Disturbed sleep pattern can cause stress, lethargy and weaken the immune system.

• Back Ache and Spondylitis

Sitting straight in front of the computer system continuously for hours often causes back ache and severe problem of spondylitis. Many times, it becomes difficult to cure these conditions.

• Financial Issues

Computer addicts often spend a lot of money on computer accessories and parts. Many of them also get into the habit of online shopping and keep purchasing things that they do not even require. Besides, they require spending on therapies and medicines to cure serious conditions they incur due to computer addiction. Thus, they often face financial issues.

Computer addiction impacts our life at various levels and can ruin every aspect of our being. It is important to stay away from it in order to lead a good life. Take the help of your family friends, relatives, community members or your own will power to get out of addiction.

Essay on Computer Addiction FAQs

What is computer addiction in your own words.

Computer addiction is when someone spends too much time on a computer, and it becomes a problem in their life, like a habit they can't control.

What is the cause of computer addiction?

The cause of computer addiction can be a strong desire for entertainment or a way to escape from problems in real life.

What are the 5 types of computer addiction?

The five types of computer addiction include gaming addiction, social media addiction, online shopping addiction, information overload addiction, and cyber-relationship addiction.

What is the conclusion of computer addiction?

Computer addiction can have serious consequences on a person's well-being and relationships.

What is the effect of computer addiction?

The effects of computer addiction can include physical health problems, social isolation, and neglect of responsibilities.

What is the addiction of modern technology?

The addiction of modern technology refers to an excessive reliance on and attachment to various digital devices and platforms.

What is internet addiction in today's world?

Internet addiction in today's world is when people can't control their use of the internet, leading to negative impacts on their daily life.

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Creating a healthy balance.

Extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens

Technology is everywhere, and it is not going away. Teenagers stare down at their iPhones, or keep their eyes glued to a tablet or laptop, instead of observing the world around them. It's not unusual to see two adolescents seated together on a bus, texting furiously on their mobiles rather than talking to one another. The fact that teens are so dependent on technology makes sense in our world, but it may also lead to negative consequences.

What is technology addiction?

Technology addiction can be defined as frequent and obsessive technology-related behavior increasingly practiced despite negative consequences to the user of the technology. An over-dependence on tech can significantly impact students' lives. While we need technology to survive in a modern social world, a severe overreliance on technology—or an addiction to certain facets of its use—can also be socially devastating. Tech dependence can lead to teen consequences that span from mild annoyance when away from technology to feelings of isolation, extreme anxiety, and depression.

What makes technology addictive?

Technology fulfills our natural human need for stimulation, interaction, and changes in environment with great efficiency. When teenagers experience stress, be it romantic rejection or a poor grade on an exam, technology can become a quick and easy way to fill basic needs, and as such, can become addictive.

Technology impacts the pleasure systems of the brain in ways similar to substances. It provides some of the same reward that alcohol and other drugs might: it can be a boredom buster, a social lubricant, and an escape from reality.

Video and computer games, smart phones and tablets, social media and the Internet provide a variety of access points that can promote dependence on technology and negative consequences for youth:

The Internet.  The Web can be addictive as a multifunctional tool that brings us exceptionally close to an enormous amount of information at unprecedented speeds. User-friendly by design, we now have access to the Internet on our computers, through apps on our tablets, phones and watches. "FOMO," or "Fear of Missing Out," is a commonly described phenomenon for teens and young adults, in which youth increasingly feel the need to stay connected to the Internet, so they aren't the last to know of a news story or social happening.

Related to FOMO, some Facebook users, for instance, report that they use the Internet-based social media platform as a chosen method to alleviate their anxiety or depression.1 With so much accessibility to its use, the Internet is just as hard to stay away from at any given point in a day as it is easy and rewarding to use.

Video and computer games.  One hallmark of human psychology is that we want to feel competent, autonomous, and related to other people. Challenging video games allow players to feel that they are good at something. Games offer a great variety of choice to players, promoting a sense of autonomy for teens who might feel otherwise out of control.

The same goals that drive people to pursue success in the real world are often present in video games. As one amasses virtual wealth or prestige by spending time on games and advancing through levels, virtual wealth can translate into some version of actual recognition—through monetary purchasing power within an online game or a positive reputation within an online community.

Gamers find themselves linked to others who share their hobby through YouTube channels or subreddits dedicated to discussion of their game of choice with other enthusiasts. Like the Internet itself, games make themselves increasingly accessible to teens via apps on smart phones, never leaving kids' palms or pockets.

While there is room for social connection in the gaming universe, this space also provides a potential escape from reality into a digital world where players get to assume new identities more appealing or more novel than those they hold in the real life.

Smart phones, tablets, and lifestyle technologies.  These highly-mobile, flexible machines have the power to constantly connect. Smart phones and tablets, and the emergence of other smart devices from the Apple Watch to the Amazon Echo, promote addiction by removing the time lapse from tasks and activities that previously required logging into a deskbound, or at least a backpack-bound, computer source.

Social media.  Social media presents individually-relevant information in the easiest ways—centralized, personalized portals, like a Facebook newsfeed, YouTube subscription, or Snapchat followership.

Whether it's a Skype conversation with our grandmother in Alaska or a Twitter reply to the President, social media feeds our need for human connection by allowing us to share feedback with those who are far from us in time, geography, or social status. As social animals, we need human contact for emotional and psychological health. The appeal of social media is that it helps us to fill social needs without the efforts or restraints of in-person contact.

What are the risks of teen technology use?

While technology is certainly not all bad, its overuse can pose certain key risks, especially to teens.

Technology can give students a false sense of relational security as they communicate with unseen individuals around the world. The speed with which technology moves makes everything a teen might be looking for available within seconds, which encourages an unhealthy desire for instant gratification. A slow internet connection or “unplugging” can promote irritability and anxiety for a teen otherwise used to constant connection through technology.

Sleep disorders can develop as teens stay up all night to play with technology, and as a result, academic, athletic, and social performance can suffer. Weight gain and other complications of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, such as cardiovascular disease, may result. In-person social skills may deteriorate.

Even as healthy teens are challenged by increasing life responsibilities, hormonal changes, and the stress of new social and academic worlds like dating and applying to college, these life transitions become even harder for those wholly absorbed in technology.

Within a technology-addicted individual, the mind becomes increasingly unable to distinguish between the lived and the alternate realities that produce instant stimulation, pleasure, and reward. As such, the extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens. Dependency upon social media, gaming, or other platforms to function can become the new and unhealthy "normal."

Technology addiction and teen substance use.  Researchers have found evidence that people who overuse technology may develop similar brain chemistry and neural patterning to those who are addicted to substances. 2

Another concern is that those who are addicted to technology are actually more likely to also use substances than their peers with healthier relationships to tech, providing the insight that technology addiction may be a risk factor for alcohol and other drug addiction.

One preliminary study found that a group of teens who "hyper-texted" were 40% more likely to have used cigarettes and twice as likely to have used alcohol than students who were less frequent users of technology. This same research noted that those who spent more hours per school day than peers on social networking sites were at higher risk for depression and suicide. 3

It stands to reason then, that if we can prevent technology addiction, we may also be able to prevent other risky behavior and dangerous consequences to teens.

Technology and the brain.  Studies have shown that brain scans of young people with internet addiction disorder (IAD) are similar to those of people with substance addictions to alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis. 4

Damage to brain systems connecting emotional processing, attention, and decision-making are affected in both substance addicts and technology addicts. This discovery shows that being hooked on a tech behavior can, in some ways, be as physically damaging as an addiction to alcohol and other drug use.

When is technology a protective factor?

Of course, the advent of smarter, faster, more mobile technologies can be used positively with teens too. The following list reflects the many ways that technology, used in a healthy way, can encourage teens to explore their world and express themselves:

Learning.  In Ramsey Musallam's AP Chemistry class at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California, cell phones are a natural extension of the way the teacher otherwise communicates with his students. As soon as kids walk into his classroom, Musallam sends out a text blast through Remind101, asking students a challenge question related to the day's lesson. 5

Some teachers use Facebook as a communication hub, creating a public page or smaller, closed groups for classes. Using technology like this, teachers can keep parents informed, distribute homework or permission slips, and share photos and videos from classroom activities and field trips.

Others in education and civic development have found that by piquing students' interest in social justice or commentary videos posted on YouTube, student engagement with world issues is enhanced.

Creativity and expression.  Technology can promote student creativity by prompting expression through user-friendly tools. Some studies have shown that blogging, or web journaling, enhances students' creative thinking. 6

Metacognition—the ability to be aware of, attend to, and use information about one's own cognitive processes—allows students to strengthen critical thinking across academic and artistic disciplines. Utilizing Internet-based technologies that ask students to reflect on and reiterate their learning processes provides a framework for the development of teen metacognition skills.

Now common technologies like tablets and smart phones are often much less bulky than notebooks and textbooks, allowing students to flex their imaginations, read fiction, write poetry, doodle, or take pictures through the ease of software applications found on highly-mobile devices.

Socialization.  When monitored properly by a parent or guardian, the use of social media can create safe and healthy friendship networks for teens with like interests online, through already established mutual friendships or within shared interest hubs, like a blogging community or Facebook group.

Preventing other teen risks.  Since the expansion of the Internet and mobile technologies, call-in hotlines have expanded to include Internet help sites and texting lines for teens run by knowledgeable and mature adults. These options provide a place teens can go for accurate information and timely support when they are not comfortable discussing their personal problems with an adult at home or school.

At her social advocacy organization, Nancy Lublin started receiving so many texts from students with questions about bullying that she set up a text-only crisis line.7 While online harassment is a concern, online support movements like the It Gets Better Project have sprung up to powerfully protect teens too.

Preventing Technology Addiction in Teens

Technology will only grow in its use in teens' worlds. Preventing teen addiction to technology means finding a balance within students' lives, so that teenagers do not misuse their technology as an escape from real world challenges, emotions, socialization, or identity. Adults can help children and teens have healthy relationships to technology when they:

Provide plenty of healthy highs, some of them offline.  How teenagers use technology really matters. Are teens playing video games among other recreational activities, and are they as excited about a dinner with friends as they are about "leveling up"? Or, are they turning on the Xbox so they don't have to face a life that they're not enjoying?

Balance activity and productivity with healthy stress management.  Everything in life requires energy, and often teens feel like they have too little energy to spend on too many demands. If they're are not guided by adults to discover healthy ways to replenish their stores of energy, they may default by overusing easy fixes for entertainment or stress relief that promote technology addiction.

Nurture pro-social identity development in the real world.  Adults must be proactive, creative, and excited as they help kids to discover who they really are! Once teenagers find something they are good at and want to do, they will naturally gravitate toward it. It is easier to create an Internet façade, but far more rewarding for teens to cultivate true purposes and genuine identities within their families, schools, and communities.

Consider treatment when there's a problem.  Inpatient treatment for technology addiction starts by removing a teenager from both the Internet and the surroundings that allowed a technology addiction to occur in the first place. It is a form of intensive therapy. Other treatments can include ways to help technology addicts see the offline world as more pleasurable, without fully removing the online element from their lives.

Creating a Healthy Balance

It is true that technology can fulfill many human needs, but its overuse comes with risk. Being addicted to technology is in some ways akin to an addiction to alcohol and other drugs, with many of the same effects on the developing brain.

We must do all we can to prevent any sort of addiction from occurring in our children's lives. Technology can be a protective factor if used properly, and healthy adults can play a role in student technology addiction prevention by showing young people the benefits to be gained from a healthy, balanced approach to technology use.

1. Conrad, Brent. "Why Is Facebook Addictive? Twenty-One Reasons For Facebook Addiction - TechAddiction." Video Game Addiction Treatment & Computer Addiction Help - TechAddiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.techaddiction.ca/why-is-facebook-addictive.html.

2. Goldstein, Rita Z., and Nora D. Volkow. (2011). "Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex in addiction: neuroimaging findings and clinical implications: Abstract: Nature Reviews Neuroscience." Nature Publishing Group: science journals, jobs, and information. Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v12/n11/abs/nrn3119.html.

3. NHS. "Extreme levels of texting 'unhealthy'." NHS Choices. 10 November 2010. N.p. Web. 2 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/11November/Pages/Texting-and-teen-behaviour.aspx.

4. Lin, Fuchun, Zhou, Yan, Du, Yasong, Qin, Lindi, Zhao, Zhimin, Xu, Jianrong and Hao Lei. (2012). "Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study." Plos One. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0030253.

5. Barseghian, Tina. "How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom | MindShift." KQED Public Media for Northern CA.KQED, 10 May 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/05/10/how-teachers-make-cell-phones-work-in-the-classroom/.

6. Hargrove, R. "The Role of Technology in Developing Students Creative Thinking Abilities - IATED Digital Library." IATED Digital Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://library.iated.org/view/HARGROVE2009THE.

7. Lublin, Nancy. "Nancy Lublin: Texting that saves lives | Video on TED.com." TED: Ideas worth spreading. TED Conferences, LLC, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_lublin_texting_that_saves_lives.html.

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10 Tips to Overcome Internet Addiction

If you find in it inevitable to look at your phone again and again, checking your social media accounts, and signing in frequently, you might be suffering from internet addiction. Internet addiction happens when you get dependant on the use of internet whether it is texting, constantly peeking, or using social media. Professionals have compared this addiction to drug addiction because it impacts your health, work performance, daily life, engagement with others, and mental process the same way drugs do.

Throughout 2014, around 420 million people were addicted to the internet. The American Psychiatric Association has also stated that kids of age 13-17 are almost online constantly. Such statistics show that internet addiction is getting more common and real day by day. If you find yourself or your loved one suffering with this, there are a few things that can be done to overcome it. Such as:

1. Admit it

The first step to solve any sort of problem is to step out of the denial phase and accept that you have a problem. This is you first victory towards becoming better. By verbalising that you have a problem, you become honest with yourself and it brings clarity to the whole situation. Also, it makes you realise how unhealthy the use of internet is for you.

2. Seek Therapy

Now that you have admitted that you have a problem, why not do something about it? You can ask a reliable friend to help you with this or you can seek professional therapy. You will be able to communicate about the emotions that trigger you to go online again and again. When you share these things with someone else, it helps in opening up and then you can also set some goals with them about the behaviour which will keep you in cheque.

3. Limit the Smartphone use

Digital Detox is something you can do on your own if you have the determination and strength to do it. Once you realise that internet addiction is bad for you and it taking control over your life, you can start keeping the distance. You can limit your online session to 30 minutes. You can make some rules about not using the internet after a certain time every day. This will keep you all managed and self-controlled.

4. Socialise

Get over the internet and share some real life experiences. Invite over your friends and have some fun activities with them. Go out more frequently and make your loved ones your priority. Spend time with them, do what you love, and try to maintain your real life relationships more than your internet relationships.

5. Change Communication Patterns

When you are texting your friend all day through your phone, change the pattern, and meet them to talk to them directly face-to-face. Same way, if you are addicted to online games, you can replace them with outdoor games. Or, you can go to video games stores and play there with your friends to keep your hands off your computer and consoles.

6. Follow a Routine

A routine makes you more organised and managed. If you have been living the life abruptly without any routine, you need to change that. Time management is the key to resolve internet addiction issues. You need to make a timetable and make time for several other things along with using internet. This way the urge to cheque on your phone after every short interval will be removed. You can select a time for internet usage as well but it will be the part of the routine.

7. Prioritise your Needs

Focus on the things you want to get done first. It depends on what you do and how you do it. For instance, if you are a student, you can decide on finishing the homework first when you come at home and doing everything later.

Similarly, if you are a businessman, you can prioritise your meetings, your schedules, first and then everything including the internet usage later. This way, you will see how internet addiction was making you miss out the things that are important in your life.

8. Keep Devices Inaccessible

If things are getting out of control and you find yourself getting more addictive day by day. You can take some serious steps by getting rid of your digital devices for a fixed time period, especially the ones bothering you a lot. It could be your gaming console, your smartphone, laptop, etc. You can ask for help from a friend and let him keep your things for a while to keep the necessary space.

9. Find Activities outside

There are many things you can do without the use of computer or smart devices. You can take part in sports team, volunteering programmes, civic groups, and further such communities to feel worthy and spend your quality time.

These things require you to go outside and be busy for hours thus keeping your mind off the things that are happening over the internet. You can share your emotions with people out there and can feel fulfilled without the use of internet.

10. Know the Cause

Why are you so much addicted to the internet? Is it because you feel so lonely? Or you have nobody to share your emotions with? Or you seek social approval? These are the possible reasons of using internet too much. Find out your reason and sort out a way to resolve it. Once you know the feelings that lead you to the unnecessary use of the internet, you might be able to resolve those issues on your own.

Using these tips can be proven very beneficial when you are willing to get yourself out of this mess. To avoid falling into internet addiction again and again, make sure you know how to control yourself once you realise that you are getting addicted to it. Keeping your eyes and mind open is a good way of staying alert and healthy. Use these tips and make sure to follow them regularly.

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Internet Addiction: A Brief Summary of Research and Practice

Hilarie cash.

a reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program, Fall City, WA 98024

Cosette D Rae

Ann h steel, alexander winkler.

b University of Marburg, Department for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Gutenbergstraße 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany

Problematic computer use is a growing social issue which is being debated worldwide. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) ruins lives by causing neurological complications, psychological disturbances, and social problems. Surveys in the United States and Europe have indicated alarming prevalence rates between 1.5 and 8.2% [1]. There are several reviews addressing the definition, classification, assessment, epidemiology, and co-morbidity of IAD [2-5], and some reviews [6-8] addressing the treatment of IAD. The aim of this paper is to give a preferably brief overview of research on IAD and theoretical considerations from a practical perspective based on years of daily work with clients suffering from Internet addiction. Furthermore, with this paper we intend to bring in practical experience in the debate about the eventual inclusion of IAD in the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

INTRODUCTION

The idea that problematic computer use meets criteria for an addiction, and therefore should be included in the next iteration of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) , 4 th ed. Text Revision [ 9 ] was first proposed by Kimberly Young, PhD in her seminal 1996 paper [ 10 ]. Since that time IAD has been extensively studied and is indeed, currently under consideration for inclusion in the DSM-V [ 11 ]. Meanwhile, both China and South Korea have identified Internet addiction as a significant public health threat and both countries support education, research and treatment [ 12 ]. In the United States, despite a growing body of research, and treatment for the disorder available in out-patient and in-patient settings, there has been no formal governmental response to the issue of Internet addiction. While the debate goes on about whether or not the DSM-V should designate Internet addiction a mental disorder [ 12 - 14 ] people currently suffering from Internet addiction are seeking treatment. Because of our experience we support the development of uniform diagnostic criteria and the inclusion of IAD in the DSM-V [ 11 ] in order to advance public education, diagnosis and treatment of this important disorder.

CLASSIFICATION

There is ongoing debate about how best to classify the behavior which is characterized by many hours spent in non-work technology-related computer/Internet/video game activities [ 15 ]. It is accompanied by changes in mood, preoccupation with the Internet and digital media, the inability to control the amount of time spent interfacing with digital technology, the need for more time or a new game to achieve a desired mood, withdrawal symptoms when not engaged, and a continuation of the behavior despite family conflict, a diminishing social life and adverse work or academic consequences [ 2 , 16 , 17 ]. Some researchers and mental health practitioners see excessive Internet use as a symptom of another disorder such as anxiety or depression rather than a separate entity [e.g. 18]. Internet addiction could be considered an Impulse control disorder (not otherwise specified). Yet there is a growing consensus that this constellation of symptoms is an addiction [e.g. 19]. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recently released a new definition of addiction as a chronic brain disorder, officially proposing for the first time that addiction is not limited to substance use [ 20 ]. All addictions, whether chemical or behavioral, share certain characteristics including salience, compulsive use (loss of control), mood modification and the alleviation of distress, tolerance and withdrawal, and the continuation despite negative consequences.

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR IAD

The first serious proposal for diagnostic criteria was advanced in 1996 by Dr. Young, modifying the DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling [ 10 ]. Since then variations in both name and criteria have been put forward to capture the problem, which is now most popularly known as Internet Addiction Disorder. Problematic Internet Use (PIU) [ 21 ], computer addiction, Internet dependence [ 22 ], compulsive Internet use, pathological Internet use [ 23 ], and many other labels can be found in the literature. Likewise a variety of often overlapping criteria have been proposed and studied, some of which have been validated. However, empirical studies provide an inconsistent set of criteria to define Internet addiction [ 24 ]. For an overview see Byun et al . [ 25 ].

Beard [ 2 ] recommends that the following five diagnostic criteria are required for a diagnosis of Internet addiction: (1) Is preoccupied with the Internet (thinks about previous online activity or anticipate next online session); (2) Needs to use the Internet with increased amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction; (3) Has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use; (4) Is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use; (5) Has stayed online longer than originally intended. Additionally, at least one of the following must be present: (6) Has jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet; (7) Has lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet; (8) Uses the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression) [ 2 ].

There has been also been a variety of assessment tools used in evaluation. Young’s Internet Addiction Test [ 16 ], the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ) developed by Demetrovics, Szeredi, and Pozsa [ 26 ] and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) [ 27 ] are all examples of instruments to assess for this disorder.

The considerable variance of the prevalence rates reported for IAD (between 0.3% and 38%) [ 28 ] may be attributable to the fact that diagnostic criteria and assessment questionnaires used for diagnosis vary between countries and studies often use highly selective samples of online surveys [ 7 ]. In their review Weinstein and Lejoyeux [ 1 ] report that surveys in the United States and Europe have indicated prevalence rates varying between 1.5% and 8.2%. Other reports place the rates between 6% and 18.5% [ 29 ].

“Some obvious differences with respect to the methodologies, cultural factors, outcomes and assessment tools forming the basis for these prevalence rates notwithstanding, the rates we encountered were generally high and sometimes alarming.” [ 24 ]

There are different models available for the development and maintenance of IAD like the cognitive-behavioral model of problematic Internet use [ 21 ], the anonymity, convenience and escape (ACE) model [ 30 ], the access, affordability, anonymity (Triple-A) engine [ 31 ], a phases model of pathological Internet use by Grohol [ 32 ], and a comprehensive model of the development and maintenance of Internet addiction by Winkler & Dörsing [ 24 ], which takes into account socio-cultural factors ( e.g. , demographic factors, access to and acceptance of the Internet), biological vulnerabilities ( e.g. , genetic factors, abnormalities in neurochemical processes), psychological predispositions ( e.g. , personality characteristics, negative affects), and specific attributes of the Internet to explain “excessive engagement in Internet activities” [ 24 ].

NEUROBIOLOGICAL VULNERABILITIES

It is known that addictions activate a combination of sites in the brain associated with pleasure, known together as the “reward center” or “pleasure pathway” of the brain [ 33 , 34 ]. When activated, dopamine release is increased, along with opiates and other neurochemicals. Over time, the associated receptors may be affected, producing tolerance or the need for increasing stimulation of the reward center to produce a “high” and the subsequent characteristic behavior patterns needed to avoid withdrawal. Internet use may also lead specifically to dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens [ 35 , 36 ], one of the reward structures of the brain specifically involved in other addictions [ 20 ]. An example of the rewarding nature of digital technology use may be captured in the following statement by a 21 year-old male in treatment for IAD:

“I feel technology has brought so much joy into my life. No other activity relaxes me or stimulates me like technology. However, when depression hits, I tend to use technology as a way of retreating and isolating.”

REINFORCEMENT/REWARD

What is so rewarding about Internet and video game use that it could become an addiction? The theory is that digital technology users experience multiple layers of reward when they use various computer applications. The Internet functions on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule (VRRS), as does gambling [ 29 ]. Whatever the application (general surfing, pornography, chat rooms, message boards, social networking sites, video games, email, texting, cloud applications and games, etc.), these activities support unpredictable and variable reward structures. The reward experienced is intensified when combined with mood enhancing/stimulating content. Examples of this would be pornography (sexual stimulation), video games (e.g. various social rewards, identification with a hero, immersive graphics), dating sites (romantic fantasy), online poker (financial) and special interest chat rooms or message boards (sense of belonging) [ 29 , 37 ].

BIOLOGICAL PREDISPOSITION

There is increasing evidence that there can be a genetic predisposition to addictive behaviors [ 38 , 39 ]. The theory is that individuals with this predisposition do not have an adequate number of dopamine receptors or have an insufficient amount of serotonin/dopamine [ 2 ], thereby having difficulty experiencing normal levels of pleasure in activities that most people would find rewarding. To increase pleasure, these individuals are more likely to seek greater than average engagement in behaviors that stimulate an increase in dopamine, effectively giving them more reward but placing them at higher risk for addiction.

MENTAL HEALTH VULNERABILITIES

Many researchers and clinicians have noted that a variety of mental disorders co-occur with IAD. There is debate about which came first, the addiction or the co-occurring disorder [ 18 , 40 ]. The study by Dong et al . [ 40 ] had at least the potential to clarify this question, reporting that higher scores for depression, anxiety, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and psychoticism were consequences of IAD. But due to the limitations of the study further research is necessary.

THE TREATMENT OF INTERNET ADDICTION

There is a general consensus that total abstinence from the Internet should not be the goal of the interventions and that instead, an abstinence from problematic applications and a controlled and balanced Internet usage should be achieved [ 6 ]. The following paragraphs illustrate the various treatment options for IAD that exist today. Unless studies examining the efficacy of the illustrated treatments are not available, findings on the efficacy of the presented treatments are also provided. Unfortunately, most of the treatment studies were of low methodological quality and used an intra-group design.

The general lack of treatment studies notwithstanding, there are treatment guidelines reported by clinicians working in the field of IAD. In her book “Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment”, Young [ 41 ] offers some treatment strategies which are already known from the cognitive-behavioral approach: (a) practice opposite time of Internet use (discover patient’s patterns of Internet use and disrupt these patterns by suggesting new schedules), (b) use external stoppers (real events or activities prompting the patient to log off), (c) set goals (with regard to the amount of time), (d) abstain from a particular application (that the client is unable to control), (e) use reminder cards (cues that remind the patient of the costs of IAD and benefits of breaking it), (f) develop a personal inventory (shows all the activities that the patient used to engage in or can’t find the time due to IAD), (g) enter a support group (compensates for a lack of social support), and (h) engage in family therapy (addresses relational problems in the family) [ 41 ]. Unfortunately, clinical evidence for the efficacy of these strategies is not mentioned.

Non-psychological Approaches

Some authors examine pharmacological interventions for IAD, perhaps due to the fact that clinicians use psychopharmacology to treat IAD despite the lack of treatment studies addressing the efficacy of pharmacological treatments. In particular, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used because of the co-morbid psychiatric symptoms of IAD (e.g. depression and anxiety) for which SSRIs have been found to be effective [ 42 - 46 ]. Escitalopram (a SSRI) was used by Dell’Osso et al . [ 47 ] to treat 14 subjects with impulsive-compulsive Internet usage disorder. Internet usage decreased significantly from a mean of 36.8 hours/week to a baseline of 16.5 hours/week. In another study Han, Hwang, and Renshaw [ 48 ] used bupropion (a non-tricyclic antidepressant) and found a decrease of craving for Internet video game play, total game play time, and cue-induced brain activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after a six week period of bupropion sustained release treatment. Methylphenidate (a psycho stimulant drug) was used by Han et al . [ 49 ] to treat 62 Internet video game-playing children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. After eight weeks of treatment, the YIAS-K scores and Internet usage times were significantly reduced and the authors cautiously suggest that methylphenidate might be evaluated as a potential treatment of IAD. According to a study by Shapira et al . [ 50 ], mood stabilizers might also improve the symptoms of IAD. In addition to these studies, there are some case reports of patients treated with escitalopram [ 45 ], citalopram (SSRI)- quetiapine (antipsychotic) combination [ 43 ] and naltrexone (an opioid receptor antagonist) [ 51 ].

A few authors mentioned that physical exercise could compensate the decrease of the dopamine level due to decreased online usage [ 52 ]. In addition, sports exercise prescriptions used in the course of cognitive behavioral group therapy may enhance the effect of the intervention for IAD [ 53 ].

Psychological Approaches

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered yet directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving client ambivalence [ 54 ]. It was developed to help individuals give up addictive behaviors and learn new behavioral skills, using techniques such as open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmation, and summarization to help individuals express their concerns about change [ 55 ]. Unfortunately, there are currently no studies addressing the efficacy of MI in treating IAD, but MI seems to be moderately effective in the areas of alcohol, drug addiction, and diet/exercise problems [ 56 ].

Peukert et al . [ 7 ] suggest that interventions with family members or other relatives like “Community Reinforcement and Family Training” [ 57 ] could be useful in enhancing the motivation of an addict to cut back on Internet use, although the reviewers remark that control studies with relatives do not exist to date.

Reality therapy (RT) is supposed to encourage individuals to choose to improve their lives by committing to change their behavior. It includes sessions to show clients that addiction is a choice and to give them training in time management; it also introduces alternative activities to the problematic behavior [ 58 ]. According to Kim [ 58 ], RT is a core addiction recovery tool that offers a wide variety of uses as a treatment for addictive disorders such as drugs, sex, food, and works as well for the Internet. In his RT group counseling program treatment study, Kim [ 59 ] found that the treatment program effectively reduced addiction level and improved self-esteem of 25 Internet-addicted university students in Korea.

Twohig and Crosby [ 60 ] used an Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol including several exercises adjusted to better fit the issues with which the sample struggles to treat six adult males suffering from problematic Internet pornography viewing. The treatment resulted in an 85% reduction in viewing at post-treatment with results being maintained at the three month follow-up (83% reduction in viewing pornography).

Widyanto and Griffith [ 8 ] report that most of the treatments employed so far had utilized a cognitive-behavioral approach. The case for using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is justified due to the good results in the treatment of other behavioral addictions/impulse-control disorders, such as pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating-disorders [ 61 ]. Wölfling [ 5 ] described a predominantly behavioral group treatment including identification of sustaining conditions, establishing of intrinsic motivation to reduce the amount of time being online, learning alternative behaviors, engagement in new social real-life contacts, psycho-education and exposure therapy, but unfortunately clinical evidence for the efficacy of these strategies is not mentioned. In her study, Young [ 62 ] used CBT to treat 114 clients suffering from IAD and found that participants were better able to manage their presenting problems post-treatment, showing improved motivation to stop abusing the Internet, improved ability to control their computer use, improved ability to function in offline relationships, improved ability to abstain from sexually explicit online material, improved ability to engage in offline activities, and improved ability to achieve sobriety from problematic applications. Cao, Su and Gao [ 63 ] investigated the effect of group CBT on 29 middle school students with IAD and found that IAD scores of the experimental group were lower than of the control group after treatment. The authors also reported improvement in psychological function. Thirty-eight adolescents with IAD were treated with CBT designed particularly for addicted adolescents by Li and Dai [ 64 ]. They found that CBT has good effects on the adolescents with IAD (CIAS scores in the therapy group were significant lower than that in the control group). In the experimental group the scores of depression, anxiety, compulsiveness, self-blame, illusion, and retreat were significantly decreased after treatment. Zhu, Jin, and Zhong [ 65 ] compared CBT and electro acupuncture (EA) plus CBT assigning forty-seven patients with IAD to one of the two groups respectively. The authors found that CBT alone or combined with EA can significantly reduce the score of IAD and anxiety on a self-rating scale and improve self-conscious health status in patients with IAD, but the effect obtained by the combined therapy was better.

Multimodal Treatments

A multimodal treatment approach is characterized by the implementation of several different types of treatment in some cases even from different disciplines such as pharmacology, psychotherapy and family counseling simultaneously or sequentially. Orzack and Orzack [ 66 ] mentioned that treatments for IAD need to be multidisciplinary including CBT, psychotropic medication, family therapy, and case managers, because of the complexity of these patients’ problems.

In their treatment study, Du, Jiang, and Vance [ 67 ] found that multimodal school-based group CBT (including parent training, teacher education, and group CBT) was effective for adolescents with IAD (n = 23), particularly in improving emotional state and regulation ability, behavioral and self-management style. The effect of another multimodal intervention consisting of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), family therapy, and CT was investigated among 52 adolescents with IAD in China. After three months of treatment, the scores on an IAD scale (IAD-DQ), the scores on the SCL-90, and the amount of time spent online decreased significantly [ 68 ]. Orzack et al . [ 69 ] used a psychoeducational program, which combines psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral theoretical perspectives, using a combination of Readiness to Change (RtC), CBT and MI interventions to treat a group of 35 men involved in problematic Internet-enabled sexual behavior (IESB). In this group treatment, the quality of life increased and the level of depressive symptoms decreased after 16 (weekly) treatment sessions, but the level of problematic Internet use failed to decrease significantly [ 69 ]. Internet addiction related symptom scores significantly decreased after a group of 23 middle school students with IAD were treated with Behavioral Therapy (BT) or CT, detoxification treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, personality modeling and parent training [ 70 ]. Therefore, the authors concluded that psychotherapy, in particular CT and BT were effective in treating middle school students with IAD. Shek, Tang, and Lo [ 71 ] described a multi-level counseling program designed for young people with IAD based on the responses of 59 clients. Findings of this study suggest this multi-level counseling program (including counseling, MI, family perspective, case work and group work) is promising to help young people with IAD. Internet addiction symptom scores significantly decreased, but the program failed to increase psychological well-being significantly. A six-week group counseling program (including CBT, social competence training, training of self-control strategies and training of communication skills) was shown to be effective on 24 Internet-addicted college students in China [ 72 ]. The authors reported that the adapted CIAS-R scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group post-treatment.

The reSTART Program

The authors of this article are currently, or have been, affiliated with the reSTART: Internet Addiction Recovery Program [ 73 ] in Fall City, Washington. The reSTART program is an inpatient Internet addiction recovery program which integrates technology detoxification (no technology for 45 to 90 days), drug and alcohol treatment, 12 step work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), experiential adventure based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), brain enhancing interventions, animal assisted therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness based relapse prevention (MBRP), Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), interpersonal group psychotherapy, individual psychotherapy, individualized treatments for co-occurring disorders, psycho- educational groups (life visioning, addiction education, communication and assertiveness training, social skills, life skills, Life balance plan), aftercare treatments (monitoring of technology use, ongoing psychotherapy and group work), and continuing care (outpatient treatment) in an individualized, holistic approach.

The first results from an ongoing OQ45.2 [ 74 ] study (a self-reported measurement of subjective discomfort, interpersonal relationships and social role performance assessed on a weekly basis) of the short-term impact on 19 adults who complete the 45+ days program showed an improved score after treatment. Seventy-four percent of participants showed significant clinical improvement, 21% of participants showed no reliable change, and 5% deteriorated. The results have to be regarded as preliminary due to the small study sample, the self-report measurement and the lack of a control group. Despite these limitations, there is evidence that the program is responsible for most of the improvements demonstrated.

As can be seen from this brief review, the field of Internet addiction is advancing rapidly even without its official recognition as a separate and distinct behavioral addiction and with continuing disagreement over diagnostic criteria. The ongoing debate whether IAD should be classified as an (behavioral) addiction, an impulse-control disorder or even an obsessive compulsive disorder cannot be satisfactorily resolved in this paper. But the symptoms we observed in clinical practice show a great deal of overlap with the symptoms commonly associated with (behavioral) addictions. Also it remains unclear to this day whether the underlying mechanisms responsible for the addictive behavior are the same in different types of IAD (e.g., online sexual addiction, online gaming, and excessive surfing). From our practical perspective the different shapes of IAD fit in one category, due to various Internet specific commonalities (e.g., anonymity, riskless interaction), commonalities in the underlying behavior (e.g., avoidance, fear, pleasure, entertainment) and overlapping symptoms (e.g., the increased amount of time spent online, preoccupation and other signs of addiction). Nevertheless more research has to be done to substantiate our clinical impression.

Despite several methodological limitations, the strength of this work in comparison to other reviews in the international body of literature addressing the definition, classification, assessment, epidemiology, and co-morbidity of IAD [ 2 - 5 ], and to reviews [ 6 - 8 ] addressing the treatment of IAD, is that it connects theoretical considerations with the clinical practice of interdisciplinary mental health experts working for years in the field of Internet addiction. Furthermore, the current work gives a good overview of the current state of research in the field of internet addiction treatment. Despite the limitations stated above this work gives a brief overview of the current state of research on IAD from a practical perspective and can therefore be seen as an important and helpful paper for further research as well as for clinical practice in particular.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Declared none.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors confirm that this article content has no conflict of interest.

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How to Avoid Technology Addiction

Touro professor addresses risks of too much screen time and shares tips for parents.

Ask almost any parent about their child’s screen time and you will hear concern that it has skyrocketed over the past ten months. While technology can help children (and adults) maintain their friendships and connections during the pandemic, too much digital time can pose risks. Overuse can lead to cyberbullying and harassment for children, depression, anxiety and too little physical exercise for all.

To help keep children healthy and safe,  Touro College Graduate School of Social Work professor Dr. Steven Pirutinsky offers advice. “Parents need to work together with their children to manage technology. Every situation is different. Take the time to understand both your child and the technology,” he said. Dr. Pirutinsky’s tips for parents include:

• In conversations, acknowledge the benefits your children get from technology but help them understand the risks involved. Teach them how to maintain their privacy online and avoid sharing personal information. Be a model for this in your own online behavior. Be available to your children in case they encounter harassment or inappropriate content.
• Pay attention. Monitor how much time your child spends online, what they do and how frequently they log on. Monitor your own usage as well and try to cut down if you notice overuse or constant urge to check social media feeds, texts and emails.
• Work with your child to set guidelines for technology use. Establish limits for when and where technology should be used. Consider making mealtimes screen-free times and bedrooms tech-free zones. Set an example by placing your own device in another room before dinner and plugging your device into a charger in the kitchen before going to bed.
• Get your hands dirty. Become familiar with your children’s favorite games, social media and websites. Learn what they enjoy about it but also review the privacy settings and filters.
• Do your homework. Research the parental control and safe search systems that are built into many software programs. Look up age recommendations and use them to set guidelines for your child. Consider putting filters on your own computer and show your children you are practicing what you preach if you decide to do this.
• Help your child develop more diverse social and recreational activities. This may be challenging right now but it is also a chance to creatively strengthen connections. Try a family nature walk, game night or take a group tennis or music lesson. Organize a socially distant outdoor playdate. Get together with your own friends for a socially distant cup of coffee and talk about it with your children.
• Watch for warning signs in your children. Seek professional help if you see any of these:
• Increasing and persistent use of technology, leading to social withdrawal 
• Intense temper tantrums when technology is taken away 
• Disengagement from other activities particularly those they previously enjoyed

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Prevention of Internet Addiction

Parents and teachers can help adolescents to use the Internet appropriately. To do this, they can:

Agree the hours of use of the computer (no more than 1.5 - 2 hours daily, with the exception of weekends).

Place the computer in a common site in the home, like the living room.

Promote social activities.

Encourage interests like sports, reading, or the cinema.  

Encourage communication and dialogue in the family.

Recommendations for healthy use of technology

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Essay on Computer Addiction

Essay on the Signs of Computer Addiction

Essay on the causes of computer addiction, essay on the effects of computer addiction.

• Essay on the Prevention of Computer Addiction

Computer addiction is relatively a new problem and there are effective treatments that help people to overcome this issue.

In this essay, I will help you understand what exactly computer addiction is, its causes, symptoms and treatment options.

Computer addiction can be characterized as excessive desire to use computer that results in negative consequences emotionally and physically for the user. Individuals who are preoccupied with computers can land up in serious problems related to relationship, hygiene, self-care etc. Remember that not all people who use computer for long hours are addicted. The situation of every individual is different and there is not set number of hours that are considered potential for computer addiction.

There are many signs of computer addiction using which you can recognize if someone is addicted to computer. Paying attention to the possible signs of computer addiction can help you get early support and assistance. Some of the signs of computer addiction are as below –

• Preoccupied with computer for hours either online or offline
• Spending time in front of computer despite of urgent work
• Burning sensation to switch on the computer and play games
• Not mingling well with the family members
• Getting excited with the thought of playing computer games or browsing
• Irritability and mood swings when someone restricts the individual from using computer
• Spending more time than committed and using it to escape inner feelings

We often see people going in front of computer as soon as they get up in the morning. This could also be a sign of computer addiction.

Computers can be very useful when used properly. However, when they are used extensively – they can negatively affect the daily life. It may cause problems such as – lack of social interaction, emotional depression and financial consequences. Most of the people who stay in front of computer for long hours do not realize that they are addicted. The individual may lose track of time, think about computer when not in use and look constantly for next opportunity to use it. Some people tend to use computer as a means to escape real world, especially when they are depressed.

The main causes of computer addiction starts when the individual starts browsing the internet for the first time and they find something that holds their attention. Computer games are highly addictive these days and people of all age groups tend to attract to them. Initially it starts with few minutes. However, within a few weeks it turns into addiction – where the individual will be browsing for hours.

Physiological factor is one of the important causes of computer addiction. Whether it is online or offline addiction, the biological aspect is uncertain. Research suggests that computer addiction elevates dopamine and changes the brain’s chemistry. Online computer addiction is almost similar to drug addiction, and the individual look for new ways to feel better. They feel virtual life more appealing than the real life. Too much usage of computer may seem relatively less harmful than the dangers of drug abuse.

There is a misconception that computer usage can ruin life of individuals. However, there is no harm in using computer for 4-5 hours a day. Experts say that people who use computer for more than 5-6 hours per day have no time doing physical activities, socializing and other things. The biggest risk factor is that the individuals hardly have time for social development and growth.

Technological advancement is another cause why people get addicted to computer. In a survey, it was found that more than 20 million people are addicted to computer and the number is increasing continuously. There are various technologies that result in computer addiction. AR and AI technologies give you an amazing 3D experience. Augmented Reality takes you to a different world, where people can see and feel things virtually. The increase of computer addiction happens because of these technologies. The HD video and audio is becoming major attraction for gamers, especially when it comes to online games.

Playing games with online friends become more interesting, as a result of which they are addicted to computers. The casualties of technological revolution can be considered as an important cause of computer addiction. Technological advancement gives online gamers a feeling of freedom and achievement.

The development of computer addiction can come from different sources, personal issues and behavioral patterns. Computer addicts depict a different type of person in an attempt to live out the life they want. The cause of computer addiction can be fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy and disapproval. The addict is deeply entrenched in his/her world to seek help. Computer addiction can lead to negative consequences for the individual as well as his/her family.

If you or someone in your family is suffering from computer addiction, it is essential to get it treated as soon as possible. Long term computer addiction can have a negative impact on personal and professional life.  Most of the effects of computer addiction can be reversed with proper treatment. Some of the long terms effects of computer addiction ae as below –

• The person may face social consequences and they do not interact with people in real life. Individuals who are addicted to computer are quite comfortable talking to people in social media. But, when it comes to real life interaction — they may experience nervousness and shy. The person may lack face to face interaction and experience loneliness, loss of friends and relationships.
• Individuals may not experience any pleasure or happiness by performing tasks that are not done on computer. They may not even feel relief unless they take part in activities related to computer. Those who are addicted to computer may even feel depressed with lot of mood swings. They may even feel ashamed as they are not able to control their computer habits.
• Sometimes, the individuals will spend time resolving hardware and software issues. Though it is not essential to resolve the technical issues, they simply sit in front of their computer trying to resolve the issue. Overspending on such issues will make the feel addicted, resulting in poor relationships.
• Individuals who spend long hours in front of computer may gradually lose control over their life. They tend to lose connection with the rest of the world and remain isolated. They may even lose job due to the lack of productivity. In an effort to spend time on computer, they don’t even think of growing up in their career. The addicted person may deny the fact that they have problems, resulting in frequent arguments and conflicts.
• Poor self-esteem and low confidence levels is another effect of computer addiction. As the individual is too busy with their involvement in computer, they hardly take time to eat, brush or take shower – resulting in poor self-hygiene. Computer addicts have poor sleeping habits and sometime they even give up healthy physical activities.
• It is estimated that teens and adults who are addicted to computer spend good amount of money on new games, service fees, micro transactions and computer upgrades. Due to this, they may experience financial problems.
• Long term computer usage is associated with a number of health problems such as poor vision, weakness in nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, blood clots and many more. Computer addiction can lead to obesity and poor overall health. With the advanced technologies, computers are getting cheaper and it has become more convenient for teens and adults to stay at home in front of computers. This will also make them become lazy.

Computer addiction is a new development and there are different treatment options to get rid of it. You can approach a computer addiction specialist who can treat it in an effective manner. Besides this, there are many counselling programs that help computer addicts live a normal life as before.

Essay on the P revention of Computer Addiction

Spending time on computer can be productive, especially if it is for a limited time. There are many cases in which excessive time spent on computer is a considered as a challenging battle and is known as computer addiction. Fortunately, there are many ways to stop or prevent computer addiction such as music therapy, counselling, CBT, self-treatment etc.

Whatever method you try, you should ensure to prevent computer addiction before it’s too late. Recognizing the underlying problems can help you prevent the problem. You need medical treatment for anxiety and mental illness. You may need to seek counselling to alleviate phobias, which can be cause of excessive computer usage.

Many people turn to alcohol to cope up with stress or other emotions. Some people turn to computer to cope up with the problem at hand. If you want to prevent or treat computer addiction, you should find new ways to alleviate stress. Whether it is picking up a fitness regimen or taking part in a hobby – one can get rid of computer addiction in an effective way. Here are some of the best ways to get rid of computer addiction.

Limit time on computer

To reduce the risk of computer addiction, you should limit the amount of time spent on computer. You can also use a stopwatch to alert you when you have exceeded your computer time. Set timer for some time and make a commitment to stop using computer as soon as you reach the target. Employ this rule if and only if you are doing activities that are not related to your profession. You can schedule family time or some activity that must be completed before using computer.

Avoid using computer as a mode of recreation

A lot of people use computer for work and educational purpose. If you find it difficult to stop using computer, make a commitment to stop using it after a certain period. Instead of using computer for recreational purpose, play some indoor games with family or spend quality time with your beloved ones. Instead of spending unnecessary time, replace the time to do some healthy activity. Spending some time in real world rather than spending time online is always healthier. It works very well in stopping computer addiction.

Use computer only for important work

If you have the habit of using computer for even the smallest tasks, then you are in big trouble. You will eventually land up in a situation where you will not be able to do even a single task without computer. As you time your computer usage, it becomes easier to cut back and stop your addictive use of computer. You may have to put efforts to take necessary steps in the right direction to prevent computer addiction. It may be best if you make all the changes one by one. You will gradually get adjusted to the changes, and will not face any withdrawal symptoms. You can prevent computer addiction, once you are ok with the changes.

Spend some spiritual time

Worshipping god gives true sense of happiness. If you are in great depression or sadness, you should practice spiritual methods. You should spend time reading holy books and watching mythological movies. This will help you prevent computer addiction to a great extent. Remember that having a good family that supports you at every stage of life can prevent addiction related issues. By filling your mind with knowledge and ideas, you will surely come out of computer addiction. Change yourself to have a well-balanced life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Understand the negative consequences of computer usage

Analyze and assess how excessive computer usage is going to affect your life. Using computer for long hours can have strong negative consequences on your life. When you use computer for long period, the effects are so severe that they cannot be reversed. Not all computer addiction treatments work for all, as they are tailored as per the individual. Moreover, it depends on the severity of addiction. Look for alternative activities. Even if you feel bored for some time, it is healthy and fosters self-soothing.

Spend a day without computers, smartphones and other gadgets

Spend a day in week without using computer and related gadgets. Whether it is phone, television, tablet or computer – you should not use them for an entire day. Plan a vacation that is complete free of gadgets. You can even make a rule to have family dinner together without touching gadgets. You can get professional help if needed. There are many therapists who are specialized in helping people overcome computer addiction.

Computer usage is a negative addiction, as it affects the daily life of a person. When excessive computer usage interferes with personal and professional life, it causes financial and physical problems. Despite of the efforts to control, it continues and becomes a serious problem. We all know that computers are a great source of information and play an important role in development. However, the ingredients that make computer addictive can be a boon to the person’s life.  There is definitely a fine line between addiction and necessity.

Some people believe that computer obsession is a healthy activity, as it helps in learning and exploring. Computer immersion provides certain forms of diversions, which are healthy to a great extent. There is a great need for humans to communicate with others. However, it is healthier, if humans communicate with others in real life. It is easy to become obsessive online. The online relations are always confusing and misleading compared to real life relations.

There are many psychological effects of spending much time in front of computers. It is found that more than 70% of internet users are reported spending more than 40 hours per week in front of their computers.  There are clearly many benefits of computer usage and computer addiction is treated as a joke. Unfortunately, it has become a serious problem for many. We can work to prevent it once the risk and negative consequences of computer addiction are acknowledged.

Only a few people sense that they have problem and take it seriously. No matter how the person uses computer, it becomes a problem when the important areas of person like – family, school, career etc are neglected.  Addictions are pleasurable in nature, as they are linked to increased dopamine. Being able to recognize the signs of computer addiction can break the dependence cycle. Treatment based on CBT can be quite effective in treating computer addiction, as it focuses on developing new skills and incorporating its use in daily life.

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Internet and Technology Addiction - Causes, Signs and Tips to Stop

The development of technology and the internet have made us and our children much more vulnerable to their addictive nature. It is crucial to control our usage and understand what other precautions we can take to protect ourselves and our children from internet addiction and technology addiction.

Although very similar, technology addiction and internet addiction have their differences.

What Is Technology Addiction?

We can define technology addiction as a kind of impulse control disorder in which the person is exposed to the negative effects of technology as a result of excessive use of computers, the internet, video games, and mobile devices.

What Is Internet Addiction?

We can define the term internet addiction as another umbrella term as well. It covers a range of behaviors and impulse-control problems involving the internet, personal computers, and mobile technology. It can be in the form of a gaming disorder, social media addiction, screen addiction, and so on.

Facts and Statistics

Here are some updated internet and technology addiction facts and statistics that will help you gain a better understanding of the current situation:

• More than 90% of teenagers use social media and play video games—two of the most addictive forms of technology.
• 50% of teens admit that they feel addicted to their smartphones.
• Every day, 85% of U.S. adults use the internet.
• As of 2022, more than 4.95 billion people are using the internet .
• Active social media users have passed the 4.62 billion mark . It shows that more than half of the world (58.4%) uses social media!
• 5.19 billion people (67% of the world population) own at least one mobile phone.
• Children are introduced to the internet at the age of 3 .
• Two-thirds of adults (64%) say the internet is an essential part of their life.
• Even children at the age of 12 own a social media account.
• The internet user ratio for genders in the U.S. is about the same for both, with 91% of women and 90% of men.
• An average person spends about 6 hours a day on the internet.

Types of Internet and Technology Addiction

What are the kinds of technology addiction? As mentioned before, there are types of dependencies that can develop with the overuse of the internet or technology in general.

Game Addiction

Gaming disorders are the only addictions that have been diagnosed and recognized by the WHO. It is one of the most common among children. Read our article about the symptoms and treatments of Video Game Addiction to learn more about gaming disorders. Better yet, take our survey on technology addiction and discover how dependent you are on gaming.

Shopping Addiction

Who doesn’t love shopping? Having thousands of options at your fingertips may be life-saving, but it makes it easier for you to become a shopaholic who is a person that can’t control his/her shopping impulses. In other words, they are addicted to shopping.

Nomophobia or phone addiction is another dependency more common among children and teenagers. Read our article to get more information on nomophobia .

Are we becoming addicted to technology? One way to find out is to take our Phone Addiction Test .

Footage - Content Consumption Addiction

Do you feel the urge to constantly read the news or check the weather forecast for a country that you have never heard of? The internet can be a useful resource unless you develop an internet addiction and lose control. At this point, especially kids addicted to technology should be closely monitored to avoid engagement with prohibited content.

Social Media Addiction

Social media is very popular among teens, which makes social media addiction an even more dangerous threat. Read our article to learn more about social media addiction , and the ways to overcome it.

Addiction to Auction and Chance Games

Yet again, another dependency that can form as a result of the endless opportunities and the 24/7 availability the internet provides. The effects of internet addiction can be very harmful and develop into bigger ones such as gambling problems.

The above dependencies do not only cause harm when they become an addiction. They also have an overall negative impact on our lives. For instance, even if you are not addicted to social media, your efforts to respond quickly to messages coming from your social media accounts can reduce your productivity. Or, if you succumb to your impulses while you're driving, it can have terrible consequences.

Using technology and the internet for the right purposes can be very beneficial. MentalUP offers games that boost memory, attention, focusing, and a lot more to support the development of cognitive skills for both children and adults.

Causes of Technology Addiction

Technology dependency affects the critical points of our brain. The released dopamine (pleasure hormone) causes us to repeat our actions. However, there are also mental and other external causes of technology addiction, which are listed below.

Expression of Other Addictions

It is thought that one of the most important causes of technology dependency is it being triggered by an existing or past addiction. For example, if the person has a history of shopping addiction in the past, it is quite possible that it evolves into a new one with the internet.

Shyness and Social Anxiety

Do you think that your child is shy and uncomfortable with one-on-one communication? People who are very shy or have difficulty communicating with other people can have a tendency to use the internet as a way of escape.

For these people, the internet is transformed into a safe harbor where they can spend time without face-to-face communication. Shy people can express themselves better in the online world, reveal their personalities, and express themselves with an identity that is independent of reality.

In some cases, depression can lead people to the internet and technology addiction. The fun time spent on the internet can make people forget their sorrow temporarily. People who spend too much time using the internet and technology to avoid problems may turn into technology addicts.

The Friend Effect

Having friends is always helpful in a human’s life, be it in childhood or adulthood. A child trying to prove himself socially among his friends is ready to spend hours on-screen in order to have the strongest character in the game.

Effects of Internet Addiction

There are many effects of internet addiction and technology addiction. Keep in mind that these signs of internet and technology addiction should be taken seriously.

Mental Effects

• A feeling of guilt of overusing the internet/technology
• Euphoria feelings when using technology/internet
• Inability to determine priorities or to postpone plans
• Isolation from one’s social environment
• Losing the concept of time
• Extreme defense of usage habit
• Avoiding work; poor performance at work or school
• Continuous deferment and avoidance of responsibilities
• Sudden mood changes
• Fear of not having access to the internet/technology
• Feeling of loneliness
• Bored while performing routine work
• Memory loss

Physical Effects

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Unhealthy nutrition
• Poor personal care and hygiene
• Eye dryness and other vision problems
• Excessive weight loss or obesity

Along with these mental and physical effects, internet addiction symptoms can cause social harm as well. Children can experience learning difficulties along with a lack of communication, while adults can lose focus and suffer from poor relationships.

You can see how internet addiction is affecting lives. These technology and internet addiction symptoms can appear one by one or all at once. It is important to track your mental and physical health and evaluate your own technology and internet use to keep a close eye on your habits. If you feel that you are in need of help, read further into our article to learn more about how to beat internet addiction.

The misguided and unsupervised use of the internet and technology can harm children’s mental health.

MentalUP is prepared with the full support of child development experts and pedagogues to help your children improve their focus skills and enhance their learning ability.

Children Addicted to Technology

Children were born into digital technology and it is common to see kids addicted to technology everywhere in the world because it is natural for them to be in constant engagement with it.

It is easier to prevent technology addiction in children at an early age, thanks to their family’s attention. All you need is to learn about cybersecurity for kids ; create and maintain a secure Internet environment for children . Along with the aforementioned effects, children can experience the following effects of internet addiction.

In addition to the previously mentioned physical effects, children addicted to technology won’t be as physical and active as they should be. Try to remember the last time that they took part in any physical activity? This would prevent them from developing proper motor skills.

Mental Development

Internet addiction symptoms can result in a lack of mental development. From learning skills to verbal intelligence, children enhance almost everything at their young ages and when they spend too much time on addictive games or any other screen addiction, they become deprived of the mental development that they need and, hence, can’t improve their cognitive skills.

Socializing

It is important for children to develop social skills, and the best way for them to achieve that is to socialize with their peers. Kids addicted to technology would not be as willing to play outdoors or with friends.

Psychological

Children are more likely to get affected by the violence that occurs in games or objectionable content. Children who have internet addiction can develop personality issues along with other psychological problems.

IMPORTANT: MentalUP games played by children are self-limiting, so this helps prevent technology addiction and reduces the time spent by children in front of the screen.

Prepared with the full support of child development experts and pedagogues , MentalUP limits the duration of daily use and offers parental control.

In this way, while children develop their cognitive skills with fun exercises, they are also away from the negative effects of technology. In addition to that, parents can follow their child's development on a daily basis.

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How to Overcome Internet Addiction

There are tips that you can make room for in your and your children’s daily lives. These tips on how to beat internet addiction are both useful and easy to apply.

Turn off Notifications

Let’s start with an easy step. When you have fewer reminders on your phone or computer, you have less desire to go online. Turning off notifications is one of the most effective ways of managing internet addiction.

Review Your Habits

Children tend to do what their parents do instead of what they say. Review your own online usage habits and see if your behavior is a negative example. This will help both you and your children to get rid of internet addiction.

Connect With Others

When we are addicted to technology, the time and energy we spare on technology and the internet ruin our relationships. Focus on repairing your poor relations. Having real-life connections may make technology and the internet more dispensable.

Restrain Yourself

Both internet and technology cause compulsive urges to shop, play games or log in to your computer. Set limitations for yourself and stick to them! Try to play computer games only on specific days or shop online only at specific hours and gradually decrease the amount of time you allocate for these activities.

Apply this to your children as well. Set specific times of the day when you will allow them to use their devices and make sure they don’t bend the rules. We can imagine how hard it may be to bring such limitations on your child, but keep in mind that the harder it gets, the more important it is to stick to it until the end.

Assigned Spots

The portable nature of devices makes it easier for you or your children to develop a technology addiction. Assign places for your devices and forbid using them in other places. Bedrooms, study rooms and dining areas must be off-limits.

Keeping track of your screen time is one of the most effective ways of preventing a screen addiction. You can use apps that will help you track time and raise self-awareness of your technology addiction. There are also parenting features and apps that will help you set time limitations on your children’s devices.

Reduce the Number of Devices

If you have fewer technology devices you will less likely develop a technology addiction.

Digital Detox

Sometimes disconnecting is the best way to connect! Here are 10 easy steps on how to do a digital detox and reconnect! Both you and your children can apply these steps. Better yet, do it together and cheer each other down the road!

Remember, in order to complete the digital detox you must apply all the steps and commit to them (30 days is considered optimal). Don’t worry if you fail, don’t quit until you make it work!

Notifications are constant reminders and one of the answers to how people become addicted to the internet in the first place.

Nothing Is Black and White

Nothing is black and white, but your screen should be! The colorful displays will attract you and your children. Changing your display settings is one of the best screen addiction treatments.

Put Away Your Phone During Meals

...or during conversations or when going to the restroom. The more you physically carry your devices around, the more you are vulnerable to the effects of internet addiction.

Designate Tech-Free Hours

Why do people become addicted to the internet? Because there are no time or location limits to it. You have to control your usage and whens and wheres in order to beat internet addiction.

Make Your Bedroom a No-Tech Zone

This combines steps 3 and 4. Technology addiction treatment starts when you let go of your devices.

Rediscover Paper

We use our devices as agendas, cameras, GPS, contact books and so much more. Yes, technology provides ease, but if you are looking into ways on how to beat technology addiction, it will be best for you to read the news from a newspaper or mark your appointments on a wall calendar.

Limit Yourself to One Screen at a Time

Do you find yourself playing a mobile game on your phone while chatting on your computer? When people are addicted to their screen, it makes it harder for them to stick to one device at a time. Set limitations and you will start benefiting from them.

Spring Clean Your Social Media Accounts

Social media platforms are one of the main causes of internet addiction among teenagers. Declutter your own and your children’s social accounts. Better yet, make a party of it! Declare it a cleanse day and have fun with your friends and family while managing it.

Download the Right Apps

Many people are lured to the internet out of boredom. Using beneficial apps for boredom like MentalUP not only entertains you, but also improves your mental skills such as concentration and many other cognitive skills.

A healthy body means a healthy mind. Physical exercises will relieve you of boredom and help you boost your energy. It will also keep your mind off your devices, which will help with managing internet addiction.

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Computer Addiction Essay

• 2 Works Cited

Technology today is progressing at an exponential rate with new devices being released practically daily. With each new invention comes new and exciting possibilities as well as ever growing temptations and danger. One such pitfall many have fallen victim to is that of computer addiction. Computer addiction can be defined as the obsessive use of computers that interferes with daily life. This addiction has been shown through many activities over computers such as video gaming, chat rooms, and net surfing to just name a few. In order to truly understand what computer addiction is one must understand the symptoms and motivations that lead one to become addicted. Computer addictions have been found in every race, gender, and …show more content…

Psychologists agree that factors such as social influence, genetics, and low stress tolerant may also contribute to a person becoming addicted to video games. The symptoms of addiction are often misleading and unclear; this is very much the case of computer addiction. Computers are very much a part of everyday life for a great number of people and it is often times difficult to tell when normal use becomes excessive to the point of interfering with an individual’s life. Dr. James Fearing has outlined ten symptoms of computer addiction, the first being a loss of control when trying to limit the amount of time one spends on the computer. Another symptom Dr. Fearing describes is lying or minimizing the amount of time one spends on the computer. Lying, hiding out on the computer during stressful times, mixed feelings of euphoria while engaged on the computer, an over developed sense of importance for ones computer, and engaging in risky behavior under the anonymity of your computer are all symptoms off computer addiction (James Fearing). Computer addiction can have horrible effects on a person’s life; cases of the pain it can inflict have been documented worldwide. One such instance occurred in 2001 in Wisconsin. A young man by the name of Shawn Woolley became addicted to the MMO Everquest. After losing his job due to calling out to play Everquest, Shawn was evicted from his apartment. With his mothers

Analyzing Greg Beato's 'Internet Addiction'

One example found in the article of dangerous behavior caused by internet addiction is of a kid killing his mom and injuring his dad because they took away his xbox. Another example is of a couple who cared more about their online baby that forgot to take care of their living baby which ended up dying.

Internet Addiction By Greg Beato

Internet addiction has become a huge problem in today’s society. In Greg Beato’s article, he discusses the growing phenomena of internet addiction disorder. The writer explains that more and more people are becoming addicted to the internet. For example, he tells of a teenager in Ohio, who shot and killed his mom and injured his dad because they took away his Xbox. He tells how it is stated that five to ten percent of the 52 million internet users were addicted. The author is telling us that the internet has become very addictive in our everyday society.

Analyzing Addiction Essay

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The videogame addiction may seem funny or ridiculous, but in reality it is a dangerous obsession that truly exposes several needs that have yet to be addressed within the afflicted. Addiction is a damaging problem, and the impact of varying sorts of addictions, such as illegal and

The Veldt Technology

In The Veldt, after becoming addicted to technology the kids displayed aggressive behavior. According to the NPR Health News, a girl became aggressive and violent. This happened when she developed a phone addiction. As the article stated, she started picking up the habits of someone who abuses substances. This shows she had an addiction. Internet addiction is a real thing.

Process Addiction

The idea behind the internet was to revolutionize society and with over 3 billion individuals using it, it clearly succeeded (ITU, n.d.). However, individuals started coming online to check their email, watch a video, visit Facebook, or play an online game as a habit, may easily become addicted to these behaviors over time. According to the DSM-V, internet addiction applies to individuals who use the internet excessively, often without realizing how much time has passed, how much more they are using the internet and neglecting their basic needs, as well as, ignoring any negative impacts said internet use has caused (dsm). When not using the internet, the individual may feel withdrawal, angry, tense, and/or depressed; in addition, they may feel the need to have a better computer and more software, which is an internet-addicted individual’s form of tolerance (dsm). Time of use per day in those addicted to the internet is nearly double the time those who are not addicted spend online (Lee,

Technology Addiction Essay

Technology has impacted and influenced how people function and devote their time immensely. With the creation of smartphones, computers, and social networks, people have adopted them into their lives and use them daily, which creates a dependence on these devices. An immoderate dependence upon technology is a state that humanity has come to in today’s age that permits people to believe that they essentially cannot function without it. The fear of not having one’s cellphone or being in a position where one’s cellphone cannot be used, whether it be because of a dead battery or having no signal, is known as nomophobia. This phobia can be described as a cell phone separation anxiety. Even though technology

Journal Of Mental Health Summary

This article will guide me through my research because it gives a vast perspective into the addictive world. It explains the issues of internet addiction, how it's emerging as a global concern, also how and why the internet has been integrated in our everyday lives.

Let us face the cold hard facts. We are addicted to our computers. They run our lives, our homes and our businesses. Most of us use our computers every single day. It may be for fun and games or it could be for work. Even now as you read this article you are using your computer.

Comparing Carr And Birdwell's 'Addicted To Phones?'

Technology as a tool plays an important role in people's lives and provides users with the services to be convenient. However, some people apply the technology losing control, which harm themselves. When I studied in Liaoning University of Technology to get bachelor degree, which is in Liaoning province in China, we had abundant free time. Most students utilized the free time to study with computers, which were working for searching for information and making documents. However, some students addicted to play computer games. For instance, one of my roommates kept playing an online game, Dungeon and Fighter, in six nights because of the game rewards. This experience was just a part of his university playing life. He had continued

The Negative Side of The Internet Essay

Users who spend too much time in cyberspace are typically fleeing problems with relationships or trying to address deep feelings of insecurity or loneliness…and as with other addictions, what at first seems like a pleasurable retreat from pain, gradually becomes a tyrant, interfering with work, family life and normal, healthy contact with other people (Macklin).

Is Technology Possible To Change An Individual's Identity?

These variables include mental health history, personality and environment, according to Addiction 101. If an individual is suffering from depression, anxiety or lack of sleep. If a person has low self-esteem they are also more likely to be addicted to technology. Addiction 101 claims that those with low self-esteem turn to the internet to escape. In addition internet users with low self-esteem use the internet “to connect with others in an anonymous, non-threatening way,” (Addiction 101). The last variable that could possible cause internet addiction is the person’s environment. Having an abundant amount of stress or not having a good support system can also increase the risk for internet addiction, Addiction 101 claims. Although these factors could lead to internet addiction, it is not guaranteed that if a person contains these qualities they are addicted to the

Technology has become a great benefit to us but many people have taken it too far. According to researcher and surveys taken all over the world shows that a large number of people may have become addicted to their technological devices and are not able to make it through a day without their cell phones or other technological devices. Many have concerns that people would rather use these devices than to have a face to face conversation. The addictions of technological devices are on the rise. Although these devices were meant to make our lives easier there have been many problems to arise ranging from health risk, relationship problems, classroom, church, and work interferences. Statistics show that cell

Thesis Statement For Internet Addiction

Meeting the any of the five symptoms which include always thinking about what your missing online, feeling uneasy when you offline, lying to family and friends to hide how much time you spend on the Internet, lacking control on how much time you spend on the Internet, putting your relationships and education on hold to spend more time online, and going online to escape reality and problems, could be signs

Internet Addiction : Social Network Addiction

There is not a clear stated definition of digital addiction however Shaw and Black (2008) characterize Internet addiction by excessive or poorly preoccupations, urges or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. However as the term addict is a strong description DA is seen as a general misuse of the internet in various forms, as no formal definition exists the author sees the disorder as problematic computer usage resulting in negative consequences. According to Young et al DA is a broad term covering a wide variety of behaviours and impulse control problems. K.Young (1999) also categorised DA into five subtypes of DA, they are cybersexual addiction, cyberrelationship addiction; net compulsion (e.g. gambling or shopping on the internet); information overload (e.g. compulsive database searching); and computer addiction (excessive game-playing). This project highlights social network addiction which falls into the category of cyberrelationship addiction but also contemplates all other types.

The Negative Effects of Internet Addiction Essay

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Justin Timberlake Is Charged With Drunken Driving in Sag Harbor

The 43-year-old singer and actor told the police he had one martini after an officer said he saw him go through a stop sign and weave in a lane.

By Maria Cramer and Sean Piccoli

It was shortly after midnight on Tuesday when a Sag Harbor police officer noticed a gray 2025 BMW weave out of a lane and go through a stop sign.

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Mr. Timberlake, 43, had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and a “strong odor” of alcohol on his breath, and was unsteady on his feet, according to the arrest report filed in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Tuesday.

When the officer ordered Mr. Timberlake to go through a series of field sobriety tests, such as walking in a straight line and standing on one leg, the singer “performed poorly,” the report stated.

“I had one martini and followed my friends home,” Mr. Timberlake told the officer, according to the report.

Mr. Timberlake, who is scheduled to perform at Madison Square Garden on June 25 and June 26, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

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