Internet Addiction
Introduction
In recent years, the internet has grown drastically. It has become a platform for many activities, such as news, business opportunities, and socializing. Therefore, it is easy for one to be addicted to the internet. A person is considered addicted to the internet if they become dependent on it by working, texting or spending time on social media. Like an addiction to drugs, internet addiction affects individuals in that it could affect work performance, health, and sleeping patterns as well as causing stress. People get addicted to the internet in many ways. For instance, gaming addiction is when an individual is constantly playing games, and it became hard to stop (Shek et al., 2016). Some of the behaviors of addicted people include being in social media pages during working hours and texting while driving. Other signs that indicate addiction include the loosing of time while on the internet. Internet addicts find their time fly because they are deeply absorbed into the online activity they are engaged in. More also, guilt and irritability tend to become prevalent when interacted. The negative perception causes the guilt that the world views them. Internet addiction is real; therefore, it is an issue to be addressed for the positive impact of the world.
Solution to Internet Addiction
Addiction to the internet can be a very confusing thing. It becomes hard to know whether the internet is a hobby or an addition. Therefore, when the above named signs and symptoms are present, one is most likely addicted (ARE et al., 2011). To overcome, the internet solution various measures need to be taken of which some are individual efforts and other times the support from the family and friends. First, for the web workers are easily addicted to the internet. Therefore, it is imperative to hire a virtual assistant. These are individuals that are paid on an hourly rate and help out in some of the less sensitive duties on the computer. Although this approach won’t fully fight the addiction, it is helpful in reducing the amount of time that is spent on the internet. Times it important to beat oneself hard in order to break the habit. Therefore, setting up boundaries on the usage of computer is a good way to reduce internet addiction. It is impossible to change a habit without adherence to new boundaries that are set into place. This calls for the individual to plan the amount of time they are going to spend on the computer along with a defined purpose.
Accountability is key for any remarkable change to happen to an individual. Being accountable to friends and family members could help overcome internet addiction. This involves having them to keep you in check of the limits of the time spent online. It should happen by setting a time limit for being online and after which one should be dragged away from the computer no matter what as far as time is over. However, this approach may not bear expected fruits as the family members may be fatigued if they will be dragging you daily from the computer. To ensure its effectiveness, an internet addict may choose to give their friends or family members their passwords. By so doing, they are free to change the passwords of the mails, computer’s user account, and router. This would deter the individual from accessing the computer and therefore overcoming the addiction. If all those of the efforts by the friends seem barren in dealing with the addiction, it may be necessary to seek help from a friend. There is no harm to consulting a family member or a close friend when there is an issue that is slipping out of your control. Such individuals may have overcome internet addiction before. They may be helpful in offering counseling and the steps for quick success. There may also need to consult medical professionals who may offer guidance on the healthy guidelines to change the daily routine of activities. Although online friendship and interaction thereof is an attractive thing, it is essential to make friends with real world friends that are able to check on your emotional swings and hence leading a normal life.
Another approach to overcoming internet addiction is changing the routine. Most of the internet addicts have the habit of rushing to the computer when they arrive from work or rushing to emails when they wake up (ARE, 2011). To overcome this, one could try and choose a different set of activities to engage in. Such repeated change of daily activities will help in breaking an individual out of the internet jail. Most of the internet addicts begin by being hooked to the recreational activities it offers. The war against addiction could be overcome through purposing to use the computer for checking mails and business activities instead of being a source of emotional satisfaction once the things that mattes are handled get off and make a vow with yourself to receive no recreational satisfaction from the web. Since it is difficult to live without recreational activities, one should identify other real life activities to replace internet entertainment. Posting a facebook status seems like a perfect way of expressing one’s feeling. However, there are other better activities that are more profit as compared to that. For example, one may join a local football club or begin attending the gym. These are some of the things that make one healthy instead of being an addict. Lastly, follow up of the progress is important for fruitful results. It is essential to keep track of the amount of time being spent on the internet after laying down measures as compared to before (Shek et al., 2016). Reduced time being spent on the internet should be a motivating factor since it’s a sign of improvement. In case there is no improvement, it becomes a good indication to identify the steps that need to be adjusted and getting rid of non-beneficial activities.
Benefits of the Solutions
When the online presence of an individual is regulated, there are many benefits accrued to it. Addiction to the internet has similar effects on drug addiction. Overcoming this disorder would be beneficial to an individual in many ways. First, the feeling of isolation is dealt with. Most of the internet people find themselves isolated from the public. They are locked inside a room and spend their time alone with the computer. This kind of life makes one loose social skills and when they are outside have a lot of troubles interacting with people in the social set ups. By breaking forth from the slavery of internet addiction, one builds the social skills that are useful in leadership and interactions. Relationships too suffer since the addict has little time with those that they love.
Secondly, by overcoming the continued glue on the internet improves one’s health. Internet addiction has diverse adverse negative effects on health. One of the major problems is problems with eyesight. This is caused by spending too much on the screen (Young, 2009). Additionally, most of the internet addicts have problems with their backs. This is due to the poor posture as well as lacking for the physical exercise. The lack of exercise too leads to obesity. Most of the times, addiction to the internet has the effect of interfering with one’s life. For example, students fail to attend classes to play online games and risks of loosing of jobs for the employees. This is due to much time spent online and sleepless nights. Whenever an individual overcomes this addiction their life eventually get better. The dangers of strenuous relationships due to lack of time for their loved ones are eliminated. It also helps students to focus on their careers and produce better grades. The productivity of the employees is promoted too since the employees won’t be working while tired.
Most of the internet addicts are tempered. This is due to the bankruptcy of interactive skills. It makes them be aggressive when interrupted while on the internet. Therefore, overcoming this behavior produces a composed individual that is able to handle all situations without emotional turmoil. There is a similar effect to internet addiction when compared to drug addiction. To them, the internet gives them a sense of satisfaction and highness. Therefore, when offline they are temperamental and aggressive. Overcoming internet addiction is crucial in helping parents raise families and impact their children with necessary virtues that are essential in real life. Lastly, by overcoming internet addiction, one is able to escape the probabilities being bullied online. Child pornography and cyber bullying is something familiar to internet addicts. These activities have adverse effects on one’s life (Shek et al., 2016). For example, a child that is addicted to the internet and exposed to pornography loose moral status. On the hand, they may be prone to bullying that could lead to social depression and cropping of the suicidal thoughts.
Addiction to the internet also of disrupts the life patterns of people. Take an example of losing one’s job due to uncontrolled absenteeism as well as unproductivity at the work place. These individuals lose their income and turn into criminal activities to earn income (Young, 2009). These may include cyber thefts and bullying. Managing one’s online presence helps in building their career as well as pursuing their dreams.
Conclusion
Internet addiction is real just like drug addiction is a reality in the modern days. Most people are actually addicted to social media platforms such as facebook and instagram without their awareness. The governments and organizations are putting any effort possible to fight drug addiction. Similar attention needs to reclaim the lives of the people lost in the internet world. There is a need to promote creativity, productivity and the overall well-being of an individual. However, this doesn’t mean the total abandonment of the internet. The Internet has uncountable benefits as far it is not interfering with the real practical life of an internet user.
References
ARE, F. (2011). Psychotherapy for internet addiction.
Shek, D. T., Yu, L., & Sun, R. C. (2016). Internet addiction. Neuroscience in the 21st century, 1-44.
Young, K. (2009). Internet addiction: diagnosis and treatment considerations. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 39(4), 241-246.
