Wasting Time: Internet Addiction

24 Wasting Time: Internet Addiction There is an old belief that technology is neutral. It is neither good nor bad-it's just a matter of how we apply it in our everyday lives. When the world's newest technology, the World Wide Web, first emerged, we believed that it was a force for good. What could be wrong with easy access to information right at your fingertips? However, as the technology matures, some worrying developments cause people to rethink some of their views about this new technology. The vast majority of people can surf the Web, find the information they need, and then log off. It's just another tool-like television, automobiles and cellphones. We use it when we need it, and we leave it alone when we don't. However, for a growing percentage of people, especially young people, the Internet has become an addiction.

It's not easy to spot someone suffering from this troublesome addiction. The image of a dishevelled teenage boy, sitting in his dark room clicking away until the early hours of the morning, is mostly a stereotype. However, there are some common symptoms you can look out for if you think that you, or any of your friends, are heading to Internet addiction. Instead of sleep, an addict chooses the computer. Instead of real friends and family, this person prefers his online pals. He often loses track of time. He basically lives in a virtual world on the Internet. He is tired all the time and gets upset easily if he can't get online. He refuses to obey his parents when asked him to log off, and seems happy only when he is gaming online. Addicts show big mood swings-sometimes sad, sometimes happy -but they will never be satisfied unless they are online. If you spot any of these behaviours in yourself or your friends, it's time to stop and think things through. Technology really is neutral. It's only when you allow it to take over your life that you are on dangerous ground.