The Challenges of Internet Addiction
“The difference between technology and slavery is that slaves are fully aware that they are not free” is what Nassim Nicholas Taleb says about techonogy addiction. Nowadays the internet helps us achieve great things but it is also destroying important aspects of our life. Especially in teenagers and in all those who are “learning from home” the problem is becoming very serious. First of all, teenagers don’t concentrate while studying anymore, secondly people are not used to socializing anymore and thirdly many people are experiencing more health issues than before.
Nowadays it is surely harder for students to concentrate on studying when they have to attend classes and do their homework online. Many young students have a difficult time staying focused on their classes when they are using the same device they use to normally relax and play videogames. Many times while in school they receive a notification from a friend who is playing or a chat request from someone which makes it hard just to concentrate on work. Some experts say that some tips that could help students are to find what works best for each person, to sort the room and desk before studying and to make a timetable. (Shearing).
Internet addiction is also not helping people socialize, even more during this pandemic people have not had the chance to go out as much and speak to people face to face. This will probably create even bigger problems for those who are introverts. A study demonstrates that poor social skills are associated with internet addiction. The absence of face-to-face interaction reduces social skills in the real world.(Chou)
Health issues are also an important consequence of internet addiction. Headaches, backaches and vision problems are all related to the fact that people spend too many hours online in the same position. During the last year things have been even worse because people are not able to go out and walk or go running so many people who would spend time outside, during the lockdown, spent more time online instead of taking breaks and moving around. Internet addiction not only causes physical problems but also psychological ones and some studies show that many young people suffer from these effects. (Alavi)
In conclusion, the internet can be very helpful but also very bad. It all depends on the use each person makes of it and on how time we spend on it daily. The current situation is surely not making it easy for people to use the internet less but we should all realize how much damage it can do to us.
Alavi, Seyyed Salman et al. “The Effect of Psychiatric Symptoms on the Internet Addiction Disorder in Isfahan's University Students.” Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences vol. 16,6 . 2011. Web. 15 March 2021.
Chou, Wen-Jiun et al. “Social Skills Deficits and Their Association with Internet Addiction and Activities in Adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.” 2017. Web. 15 March 2021.
Shearing,Hazel “ Covid: How to Actually Concentrate and do Some Online Uni”. BBC News. 9. Dec. 2020. Web. 15 march 2021.
