A long but interesting article!

[Coloow]

The Internet has certainly given most of us a tremendous opportunity to access knowledge, exchange views, to chat with families and friends, to communicate instantly with our brethrens that are scattered throughout the world. But it has also certainly become addictive to many Somalis. Have you, a family member, a friend that stays into the wee hours of the night chatting online? Spend most of your time replying to what people write in forums? Use Internet jargons such as LOL to address your older relatives. You may have symptoms of Internet addiction.

 

Yes, that's right, I said Internet addiction. The idea is creeping into popular culture, too. Parents are warned about how long they should let their children stay online, and college students are lectured on appropriate Net use. Your employer may be monitoring your e-mails, or keeping tabs on how long you are spending surfing the Internet. Addiction clinics around the world are fielding calls daily regarding excessive Internet use. Whether you believe in the idea of Internet addiction or not, the phenomenon is gaining acceptance as a bona fide psychological disorder.

 

At first, I was also sceptical of claims that people are addicted to the Internet. After several years of studying how people behave on the internet on an amateur basis, I still couldn't see how people could actually be addicted to the Net. Sure, people can be 'addicted' to chocolate or shopping, but is this really addiction? Some people are simply using the Internet too much. How can we explain these people who seem to spend so much time on the web, often to the point that it interferes with normal functioning?

 

The answer lies in the fundamental nature of the Internet. First, however, I must settle a semantic disagreement. People are not addicted to the Internet in the same way that they can be addicted to alcohol or cocaine. However, they do exhibit pathological behaviors, much as a compulsive gambler does. Therefore, a more appropriate term is pathological Internet use, which describes the individual who uses the Internet in such a way that there are psychological and behavioral implications. However, if that is too much of a mouthful for you to remember, let's stick with Internet addiction for the sake of simplicity.

 

So, now that we have that settled, what is so 'addictive' about the 'Net? Well, let's begin with why we use the Internet in the first place. First and foremost, the Internet is a tool for communication. We communicate ideas and information for the most part. As a communications and information medium, we use the Internet at work, school, home, and office. We find information for a class project, do a marketing research report at work, e-mail dirty jokes to each other, and instant message our co-workers warning them when the boss is just about to arrive. The reason that the Internet has become so popular is that it is extremely efficient as a communications tool. It allows us to be anonymous when we want, or to stand on a virtual soapbox and let the world know just what we think of it.

 

However, more than a mere communications tool, the Internet is also a tool for entertainment. It is, simply, fun. We can play games, role play (i.e. pretend to be anyone we want), meet other people, listen to music, poke fun at political leaders, and watch dancing babies to our heart's content. Sure, there are annoying banner ads all over the web, and people send you strange e-mails once in a while, but for the most part spending time online is an enjoyable experience.

When we mix communication with entertainment, we are left with a medium so incredibly interesting, that it captivates some people to the point of what I call, "Information masturbation." There is so much out there on the Internet that allows us to have fun communicating with others, that we can always find a way to (metaphorically) stroke our collective intellects.

 

In some cases, people will take this to the extreme, and lose themselves into their Internet world, to the detriment of their 'real' world offline, which invariably results in problems with daily life functioning.

What are the symptoms of Internet addiction? They include: academic/work or interpersonal problems, neglecting friends, family, and job or personal responsibilities, withdrawal when away from the Internet, irritability when attempting to stop using the Internet, staying online more than originally intended, lying or concealing how much time you spend online, drastic lifestyle changes in order to spend more time online, la general decrease in physical activity, disregard for one's health as a result of internet activity, and sleep deprivation or a change in sleep patterns in order to spend time on the net.

 

People with Internet addiction not only behave differently, they also think differently. They have obsessive thoughts about the Internet, diminished impulse control, and feel as though the Internet is their only friend. There is the feeling that the Internet is the only place where they feel good about themselves and the world around them. Other symptoms include thinking about the Internet while offline, anticipating future time online, and spending large of amounts of money on Internet time and other such expenses. The person spends less time doing otherwise pleasurable activities than before the condition began. What used to be fun is no longer enjoyable. A further complication arises when the person eventually isolates himself or herself from friends, in favor of friends online. Finally, people with Internet addiction have a sense of guilt about their online use. They often lie to their friends about how much time they spend online, and consider their Internet use a secret to others.

 

While they understand that what they are doing is not entirely socially acceptable, they cannot stop. This results in a diminished self worth and further symptoms of Internet addiction.

So, there you have it. Quite a laundry list of symptoms, huh? It might seem hard to believe, but people do actually have this condition. There are people out there who are otherwise completely normal, just like you and me (well, maybe just you), who fit into this pattern of thoughts and behaviors perfectly. What can they do about it? Although they will likely be somewhat reluctant, the best thing they can do is get professional help. Tell them to talk to their doctor or seek out a psychologist who will help them address their Internet addiction and identify a strategy to conquer it.