Whether it’s an increasing phenomenon or we’re just more aware of it, addictive social media and internet behavior is becoming more prevalent. To such an extent that internet addiction treatment camps are commonplace in China. According to psychiatrist and neuroscience researcher Sean Luo of Columbia University “3.7 to 13 percent of U.S. and 10 percent of South Korean Internet users express some symptoms of inappropriate Internet use.”(http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-real-a-risk-is-social-media-addiction/)
Last week it was reported that doctors in the USA submitted a man into the US Navy’s substance abuse programme, because he was apparently addicted to Google Glass. He wore the headset for up to 18 hours a day and when it was removed, experienced serious withdrawal symptoms. Even when he was not wearing it, he attempted to tap his right temple, which is where the device is activated. He was diagnosed with internet addiction disorder (IAD).
This isn’t a new phenomenon. In 1996, shortly after internet became part of our lives, internet addiction was already recognised as a possible psychiatric disorder. Even though it’s not officially listed in the latest DSM manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), used by psychiatrists, it has been argued that it should be. Psychiatrists also prefer the term Problematic Internet Use (PUI), avoiding the use of the word addiction. PUI refers to excessive computer use interfering with daily life.
The diagnosis of internet addiction isn’t an easy one as it’s not the medium someone becomes addicted to, but rather the available online content. The internet is merely the platform. It has also been observed that IAD could be a symptom of another underlying disorder, instead of a disorder on it’s own. Many other related addictions can fall under the general term IAD, for example a gambling addiction, addiction to cyber relationships, online shopping, etc. (more detail on IAD can be found on www.wikipedia.org)
Would you be able to disconnect, even if only for a day? How about trying survive this weekend without Facebook, Twitter or e-mail to start? Imagine how much more time you might have on your hands …
In 2013 Paul Miller, an American Technology Journalist from Springfield, Missouri and senior editor for The Verge decided to disconnect from the hyper-connected world in an attempt to ‘find himself’ and become more productive. He abandoned the internet and disconnected from all Social Media, returning to a life before the net, apps and smartphones. Watch the video below to see what he learnt from the experience.
Other related videos and short films:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0H6AzEMHSc
[SOURCES: http://www.zdnet.com; http://www.cbsnews.com, http://www.wikipedia.org]
Volgens sielkundige en neuro-wetenskaplike Sean Luo van die Universiteit van Columbia, weerspieël 3.7 tot 13 persent van Amerika en 10 persent van Suid-Korea se internetgebruikers simptome van internetverslawing of ontoepalike internetgebruik. (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-real-a-risk-is-social-media-addiction/) In China is rehabilitasiekampe vir internetverslaafdes reeds `n algemene verskynsel. Algemene bewuswording rondom internet en sosiale media verslawing is gelukkig ook aan die toeneem.
Verlede week is berig dat dokters `n man opgeneem het in die Amerikaanse vloot se middelmisbruik-program vir sy verslawing aan Google Glass. Hy het die kopstuk vir tot 18 ure per dag gedra en wanneer dit verwyder word, ernstige onttrekkingsimptome ervaar. Self as hy dit nié gedra het nie, het hy kompulsief sy regterslaap, waar die toestel normaalweg geaktiveer word, getik. Hy is gevolglik gediagnoseer met IAD (Internet Addiction Disorder)
Dis egter nie `n nuwe verskynsel nie. Reeds is 1996, kort nadat die internet ons lewens betree het, is internetverslawing reeds herken as `n moontlike psigiatriese afwyking. Selfs al is dit nie amptelik opgeneem in die nuutste DSM(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)-handleiding, wat gebruik word deur psigiaters nie, behoort dit te wees volgens kenners. Psigiaters verkies ook die term PUI (Problematic Internet Use bo die gebruik van die woord “verslawing”. PUI verwys na die buitengewone hoë gebruik van rekenaars in so `n mate dat dit inbraak maak om `n persoon se daaglikse lewe.
Die diagnose vir internetverslawing is nie `n maklike een nie, aangesien iemand nie verslaaf raak aan die medium self nie, maar eerder aan die beskikbare aanlyn-inhoud. Die internet is slegs die platform daarvoor. Daar word ook beweer dat IAD bloot `n simptoom is vir ander onderliggende afwykings eerder as een op sy eie. Vele ander verwante verslawings val onder die algemene IA-term, byvoorbeeld dobbelverslawing, verslawing aan internetverhoudings, aanlyn inkopies, ens. (meer detail oor IAD kan gevind word op www.wikipedia.org)
Sou jy kon afskakel, selfs net vir `n dag? Wat van dié naweek sonder Facebook, Twitter of e-pos? Dink net hoeveel tyd sal jy hê vir ander aktiwiteite …
In 2013 het Paul Miller, `n Amerikaanse joernalis van Springfield, Missouri en senior-redakteur van The Verge besluit om af te skakel van die altyd-verbinde aanlyn wêreld waarin hy hom bevind het. Sy doel was om “homself te vind” en meer produktief te wees. Hy’t homself afgesny van die internet te gebruik, ophou sosiale media gebruik en teruggegaan na `n wêreld voor internet, toepassings en slimfone. Jy kan sy praatjie hieronder kyk en hoor hoe sy ervaring was.
Ander verwante videos en kortfilms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0H6AzEMHSc
[BRONNE: http://www.zdnet.com; http://www.cbsnews.com, http://www.wikipedia.org]
Tags: internet addiction