The Growing Concern of Internet Addiction

By Neil Degal 

Most people today rely on internet for almost anything. Aside from the information you get in a second with just one click, it also offers online eases such as live streaming, banking, shopping and paying bills. On the other hand, social networking sites have made the world smaller and closer. Indeed, it has changed the way we live.

Conversely, every development has an effect. Technology comes with a price. With the new era of internet, it gave way to the rise of negative effects to humans. There were issues on identity theft, cyber-bullying, pornography, hacking, plagiarism and the growing concern regarding Internet addiction among children and teenagers.

It may not be a mainstream problem but internet addiction is a serious and prevailing issue in the community especially among the youth.

More and more news and studies relating to internet addiction are released. However, it seems that people are not really aware of what internet addiction means, much more , not everyone can tell if someone has already fallen into this craze.

Internet addiction is the excessive use of the computer that interferes with daily life. It is also known as computer addiction, online addiction, cyber addiction, Internet overuse, problematic computer use or pathological computer use. Experts and doctors commonly refer it as the “internet addiction disorder”.

According to news reports, the common signs of Internet addiction that lead to dysfunction are the loss of appetite; lack of sleep; fatigue; and restlessness when not in front of the computer. It also causes, internet addiction may result in lowered grades, job loss, and lying about time spent online.

In the local arena, students are susceptible to this addiction. The students from UP Cebu reacted to the following questions:  ”how could you say that a person has the disorder of internet addiction?” and  “what are the possible reasons why they become addicted?”

According to John Mark Milan, BS Management student, “I can say that he/she is addicted if he/she can’t last a day without visiting the internet. The main reason, for me, why they become addicted is because of the constant exposure to it.”

Meanwhile, according to Emelie Marie Diez and Thea Dacillo, both from the Political Science program, “if he/she can’t pass a day without opening his/her computer; checking on social networking sites or playing his/her online game and would give up socializing people around him/her.”

“It is a product of his/her socialization – political or psychological. Maybe he/she is exposed at a very young age to the “wonders” of the internet or peer pressure perhaps,” Diez said.

“He/she may feel more comfortable facing the cyber-world rather than the real one or he/she may be rejected by the society, which forces him/her to find comfort in the internet.” Dacillo added.

Indeed this issue is alarming. We might not see it as one but it is prevailing in the society that is in need to be addressed.

According to a child psychologist, Dr. Honey Carandang in a news report, “when these[lowered grades and other negative effects] things happen, parents should not immediately get mad at the child or restrict his access to a computer as simply being dictatorial and forcibly stopping the habit will not help.”

She added that the usual reason why a child becomes addicted to the Internet is the existence of a problem at home. It might be a personal conflict between his/her parents or between the siblings.

It is important that this addiction be addressed before it worsens.

Lastly, it is not only the parents who should take the steps to control and minimize internet addiction among children; Schools and local government units should also cooperate in monitoring and regulating youth’s patronage of Internet cafés near their residence or school.