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INTERNET USERS TURN ADDICTS
On June 14, ABC news reported that an "internet-crazed"
Cincinnati woman was arrested for neglecting her three young children.
The woman reportedly spent 12 hours straight online, while her hungry
kids were locked away in one room so she could be online without
interruption. The three kids were placed in county custody while the
mother was tossed in jail.
The Internet is rapidly becoming an addictive source to a lot of
its users. Users of the Internet include students, housewives, and
business professionals. Some of these Internet users spend a minimum of
thirty-eight hours per week on the "net"; hence, losing touch with
reality and reeking havoc on their studies, family lives or careers.
Individuals such as these are classified as "Internet Addicts." Based on
level of addiction, there are three groups of Internet addicts: i) the
"I'm-not-addicted users," ii) the "I-only-use-it-when-I-have-to- users"
and iii) the "Internet junkies."
The "I'm-not-addicted users" are the users who try to convince
themselves that they are not addicted to the Internet. This group
includes college students who don't go online during the day to prove to
fellow students that they can do without getting online; only, to stay up
all night in a chat room online. Or businesspeople who stay after office
hours to supposedly get a late report done; only, to stay online until
the security guy's ready to lock up the building. Or husbands who stay
offline all day, only to get online for hours after their family members
are asleep. These users are addicts but portray themselves otherwise in
the presence of people.
Next, are "the I-only-use-it-when-I-have-to-users." These users
make convenient excuses to use the Internet. Mothers who claim they have
to visit their child's school's website, to read the highlights of the
last PTA meeting, while they could have waited for the minutes of the
meeting in the mail. They end up staying online for hours. Or college
students who insist on checking out the ratings of a movie online, using
this as an excuse to stay online for hours; while they could have looked
in the local newspaper. Or businesspeople who use checking for e- mail,
as an excuse to get online; even though, the computer announces when
there's new mail. These addicts make excuses to justify their use of the
Internet.
The third group of Internet users is the "Internet junkies."
Unlike addicts in the previous two groups, these users neither sneak
online nor make excuses to get online. They put their lives on hold to
get online. The mother in the story at the beginning of the essay is an
example of an Internet junky. Another example of an Internet junky is a
woman in her 40's resigns from her job suddenly with no reason given.
Unfortunately she leaves some work undone and a family member tries to
find her for the employer. Finally the woman is found hunched over her
computer, completely oblivious to her surroundings . These addicts are
completely oblivious to their surroundings.
Although the Internet is a very useful and economical source of
information, it's fast becoming yet another addictive substance to some
of its users. Internet addiction seems very contemporary because it
involves a high-tech device. But psychiatrists and psychologists
typically treat Internet addictions in much the same way they deal with
other addictions. Just like drug, gambling, or alcohol, Internet
addiction affects the addicts' life and the lives of those around them.
Seyi Adegbore /
Word Count: 815
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