- Internet addiction can be classified as a psychiatric disorder and can be signified by symptoms such as:
- excessive amounts of time spent online
- compulsive use of internet
- difficulty managing time spent online
- decreased Face to Face social interactions
VS
The Walther & Reid article's main focus is on the holes in the arguments that attempt to classify internet addiction as an actual disorder. They argue that internet addiction is not something that can be classified and diagnosed with a self-report survey. It is more subjective and needs to take into account a person's actual online activities. The term "addiction" is also problematic. First of all, under the defined characteristics of internet addiciton, many "normal" things--such as breathing--would fit the definition of an addiction. Second, in labeling certain types of internet use as an addiction, this is assuming that whatever activities the person is partaking in online, it is less valuable that offline tasks. This may not necessarily be the case. This is why I don't think "internet addiction" is one, an inadequate term because of the assumptions and generalizations it carries, and two because it fails to take into account the subjectivity of internet use. Here are some questions for thought:
- Problematic internet use in certain individuals in relation to specific online activities they choose to partake in
The Walther & Reid article's main focus is on the holes in the arguments that attempt to classify internet addiction as an actual disorder. They argue that internet addiction is not something that can be classified and diagnosed with a self-report survey. It is more subjective and needs to take into account a person's actual online activities. The term "addiction" is also problematic. First of all, under the defined characteristics of internet addiciton, many "normal" things--such as breathing--would fit the definition of an addiction. Second, in labeling certain types of internet use as an addiction, this is assuming that whatever activities the person is partaking in online, it is less valuable that offline tasks. This may not necessarily be the case. This is why I don't think "internet addiction" is one, an inadequate term because of the assumptions and generalizations it carries, and two because it fails to take into account the subjectivity of internet use. Here are some questions for thought:
- What is it about about the nature of the internet that causes some scholars to label it as addictive?
- Should certain internet-use patterns be defined as addictive or is there a different term that best describes this type of internet use? If so, do you still consider it a psychiatric disorder?
2 comments:
I'm sure most of us feel that when we go online, we find ourselves taking part in more Internet activities than we initially set out to do. The fact that the Internet is made up of infinite interconnected networks is probably why scholars label it as addictive. We leap from page to page seeing something that triggers our curiosity. When is it not okay to keep going? Here I agree with scholars who believe it is a problem. When we lose a significant amount of FtF COMM, then it's a problem- it's addicting.
I think certain internet-use patterns can be defined as addictive. However determining addiction through usage patterns would require looking at many factors like: time spent, necessity of tasks, specific activity, other relevant priorities, student/career status, living conditions, quantity of FtF vs. CMC daily communication, weight gain, etc.
As for whether or not it should be considered a psychiatric disorder, I think almost any infatuation can lead to this extreme. However I feel the testimonies covered in class and discussion haven't really presented such an extreme case.
What is it about about the nature of the internet that causes some scholars to label it as addictive?
In my opinion, the one aspect of the internet that makes it so appealing is the amount of freedom that it allows. There seems to be a website for every interest a person can possibly have. It allows a sense of escapism from the mundane when you are allowed to roam freely across the internet.
My initial opinion was that you could be addicted to the internet. However, after our last class discussion, I have since changed my mind. It has occurred to me that studying internet addiction is much too broad. Since people use the internet for a myriad of reasons, it would be more wise to focus on things like internet porn or internet gambling. Furthermore, the internet is simply and environment. People may depend on the internet to access their addictions but it is not truly the internet that they are addicted to. As Sean phrased it in class, "for an alcoholic, the internet is like the car that takes you to the liquor store."
Post a Comment