Hello, my name is Charlotte, and I might have an internet addiction. From a young age, I have always been enchanted by computers and technology. Some of my earliest memories are of logging on and reading Digimon and Pokemon fansites on my parents' computer. I loved this magnificent, seemingly infinite source of new information. The way my mind works, even more so when I was younger, I absorb information like a sponge. Combined with the magic of hyperlinks, it was obsession at first click.

I would spend, and still spend hours just reading the internet like the world's largest, interminable book. Once I got my first smart device (ah, the iPod Touch; all the connective magic of a smartphone, without the phone), i would use it everywhere. My family probably had reason to be concerned, as I was either craning my neck at a small piece of metal and plastic or up in the computer room and away from them for hours at a time. I think one time they joked I was up there for a week, much to my ire and confusion. One of my favorite pastimes was to read through lengthy threads on various fan forums. Never actually posting or contributing to the community. Just...reading them. I don't really know what I got out of them; a sense of vicarious socialization? This behavior transferred to Reddit as soon as I learned of that platform.

Despite how I make this sound, my internet usage does not affect my general lifestyle that much. I continue to get good grades at college, I am capable of stopping myself, I go to bed at reasonable times... what it does affect is my relationship with family and friends, and that deep, nagging part of me that wants to push myself towards goals. As research shows( some of which I even did for a college paper), even the presence of a phone or web-enabled device makes personal contact less meaningful, let alone if one party is actively browsing. Because of my autism, social interaction is a stressful and sometimes quite boring experience; it is easier to flee to the internet to both cope with the stress and amuse myself. I often tell myself, "Let's check such-and-such a site before I start writing, or whatever, it'll be quick." While it is quick to do so, whenever I'm on a computer there's a constant pull to open another tab, or follow another link, or just watch one more video. Even if I find nothing, I keep clicking in the hopes of finding something that sates my ravenous information centers. And suddenly it's been hours, it's time for bed, and I have that empty brain buzz, both bored and overstimulated at the same time, that makes me unable to focus.

I know I can never escape the internet; I need it for professional and personal contact, everything is web-enabled nowadays, and it's probably going to be the source of my fanbase and my income in the future. Besides, I think some of the reasons I use the internet are healthy; a good YouTube video or fascinating online essay can both inspire and relax me after a long, stressful day. I just need to set my priorities straight, and know when to stop myself, even before I get started. Just after I watch this video...