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4 Signs You're Addicted to the Internet

Addiction can come in many forms, including our obsessive need to use the internet throughout the day.

Haley Cornish

Sep 11, 2018

Tampa, Florida University of South Florida

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

We use the internet all day, most of the time without any real purpose. We just whip out our smartphones and start mindlessly browsing on websites and social media. Does this mean you have an internet addiction? Here are a few signs of internet addiction that you should know about.

You Choose the Internet Over In-Person Interactions

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If you're spending more time online browsing Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, or any other website than you are spending with friends and family, you may have a problem. Often, even when people are surrounded by friends and family, they'll still choose to be on the internet instead of interacting. If you feel more comfortable chatting with a friend over social media than you do in person, you may have an internet addiction problem that's taking a toll on your social behavior.

You're Neglecting Yourself

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We only have so much free time each day, especially when we're in school or working full-time. If you spend all of your free time online instead of on yourself, you may be addicted to the internet. It's okay to catch up on social media, but if you neglect your responsibilities and stop taking care of yourself because you're caught up in the digital world, it's become a problem. You'll start losing time and wondering how you spent hours each day because you were mindlessly surfing the web instead of doing something productive for yourself.

You Use the Internet to Change Your Mood

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If you get a rush of dopamine when you open up Instagram to see new likes and follow requests, your mood has become entangled with the internet. If you're having a bad day and think that using social media is going to alter your attitude, you have become dependent on the internet. Most importantly, if not using the internet causes you to feel negative emotions such as depression or anxiety, you have an internet addiction problem.

You Think About the Internet When You're Offline

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If you are regularly thinking about the internet or feel a constant urge to take out your phone and start browsing, you've become addicted. The internet should not be consuming your thoughts while you are offline at work or school. The internet should be used purposefully and not to fill a void you may have in your life. If you feel urges to plug in even when you don't need to, you've developed an addiction to the internet.

Internet addiction may not seem like a severe problem because it has become such a significant part of our lives. However, being addicted to the internet can affect your life in many negative ways and even lead to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. If you think you're addicted to the internet, start trying to log out for a certain amount of time each day, and slowly build yourself back up to where you no longer rely on the internet to fill a void in your life.

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

34737

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

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best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

98117

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

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Recommended for you

4 Signs You're Addicted to the Internet

Addiction can come in many forms, including our obsessive need to use the internet throughout the day.

You Choose the Internet Over In-Person Interactions

You're Neglecting Yourself

You Use the Internet to Change Your Mood

You Think About the Internet When You're Offline

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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