Many people are complaining about the new wave of technology. Parents and scientists are discussing the addiction of internet, TV, texting, etc. The studies says that some people prefer to communicate with the world from behind these screens. Scientists are saying that these behaviors are affecting our lives, not in a good way. The question is: is technology really addicting?
I’m very connected with the world through the internet. I live with the generation that prefers to text over a face to face conversation. I follow technology and I know most of the updates. A few years back, I’ve noticed a crazy trend that is still going on till today, it’s called vlogs.
Vloggers are people who share some of their personal life online through a small camera. Some people and mostly young people, come home everyday from school change their clothes and wait for their favorite vloggers to upload the daily vlog, sometimes they don’t even change their cloths. There is no problem with watching the vlogs, It’s like watching your favorite show but these young girls and boys are getting attached to these vloggers emotionally. Watching the vlog has become an addiction to them. They won’t sleep till they watch the vlog. If one of these vloggers got sick and couldn’t upload a vlog, it would be the end of the world for her/his fans. “Dose of Fousey” is one of the vloggers who gets more than half million views just for his daily vlogs.
Another trend that caught my attention is “MineCraft.” Almost every kids' iPad has this game downloaded on it. When a kid start playing this game, he/she gets to see what it would look like if they were to live in their own world. Some YouTubers record themselves playing this game and share it online. Millions of kids watch these YouTubers playing this game for hours. MineCraft is an old designed game with a very low level of resolution and quality but it has every color that you can imagine, and that’s why some kids are obsessed with this game and others are addicted.
Online gaming is another case where people can get addicted. Addiction to online gaming can result in kids who gained a lot of weight for not leaving their room all day which puts their health in danger. Most of these kids get used to separating themselves from social communication which causes future problems with their career and personal life.
“Solitude is where you find yourself,” Turkle said. Sherry Turkle has been studying technology since the '80s. She is a psychologist, and her ideas about technology are pretty different. She used to fully support technology. Turkel has made new research lately about technology addiction. In her opinion people are getting addicted to technology and losing the connection to each other. The robot example with the old lady was very shocking for me.
Turkle said that people prefer texting on face to face conversations. In face to face conversations you can’t edit your words. Another shocking example she mentioned was about a guy who said, “I will think about having real conversations someday but not now.” Sherry said she loves receiving texts from her daughter. “A text is like a hug,” she says, but she is against having long conversations through texting.
Americans today tend to believe that texting and technology doesn’t hurt. Common sense seems to say that when you get addicted to anything it always hurt you and your surroundings. It is often said that Technology is very helpful, and Many people assume that you can never get addicted to the internet.
Sherry thinks that we should stop and limit these behaviors and learn how we can use technology to benefit us instead of destroying our social life. I agree with her. Using anything beyond limits always cause problems. It’s like when you have 50 antibiotics at the same time thinking it would help you faster.
Internet addiction is described as an impulse control disorder, which does not involve use of an intoxicating drug and is very similar to pathological gambling. Some Internet users may develop an emotional attachment to online friends and activities they create on their computer screens. Internet users may enjoy aspects of the Internet that allow them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas through the use of chat rooms, social networking websites, or "virtual communities." Other internet users spend endless hours researching topics of interest online or "blogging." Blogging is a contraction of the term "web log" in which an individual will post commentaries and keep regular chronicles of events. It can be viewed as journaling and the entries are primarily textual.
Similar to other addictions, those suffering from Internet addiction use the virtual fantasy world to connect with real people through the Internet, as a substitution for real life human connection, which they are unable to achieve normally.
What are the warning signs of Internet addiction? Preoccupation with the internet. (Thoughts about previous online activity or anticipation of the next online session.)
Use of the internet in increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction.
Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop internet use.
Feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression, or irritability when attempting to cut down use of the internet. Online longer than originally intended. Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational or career opportunities because of internet use.
Lies to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the internet. Use of the internet is a way to escape from problems or to relieve a dysphoric mood. (e.g. feelings of hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.)
What are the effects? Internet addiction results in personal, family, academic, financial, and occupational problems that are characteristic of other addictions. Impairments of real life relationships are disrupted as a result of excessive use of the Internet. Individuals suffering from Internet addiction spend more time in solitary seclusion, spend less time with real people in their lives, and are often viewed as socially awkward. Arguments may result due to the volume of time spent online. Those suffering from Internet addiction may attempt to conceal the amount of time spent online, which results in distrust and the disturbance of quality in once stable relationships.
How can someone get help? The first step is to determine if there is a problem. A certified addictions counselor trained in identification and treatment of Internet addiction can effectively perform an assessment to determine what level of care is most appropriate.
Let’s not forget that technology also made our life better and easier. Can you imagine your house without technology? Can you imagine the school without it? Can you imagine hospitals without it? I can’t spend one month without technology. I need it, you do too!
Some of the online gamers are making millions of dollars so not everyone is wasting his time. A lot of people started a career on Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube where they make more money than me and you combined can ever make. The owner of Facebook never finished school. His net worth is 45.7 billion USD. He is helping people around the world with different projects using Facebook as a tool or sometimes with new tools that his team comes up with.
Rossana Pansino is an amateur baker who uploads baking videos on Youtube and makes two and a half million dollars every year. Then there are makeup artists like Michelle Phan who makes three million a year from YouTube videos. The violinist Lindsey Stirling has been rejected by every major record producer she approached. Now she makes six million a year from YouTube, and those companies that turned her down are begging to work with her.
Technology is a huge power, it can be a helpful tool or a problem. Many people are benefiting from technology but many people are getting addicted to it, specially the younger generation. I call technology a double edged sword. It’s a tool and it depends on the way you use it.
