Internet Addiction

Internet addiction is a global problem that is getting worse and worse as technology is advancing. As  Albert Einstein said, “I fear that technology will be more popular than human interaction”. Internet Addiction might seem like something not so important but it is a serious problem. 

The first way people could be affected by internet addiction is that  many people with IAD,(internet addiction disorder), have problems with organizing their daily tasks because they are addicted to using their devices. For example, have you ever seen the new generation,(kids between the ages of 1-20+), without some type of device in their hands? I can tell you this also from first hand experience that “us teens” spend too much time on our devices, whether it is on social media or on simple games. This is a negative influence on our daily life especially because we lose social time just to use our devices, 50% of teens have actually admitted to being addicted(Joyce). This is also because since we are enjoying the use of the internet, we tend to spend much more time on them than what we are supposed/intend to.

 Another problem is that with the advancement of technology more and more apps are being created. However some of these apps aren’t just fun but they start to cost money,(and trust me some aren't exactly cheap). This has also ended up separating certain apps based on the financial state of the user. For example Snapchat has been found to be used more by wealthier teens(Lenhart). An example would be some of the new generation of apps which actually allow you to create a “second” life(Young). This is a problem especially with people that aren’t content with their current state of being, this leads them to create their dream life on these apps which eventually leads them to spend hundreds of dollars on these virtual games. This is also a way of “hiding” from everything because you can just lock yourself in a room with absolutely no one in it and just scroll through your instagram or play a game to free your mind.

The last thing I want to mention about IAD is that every electronic device has a way of communicating with other people no matter the distance between the devices. This is controversial because we are talking about the fact that technology is making us interact less, while at the same time, also making it possible for you to communicate through these devices. So, isn’t it the same thing you might be asking? Well it is not. Studies have shown that spending too much time with these devices is harmful for your body, and also that if you text during the late night, your grades are probably worse than what you are capable of achieving(Mazzola). In fact if you spend more time that you are supposed to on these devices, you can start to suffer from major headaches, pain to the eyes, or also permanent damage to your eyesight.

 In conclusion, IAD is a serious problem. Don't underestimate it! So please if you want to talk to someone, make sure you socialize in real life, and not in your virtual one. Especially because this will show endless positive results in your daily life.

Works Cited

• Joyce, Anny. “Teens Say They’re Addicted to Technology. Here’s How Parents Can Help”. washingtonposts.com. The Washington Post. 3 May 2016.web.18 Mar 2020
• Lenhart,Amanda. “Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015”. Pewresearch.org. Pew Research Center. 9 Apr 2015. Web. 18 Mar 2020.
• Mazzola,Jessica. “Nighttime Texting Linked to Bad Grades,N.J. Study Finds” nj.com. Advance Local Media LLC. 17 Jan 2019. 18 Mar 2020