negative usage of internet
Answers
Answer:
In a recent radio interview on 610 WTVN, I talked with Joel Riley about the negative effects of Internet addiction. It’s a fascinating topic, especially since it has gained rapid momentum in recent years. Although Internet addiction is not technically considered a clinical addiction, that may soon change. The American Psychiatric Association may be adding Internet Addiction Disorder to its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders. With that in mind, let’s explore how the Internet and our dependence on smart phones and social media may be affecting our lives.
Breakdown of Communication
Our growing dependence on the Internet has dramatically changed the way we communicate with others. Instead of talking to people or spending time with them, we often resort to less personal forms of communication like texting or emailing. There’s nothing wrong with using these methods of communication, but they lack voice inflection and emotion, and that often confuses or frustrates people. At the same time, these less personal forms of communication make it easy to ignore the people we’re with. It’s sad to see friends out to dinner who are looking at their phones instead of each other. So, while the information on our smart phones may be fascinating, let’s be careful not to miss out on the joy that comes from personal relationships with family or friends.
Increased Need for Instant Gratification
The Internet has taught us that everything and everyone is available at the touch of a button. Gone are the days of relying on “snail mail” to connect with people far away. While I’m thankful for the increased technology and how it helps us connect with people around the world, I worry about our increasing dependence on instant gratification. When we know that people are able to send and receive texts and emails instantly, we inadvertently impose unrealistic expectations on others and on ourselves. We live in a technological age where people expect others to drop everything to respond to a text, email or tweet.
Inability to Focus on the Present
The advent of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has created an obsessive need to share our personal lives with the world. Many people have trouble “living in the moment” because they are too busy sharing the “moment” with everyone else. This constant need to peer into the lives of others can open the door for feelings of jealously, judgment and neglect.