This isn't a subject that has been ignored by professionals. With the rising use of the internet, faster internet speeds, better posted information and research options, and more popular social websites being created (such as Facebook), the internet has become almost vital to everyday life for some people and is used in almost every business and company, sometimes every day. And so studies have been done to measure the effects of prolonged use of the web, mainly on adolescent and young people. One study, performed by Ju-Yu Yen and his team found that in young teenagers, users with "internet addiction" had poorer mental health than those who did not and also had a higher chance of becoming engaged in substance abuse. They defined an internet abuser as someone who uses the internet frequently, has problems stopping use, has issues when not using it, has communication problems with others, and has poor health and time management as a result of using the web [2].
To some readers, this may sound silly and something that you cannot relate to. But can you? Have you ever worked on homework and decided to check your Facebook, only to find that afterward, you had spent almost an hour looking at your friends posts? You lost track of time and as a result had to hurry to finish your work. This is an example of possible misuse of the internet. Be it either checking your email, reading posts on Facebook, watching funny Youtube videos, or simply searching for music, if you find that you spend time lost on the internet instead of taking care of your real life needs, you may have a problem. But how can this be? Some people have made friends on the internet, and continued to support existing relationships with people over social networking sites. Isn't this a good thing? The answer is yes and no. Using social networking for organizing events and casual conversation is a great way to keep in touch. But as said by Natalie Ward, these relationships we form over the net "lacked the depth and opportunities for reciprocity, such as granting one favor in exchange for another, that characterize real-world relationships"[1]. Relationships that do not involve physical proximity eventually degrade and no longer have the depth, trust, and strength that come with being "friends" with someone. If you substitute spending time with your friends with staying connected with them over the internet, you are changing those relationships in a negative way. It is important to keep this in mind and not let the web detract from your friendships.
So take a minute and think about what you are doing right now. How long have you been on the computer today? And how about on your phone? How much time have you spent in the virtual world and what has it helped you get done? If the answer is nothing or a small amount, you need to strongly consider if you are becoming addicted to the internet and it's uses.
In other words, go outside. Talk to someone in person. It's good for you.
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[1] Ward, N. (2009), Falling into the net of depression: The power of the internet to cause and worsen depressive symptoms. Retrieved from http://web.njit.edu/~naw4/NWard%20-%20Internet%20+%20Depression.pdf
[2] Yen, J.-Y., Ko, C.-H., Yen, C.-F., Chen, S.-H., Chung, W.-L. and Chen, C.-C. (2008), Psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with internet addiction: Comparison with substance use. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 62: 9–16. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01770.x
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