Running Head: INTERNET ADDICTION 1

Community Problem Report: Internet Addiction

The University of Texas at El Paso

Jacqueline Fuentes

RWS 1301
INTERNET ADDICTION 2

Abstract

Internet addiction more than half of the worlds population possesses this disorder, but

are unaware of it. For years, there has been a debate on how serious addiction to the internet and

its treatment should be taken. What people do not know is that with this disorder can come very

dangerous consequences that put a threat on the internet abuser and their lives. Because the

internet has so much to offer, people tend to neglect and refuse to accept the negative qualities

that come with it as well. Believe it or not, internet addiction varies in all ages. As soon as a

toddler is capable of talking and comprehend a simple task such as a push of a button, he/she is

prone to become addicted to the internet just as an adult. Internet addiction includes, but is not

limited to, video games, social media and online retail. In this report, we will be analyzing

whether the internet causes more harm than good or if the good qualities outweigh the harm.

Introduction

For the last couple of years, the world wide web and technology itself have evolved in

many ways that we cant even begin to comprehend. Like everything in the universe, the web

began just as an idea in someones intellectual creativity and spiraled on from there. It all began

in 1962 when scientist J.C.R. Licklider proposed the idea of a galactic network. Such an

invention came in to the conversation because scientist and military experts were frightened of

what would happen if the Soviets were to attack the telephone system that was in place at the

time. Throughout the years the galactic network continued evolving in the hands of different

scientist, but it wasnt until 1991 when Tim Berners-Lee invented a way to not only send files

back and forth, but also make it possible to retrieve information that was needed (History.com

Staff, 2010). This is what is now known as the world wide web. In present day, the web is used

excessively for many different reasons: gaming, search engines such as Google and Yahoo, the
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purchase of goods, and social networking such as Facebook and Twitter. All of these factors

have definitely helped every single one of us at one point in our lives, but for others the internet

has helped to such an extant that they possess a dependency on it. This is known as

problematic internet use (PIU).

Addiction

An addiction is normally referred to as physically and mentally depending on a

substance. What this means is that the body and the brain of the addicted suffer tremendously

after withdrawal of what they are addicted to. Such an example of this would be how an

alcoholic depends on alcohol and is addicted to the daily consumption of it. But addiction can be

dependency on variety of things. Addiction can also be dependency on an activity like shopping

or gambling (Addiction, n.d.). In our case, the activity is the use of the internet.

Effects

Dependency of the internet and alcoholism have been compared and seen equally as bad

and as dangerous according to Kenneth Search. Treatment providers have recently started to help

people with internet addiction with the same techniques/help that someone with alcohol

addiction and or dependency might receive. Like alcoholics use alcohol to cope with real life

problems, internet abusers rely on the internet as well to push their problems aside or so they say

(Search, 2004). Many studies similar to the one Search made have been done in the past couple
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of years and these

studies heavily show that

internet addicts suffer

the same withdrawal

symptoms such people

that do drugs/consume

alcohol do. These

withdrawal symptoms

include anxiety and

depression. The individual using the internet finds themselves not being able to control their time

spent on the internet or denying how much time they actually spend behind the computer as well.

The emotional effects can get to the point of feeling stressed and unable to do real life things

when internet addicts do not use the internet for an extended amount of time (Niculovi,

ivkovi, Manasijevi, and trbac, 2012). The effects are not only mentally and or emotionally,

but can go as far as physical effects as well. Physical effects include a lack of sleep, weight gain

or loss, headaches, etc. Internet addiction can and will affect your personal life as well. Due to

the addiction of the internet, tasks go unfinished, the internet addict isolates themselves from the

world, responsibilities are not met and can/have destroyed families, relationships and friendships

as well (Computer/Internet Addiction Symptoms, Causes and Effects, n.d.).

Impact on the Community

The inability of taking a step back from the computer and mobile devices for a couple of

hours affects society a lot. Most that are addicted to the internet are the youth of today. Who are

they? The youth is the future of the world. Because of the internet, internet addicts are losing
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social skills. This means that people are losing the ability to carry on a face-to-face conversation

with another human being because they are so accustomed to speaking with someone behind a

computer screen. Social skills are a must have to leading a successful life! For example, without

social/speaking skills, a student in college will have a hard time communicating with their peers

and professors. Outside of college, a college graduate will absolutely need communication skills

in the work force to communicate in job interviews, communicate with their bosses, colleagues

and costumers. With dependency on the internet, the internet addicted will grasp unhealthy

behaviors such as choosing to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. By doing this, they

will not be a working contributor to society. Another effect internet addiction can have on

society is by raising the obesity rates. One third of American kids and adolescents are considered

overweight and the internet can

be hold accountable for it. Too

much time playing online games

and on social media is being

spent by the youth that they do

not get any physical time at any

part of their day. Not only that,

but technology can lead to other

unhealthy habits to form as well like snacking on junk food. These habits will most likely follow

them in to their adult life and will turn in to serious life illnesses such as diabetes or a heart

attack (Paula, 2017).

Conclusion

In conclusion, internet addiction is a worldwide problem that needs to begin to receive

more attention and awareness. The reason behind this is because it affects the addicted in so

many different ways, in ways that we are still unaware about - physically and psychologically.

Every day that passes by, internet dependency is getting bigger of an issue. It is leading to

obesity and isolation. Not only that, but people are learning how to depend on the internet way

too much, for everyday things. Technology has amazing qualities and helps many tremendously,

but too much technology is very unhealthy as well. Technology is in a way making people more

lazy and empty-headed because of how easy access to information is. Internet addicted need to

begin to learn people skills, healthy eating habits, and physical time during the daytime once

again that have been lost due to internet dependency.

References
Addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction
Computer/Internet Addiction Symptoms, Causes and Effects. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.psychguides.com/guides/computerinternet-addiction-symptoms-causes-and-
effects/
History.com Staff. (2010). The Invention of the Internet. Retrieved from
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/invention-of-the-internet
Niculovi, M., ivkovi, D., Manasijevi, D., & trbac, N. (2012). Monitoring the effect of
Internet use on students behavior case study: Technical Faculty Bor, University of
Belgrade. Educational Technology Research and Development, 60(3), 547-559.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41488598
Paula, E. (2017, August 14). Obesity in Children and Technology. Retrieved from
https://www.livestrong.com/article/46320-obesity-children-technology/
Search, K. (2004). Internet Addiction. GPSolo, 21(7), 48-49. Retrieved from http://0-
www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/23672844