A new study suggests that if we were to disconnect ourselves from all the technology we use on a daily basis we may feel symptoms akin to those trying to battle a drug addiction. Is this true or are we over-reacting?
Before the Christmas period I saw a fair few tweets from people I follow declaring they’d be “switching off” over the break or “unplugging” their minds from all the online chatter. I certainly didn’t tweet or check social networks quite as much for a week or so, but certainly didn’t feel anxious or scared that I was more “disconnected” than usual.
However, this weekend Telegraph Tech published results from a study which suggested that disconnecting from all the things we usually take for granted, like our laptops, mobiles and television sets, can actually present the same withdrawal symptoms as someone battling a serious drug addiction.
As we’ve seen before, there are numerous studies, reports and findings condemning the technology we use that I can’t help but see this latest news as another over-reaction.
However, a deeper look into this kind of technology-fuelled addiction reveals a very different and disturbing story. The truth is, in the case of the Internet in particular, addiction is a very real problem that more and more people are having to face.
A report in The Guardian last summer suggested that about two million South Koreans are addicted to the Internet, with many spending every waking moment immersed in role-playing games. The repercussions of this kind of online addiction have been serious, earlier this year a mother strangled her three year old son after he allegedly interrupted her online gaming. A couple were also arrested for the negligent death of their child while they spent all their time taking care of virtual children in a nearby Internet café.
It certainly seems to depend on what many use the Internet for. I browse and update social networks, check my emails and read blogs on a daily basis. However, some people spend hours, days and even weeks with their eyes locked to their screens, taking part in activities that are considered highly addictive anyway, like gaming, shopping and gambling.
But wouldn’t this suggest that the Internet itself isn’t the problem, as it’s addictive behaviour regardless of where it’s taking place? Well some certainly believe this to be the case, however the Internet is a place for this addictive behaviour to happen so easily without any restraints. Just because someone is addicted to something online, it doesn’t necessarily mean it would rule their offline lives as much as it won’t be as accessible.
So do you think you’re actually addicted or just a casual user?
Try this Internet Addiction Test from psychologist and online behavioural expert Kimberly Young. Like me, I imagine many of you will answer ‘always’ to questions such as ‘How often do you stay online longer than you intended?’ and ‘How often do you check your emails before something else you need to do?’ However, others just seem plain scary, such as ‘How often do you try to hide how long you’ve been online?’ and ‘How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet over intimacy with your partner?’
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer for Reputation Online, New Media Age’s spin-off publication. You can follow her on Twitter @beccacaddy.
Image via boellstiftung's Flickr