Internet Addiction
Parenting in the Digital Age: Strategies and Prevention
Parenting in the Digital Age By Dr. Kimberly S. Young at Netaddiction.com Our Youth Worldwide is Spending Too Much Time Online In America, children ages 8 to 18 spending on average 44.5 hours per week in front of screens, parents are increasingly concerned that screen time is robbing them of real world experiences. Nearly 23% of youth report that they feel “addicted to video games” (31% of males, 13% of females) based on a study of 1,178 U.S. children and teens (ages 8 to 18) conducted by Harris Interactive (2007) that documents a national prevalence rate of pathological video game use. Last month, the Japanese health ministry released a report that, based on questionnaires sent to 264 schools nationwide, estimates 6% of junior high school student and 9% of senior high schoolers are in a state of “Internet dependency.” That’s roughly 518,000 teenagers, nationwide. Factor in the number of “borderline dependents” and the number rises to perhaps 800,000. Too much screen time has been linked to obesity, sleep problems, depression and more. To combat the problem, Japan has introduced Internet fasting camps where children who are deemed Internet-addicts will participate in outdoor activities and get appropriate counseling in an unplugged environment. In South Korea, the National Information Society Agency, or NIA, estimates 160,000 South Korean children between age 5 and 9 are addicted to the Internet either through smartphones, tablet computers or personal computers. Such children appear animated when using gadgets but distracted and nervous when they are cut off from the devices and will forgo eating or going to the toilet so they can continue playing online, according to the agency. Across the entire population, South Korea’s government estimated 2.55 million people are addicted to smartphones, using the devices for 8 hours a day or more, in its first survey of smartphone addiction released earlier this year. Smartphone addicts find it difficult to live without their handsets and their constant use disrupts work and social life, according to NIA. South Korea already provides taxpayer-funded counselors for those who cannot control their online gaming or other Internet use. But the emergence of the smartphone as a mainstream, must-have device even for children is changing the government’s focus to proactive measures from reactive. South Korea’s government is widening efforts to prevent Web and digital addiction in school-age children and preschoolers. Starting next year, South Korean children from the age 3 to 5 will be taught to protect themselves from overusing digital gadgets and the Internet. Nearly 90 percent children from that age group will learn at kindergartens how to control their exposure to digital devices and the danger of staying online for long hours. The Ministry of Public Administration and Security is revising laws so that teaching the danger of Internet addiction becomes mandatory from pre-school institutions to high schools. Prevention Programs Korea is leading the way in implementing prevention programs at early development stages of children. This is the time to act swiftly in helping young children form good Internet use behaviors. Prevention is key in other addictions so why not for Internet addiction? A closer look at the prevention camps in Korea shows that the children at the camp who show warning signs of becoming raging “internetaholics” spend their time playing reality-based games, taking hikes, reading books and going to counseling sessions. Doctors at the camp find that there are two distinct kinds of potential addicts, those who are in love with the anonymity of the Internet and those that enjoy the power and the vicariously violent behavior games provide. Both of these categories, fit the super category escapists who, for one reason or another, prefer the virtual fantasy world to escape some other aspect of their lives. Beyond returning to nature, the focus of many Internet fasting camps and digital detox retreats, the American Academy of Pediatrics says two hours tops of screen time should be the limit, but I think that’s even too much and I suggest just one hour of entertainment media. At the preschool or Kindergarten level, we need to take Korea’s lead and focus on prevention and responsible use of technology to instill those values in children. As we start children on technology through tablets, laptops, and mobile devices, this begs the question “How young is too young?” Should we even consider waiting until children develop solid social skills and establish healthy nutritional and exercise habits before they are introduced to computers? The Emotional Costs Online access is a vital part of the modern world and an important tool in the education of our children. In addition, it is a highly entertaining and informative medium. However, these very qualities also make it an enticing escape for many children. They can be anyone in an online chat room, or play thrilling and challenging games against other players from all corners of the globe. With the click of a mouse, they can enter a different world where the problems of their real life are no longer present, and all the things one wishes he or she could be or experience are possible. Like addiction to drugs and alcohol, the Internet offers children and adolescents a way to escape painful feelings or troubling situations. They sacrifice needed hours of sleep to spend time online and withdraw from family and friends to escape into a comfortable online world that they have created and shaped. Children who lack rewarding or nurturing relationships or who suffer from poor social and coping skills are at greater risk to developing inappropriate or excessive online habits. Because they feel alone, alienated, and have problems making new friends, they turn to invisible strangers in online chat rooms looking for the attention and companionship missing in their real lives. They may come from families with significant problems, and they cope with their problems by spending time online. Socially, they learn to instant message friends rather than develop face-to-face relationships, which can impact their way of relating to peers. As one principal explained: The Internet is hurting their ability to work in groups. Our teachers struggle to get them to participate in any kind of team assignments; instead they would all rather stare at the computer. When I observe them talking to one another in the hallway, I see young girls who are socially aggressive or inappropriate, and I can’t help but think that the Internet is socializing them in ways that emotionally stunts them and makes it difficult for them to deal with others in the real world. Establishing new prevention programs for children would also help teachers and administration, as they feel pulled by the need to use technology in the classroom and realizing the potential side effects of it. Parenting in the Digital Age Obviously, much of what children learn about computers starts at home. Parents innocently hand over an iPad to a child without thinking of the consequences. What happens when a parent quickly learns that a child prefers to spend all of his time online and doesn’t learn to read or play with other children? Parents are essential in helping children form healthy Internet behaviors. Parents need to look at their own Internet use and model healthy appropriate behavior. If you are always online and using your mobile devices, a child will think this is normal. A parent can also look for these signs of a serious addiction (it could be he or she): 1. Internet usage interferes with your child’s normal everyday activities such as getting ready for school, coming to family dinner or attending sports practices. 2. He doesn’t go to bed when he normally would and appears exhausted in the morning. 3. He sneaks online or lies about the extent of Internet use. 3. He can’t focus on homework long enough to finish an assignment without logging on to the computer or tablet for recreational use (e.g., social media, gaming). 4. If you try to cut down his Internet time, he becomes belligerent and abnormally irritated or violent. 5. He’s lost any interest in things that used to excite him, such as hanging out with friends or playing in sports. To figure out if your teen’s Internet usage is a problem or not, take the Parent-Child Internet Addiction Test. Many parents get angry when they see the signs of Internet addiction in their child and take the computer away as a form of punishment. Others become frightened and force their child to quit cold turkey, believing that is the only way to get rid of the problem. Both approaches invite trouble– your child will internalize the message that they are bad; they will look at you as the enemy instead of an ally; and they will suffer real withdrawal symptoms of nervousness, anger, and irritability. Instead, work with your child to establish clear boundaries for limited Internet usage. Allow perhaps an hour per night after homework, with a few extra weekend hours. Stick to your rules and remember that you’re not simply trying to control him or her – you are working to free them of a psychological dependence. It will help to begin your discussion by reminding your child that you love him or her and that you care about his or her happiness and well-being. Children often interpret questions about their behavior as blame and criticism. You need to reassure your child that you are not condemning him or her. Rather, tell your child you are concerned about some of the changes you have seen in his or her behavior and refer to those changes in specific terms: fatigue, declining grades, giving up hobbies, social withdrawal, etc. Assign an Internet time log and set up monitoring software on all home devices. Tell your child that you would like to see an accounting of just how much time he or she spends online each day and which internet activities they engage in. Seek out professional help! This is the most important step if talking with you child and setting boundaries around computer use are not working. Internet addiction is a serious condition. Children often suffer from attention deficit disorders, oppositional deviance, depression, social anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorders as well as being addicted to the Internet. Source:http://netaddiction.com/childrenonline/ Symptoms - Internet Addiction
JULIA BURSTEN & MARK DOMBECK, PH.D. APR 16, 2004 Internet addiction is not recognized as a formal mental health disorder. However, mental health professionals who have written about the subject note symptoms or behaviors that, when present in sufficient numbers, may indicate problematic use. These include:
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Internet addiction 'should be recognised as a clinical disorder', psychiatrist claims
Internet addiction is a serious public health problem and should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, a psychiatrist claims. Dr Jerald Block says there are four main telltale symptoms which include: Losing all track of time or neglecting basics such as eating or sleeping; cravings and feelings of withdrawal, including anger, tension or depression, when a computer cannot be accessed; an increased need for better computer equipment and software; and negative effects such as arguments, lying, fatigue, social isolation and poor achievement. Dr Block, of Oregon Health & Science University, makes his claims in an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry. Dr Block claims too many hours spent online gaming, viewing porn or emailing can cause a compulsive-impulsive disorder.He said: "Estimates of the prevalence of the disorder are lacking. Attempts to measure the phenomenon are clouded by shame, denial, and minimization."Unfortunately, internet addiction is resistant to treatment, entails significant risks and has high relapse rates." He said of addicts: "The relationship is with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them."They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn."Computer use occupies a tremendous amount of time in their life. Then if you try to cut the cord in a very abrupt fashion, they've lost essentially their best friend."That can take the form of depression or rage." British psychiatrists have previously reported in the journal Advances in Psychiatric Treatment that a "significant minority" - some estimate between five and 10 per cent of online users - are internet addicts.While early research suggested that most are highly educated, introverted men, more recent studies suggest the main problem is among middle-aged women on home computers. Dr Block referred to research on internet addiction in South Korea, which has the highest broadband use worldwide.Ten people died from blood clots from staying seated for too long in internet cafes.A 24-year-old man died after playing an online video game for 86 hours straight and another was murdered in a row over an online game.he government there now considers internet addiction one of its most serious public health issues.It estimates that 210,000 children are affected and need treatment, of whom 80 per cent might need drugs targeting the brain and a quarter could need to be hospitalised.The average South Korean high school student spends about 23 hours per week gaming. Another 1.2 million are believed to be at risk of addiction and in need of counseling. There has been alarm over the soaring numbers of pupils dropping out of school or quitting their jobs to spend more time on computers on sites Similarly, in China 13.7 per cent of teenagers - around 10 million - are reported to be internet addicts. Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-542768/Internet-addiction-recognised-clinical-disorder-psychiatrist-claims.html Internet Addiction May Be as Hard to Kick as Drugs
By Deborah Brauser Medscape Medical News WebMD News Archive Feb. 26, 2013 -- Between computers, tablets, smartphones, and 24-hour news, many of us may make light of it, saying we're technology addicts. But now, medical professionals are starting to take it seriously, with new research suggesting that so-called "Internet addiction" is associated with increased depression and even drug-like withdrawal symptoms. A study of 60 adults in the United Kingdom shows that those in the high-Internet-use group had a much greater drop in their mood after logging off their computers than the those in the low-use group. "Internet addiction was [also] associated with long-standing depression, impulsive nonconformity, and autism traits," write the researchers, adding that the latter is "a novel finding." "We were actually expecting that people who used the Net a lot would display enhanced moods after use -- reflecting the positive reinforcing properties of the Net," says researcher Phil Reed, DPhil, of Swansea University in the U.K. "So the key finding of an immediate increased negative mood, the withdrawal effect, was something of a surprise. But the more we looked into the literature, the more it seemed to fit the notion of an addictive disorder," says Reed. He says the main message is that some people may have disruptions in their lives from excessive Internet use, and that this can affect both their psychological and physical health. In addition, such people "may need help exploring the reasons for this excessive use and what functions it serves in their lives." The study is published online in PLoS One. A New Condition"Over the past decade, since the term became widely debated in the medical literature, 'Internet addiction' has become regarded as a novel [psychological disorder] that may well impact on a large number of individuals," write the researchers. The upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), often called the bible of psychiatry, will include Internet use gaming disorder as a condition worthy of further research. "We have had a long-standing interest in uses of computer technology to help children and young people with autism spectrum disorder and special educational needs. These uses have always been very positive," says Reed. "However, the emergence of literature suggesting that this helpful tool might also produce problems for some people seemed to warrant some attention. In fact, the flagging of [this] disorder as a potential problem in the new DSM-5 also means that we need to know more about this issue," he says. For this study, 60 adults, average age about 24, took a battery of tests that examined their Internet use, their moods and feelings, including the potential for anxiety or depression, and even if they had some autistic traits. All participants then used the Internet for 15 minutes. Immediately after, they again answered questionnaires to judge their mood and anxiety level. Of the 60 people, 32 were deemed problematic and/or high Internet users and 28 were low Internet users. Drug-Like WithdrawalResults showed strong associations between Internet addiction anddepression, some autistic traits, and impulsive and nonconformist behavior. There was a weaker association between this addiction and long-term anxiety. The high-Internet-use group also showed a much greater drop in their mood than did the lower-use group. "The immediate negative impact of exposure to the Internet on the mood of Internet addicts may contribute to increased usage by those individuals attempting to reduce their low mood by re-engaging rapidly in Internet use," the researchers write. "This negative impact on mood could be considered as akin to a withdrawal effect," they write. Reed says in a prepared statement that for these people, the feeling is similar to "coming off illegal drugs like ecstasy." "These initial results, and related studies of brain function, suggest that there are some nasty surprises lurking on the Net for people's well-being," he says. Source:http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20130226/internet-addiction-hard-kick-drugs Introduction To Internet Addiction
JULIA BURSTEN & MARK DOMBECK, PH.D. APR 16, 2004 Ten years ago, the only people who spent a majority of their leisure time on the computer were paid members of the technology industry. Today, however, surfing the Web has become a pastime as social and marketable as bar hopping or going to the movies. As the web has become a part of mainstream life, some mental health professionals have noted that a percentage of people using the web do so in a compulsive and out-of-control manner. In one extreme (1997) Cincinnati case, unemployed mother Sandra Hacker allegedly spent over 12 hours a day secluded from her three young and neglected children while she surfed the Web. For better or for worse, this phenomena of compulsive Internet use has been termed ‘Internet Addiction’ based on its superficial similarity to common addictions such as smoking, drinking, and gambling. Internet Addiction has even been championed as an actual disorder, notably by psychologists Kimberly Young, Ph.D and David Greenfield, Ph.D.. However, at this time the true nature of Internet Addiction is not yet determined. In a true addiction, a person becomes compulsively dependent upon a particular kind of stimulation to the point where obtaining a steady supply of that stimulation becomes the sole and central focus of their lives. The addict increasingly neglects his work duties, relationships and ultimately even his health in his drive to remain stimulated. In some cases of addiction (such as addiction to alcohol or to heroin), a phenomenon known as tolerance occurs, wherein more and more stimulation is required to produce the same pleasurable effect. A related phenomena, withdrawal, can also occur, wherein the addicted person comes to be dependent upon their source of stimulation and experiences dramatically unpleasant (and even potentially lethal — as can be the case with alcohol) reactions when he goes without it. Sources of addictive stimulation can be chemical (as is the case with addictive drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and heroin), sensual (as in sex) or even informational (as in gambling or workaholism). What all sources of addictive stimulation have in common is that they provoke a strong, usually positive (at first) reaction in the potential addict, who then seeks out the source of that stimulation so as to obtain that feeling on a regular basis. While many people like to engage in sexual relations, or gamble, or have the occasionally drink because of the pleasure to be had, clearly not all people who do so are addicts. Rather, the term addiction only applies when someone’s stimulation seeking gets to the point where it starts interfering with their ability to function normally and non-neglectfully at work and in relationships. Mental health professionals are split as to whether or not Internet addiction is real. No one disputes that some people use the Internet in a compulsive manner even to a point where it interferes with their their ability to function at work and in social relationships. What is disputed is whether people can become addicted to the Internet itself, or rather to the stimulation and information that the web provides. The controversy surrounding Internet Addiction is precisely whether people become addicted to the net itself, or to the stimulation to be had via the net (such as online gambling, pornography or even simple communication with others via chat and bulletin boards). Some psychologists do not believe in addiction to the Internet itself, but rather in addiction to stimulation that the Internet provides. They suggests that new Internet users often show an initial infatuation with the novelty of the Web, but eventually lose interest and decrease their time spent online back to a normal, healthy amount. Those users who do go on to show compulsive Internet utilization, for the most part become compulsive only with regard to particular types of information to be had online, most often gambling, pornography, chat room or shopping sites. This is not an addiction to the Internet itself, but rather to risk-taking, sex, socializing or shopping. In essence then, the chief addictive characteristic of the Internet is its ability to enable instant and relatively anonymous social stimulation. “Addicted” Internet users are addicted to a favored kind of social stimulation and not to the Internet itself, although it is also true that the Internet has made it vastly easier and more convenient for someone to develop such a compulsion. Because the Internet is used by many people as a normal part of their career or education, knowing how to separate excessive from normal use becomes difficult and cannot be accomplished using simple measures such as amount of time spent online in a given period. Most fundamental in differentiating normal from problem Internet use is the experience of compulsion to use the net. Normal users, no matter how heavy their usage, do not need to get online and do not neglect their occupational duties or their relationships with family and friends to get online. Help for Internet related addiction is available from multiple sources. Anyone concerned about serious problem Internet usage should consider consulting with a local licensed psychologist, social worker or counselor, specifically one with experience treating addictions. Cognitive therapy based approaches are recommendable due to their systematic and direct focus on reducing problem use and preventing relapse, and the strong scientific support for the approach. Marital and or family therapy approaches may be useful as well when an individual’s Internet Addiction is affecting their larger family system (such as might be the case when a husband uses Internet-based pornography as his sole sexual outlet, leaving his wife frozen out). More than a few books and self-help resources (such as audio tape sets) are also available for those who want to educate themselves on the problem. Source:https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/introduction-to-internet-addiction/ |
Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction a growing concern
Irena Ceranic Updated 4 Mar 2013, 4:05am Whether she's trawling her Facebook news feed, uploading a photo on Instagram, or posting a tweet, she finds there's no shortage of ways to waste time on social media. "I log onto my Facebook account on my phone about every 20 minutes, and sometimes it's purely out of habit," she said. "Even when I have nothing to post myself, and nothing in particular to check, I find myself scrolling through my feed." Emma, 24, estimates that she spends about four hours a day on social media sites, and says at times it has been detrimental to her study. She admits most of the time she is procrastinating, but sites like Twitter and Facebook also allow her to keep up with what is happening. Her compulsion is spurred on by the rush of excitement she gets when people "like" her posts or when others mention her in their updates. "I think it gives you a sense of acceptance, I guess a feeling that others find you interesting or likeable," she said. So when does social media go from being a hobby to becoming an addiction? 'Social media addiction' has been recognised as an official condition in the UK, with London clinics treating hundreds of sufferers a year. It follows a study from the University of Chicago that found social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. The research found social media features such as 'retweets' and "likes" give users a boost of feel-good brain chemicals, while a lack of endorsement can provoke anger and anxiety. But the problem is not confined to the UK and the US. Close to homePerth psychologist Tony White says he has treated 30 to 40 people who are addicted to social media. Most of them have been adolescents. "Usually it's the parents who bring them, like with any addiction, the person using it doesn't see it as a problem," he said. Mr White believes from a psychological perspective, social media use only becomes a problem when it begins to interfere with a person's day-to-day life. "So, if a teenager spends long periods of time on the computer, then that's going to interfere with things like their real time social life, they get fat and things like that, and it can interfere with their relationship with their parents, it becomes a source of conflict," he said. "But the compulsion is so strong to do that, that the teenager will still do the activity even though it's harming them in other areas of their life. "They have a strong urge inside them and they will spend a lot of time, if they're not actually doing it, they'll spend the time thinking about it". So how much social media is too much? "I guess a couple of hours a day is probably okay, if you're getting up to 5, 6, 7 hours then that is a lot of time to be spending on a computer every day." But not everyone is convinced that labelling excessive social media use as an 'addiction' is a positive step. No problemSocial media expert Professor Matthew Allen says the idea of "internet addiction" goes back to the 1990s, but he doesn't agree that it is abnormal or unhealthy. "I don't actually think it's a problem," he said. "We see many more significant problems of addictions in our society with much more serious consequences; particularly with drugs, alcohol and gambling, the consequences of those are very serious. "I am yet to see substantial evidence that there is a widespread problem with the use of the internet which might be understood as addiction. "Indeed it's possible that people who are compulsively using internet technologies are actually manifesting some other underlying problem - a mental or an emotional imbalance." Professor Allen says he agrees that some people use social media sites too much, but the challenge is deciding where to draw the line. He says people who have grown up with the internet consider it part of their daily lives, and their idea of how much internet use is okay, may be somewhat different to older generations. He believes instead of needing medical or psychological intervention, individuals who have an obsessive urge to use social media should simply assess their own behaviour. "Everyone who uses social media needs from time to time to stop and think 'Am I getting something out of this and what am I productively contributing to the rich computer mediated lives that we now lead?'" "If people perhaps once a month or once a week were to stop and lean back from the keyboard and ask themselves 'what am I getting out of this, what else can I do?' "Then they may well find a solution to a problem that may be lurking there but I don't think it is particularly significant yet." Source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-21/social-media-addiction-feature/4533228 Social networks 'harder to give up than cigarettes or
alcohol By DAILY MAIL REPORTER UPDATED: 16:19 GMT, 2 February 2012 You've just checked Facebook for the latest status update and Twitter for any new tweets. So what do you do now? Check them again of course. According to a study of people's everyday desires, resisting the urge to check social networking sites for updates was harder than saying no to that second glass of wine. Dislike: Resiting the urge to log on to social networks like Facebook and Twitter proved harder to resist than alcohol and cigarettes, according to a study Researchers from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business fitted 250 participants with electronic devices that logged almost 8,000 reports about their everyday wants. Sleep and sex may have been the two things the participants most hankered after during the day. But it was Facebook and other social networking sites that proved the hardest to resist. Despite their addictive qualities alcohol and tobacco didn't hold as much sway over the participants, the researchers found. Dr Wilhelm Hofmann, who led the study, published in journal Psychological Science, said: 'Modern life is a welter of assorted desires marked by frequent conflict and resistance, the latter with uneven success.' He added the study also revealed how our constant efforts to resist the temptation of social networks or other desires throughout the day meant our willpower was zapped by the end of it. 'As a day wears on, willpower becomes lower and self-control efforts are more likely to fail,' Dr Hofmann said. Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095464/Social-networks-addictive-cigarettes-alcohol.html |
How Social Media Has Become an Addiction
By Kimberlee Morrison on Mar. 11, 2014 - 3:58 PM Social networks take up a lot of our time. From compulsive checking and oversharing, to the loss of workout opportunities, we may be putting our physical and mental health at risk. The folks at the lifestyle blog Fix.com created an infographic showing just how detrimental social media can be. Just how deep does the problem go? Seventy-two percent of online adults use social media and the average user spends 23 hours a week on social media. These 23 hours includes texting, email and other online communication. And why are we using social media for the same amount of time as a part-time job? Sixty-seven percent of surveyed users said that they’re afraid they’ll “miss something.” This fear runs so deep that nearly 40 percent of users aged 18 to 34 check their social networks first thing in the morning, before anything else. But what’s the harm? Fifty percent of users surveyed by the University of Salford, U.K., said social networks made their life worse. Self esteem falls because of constant peer comparison, 66 percent lose sleep after spending time on social networks, and 25 percent have work or personal relationship problems because of online confrontations. It seems we’re addicted and it may truly be a brain chemistry problem. A study from Harvard University showed that self-disclosure online fires up a part of the brain that also lights up when taking an addictive substance, like cocaine. Eighty percent of our online conversations are self-disclosure, compared to 30 to 40 percent of offline conversations. And with such huge audiences online, it’s very easy to get hooked. Source:http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/social-media-become-addiction-infographic/145696 Social Media Dependency Has Become a Mental Health Issue
'Selfie addiction' may seem ridiculous, but could it be a new health issue of the 21st century? By Emma Stein / The Fix April 25, 2014 With the recent traumatic news of Danny Bowman, the 19-year-old UK resident who attempted suicide after being obsessed with taking ‘selfies,’ the general public has vocalized strong opinions on both sides of the social media debate. It’s no question that we are developing a dependence on the technological advance that unifies billions of people, but are we addicted? The Fix spoke with four different leaders in the field to uncover the growing obsession with status updates, and what this means for our psychological well-being. “In moderation, social media can be a great way for teens to connect to others, to relate to their peers, and to express themselves,” Dr. Karrie Lager, a child psychologist practicing in Los Angeles, says. “However, excessive internet use can have serious negative consequences,” she explains in response to a survey published by CASA Columbia. The survey explores the relationship between teenagers, social media use, and drug abuse. They found that 70% of teenagers age 12-17 spend time on a social media site in a typical day, which amounts to 17 million teenage users. Those that interact via social media on a daily basis are five times likelier to use tobacco, three times likelier to use alcohol, and twice as likely to use marijuana. 40% of these teens surveyed admit to having seen pictures of people under the influence, and are four times likelier to use marijuana than those who haven’t scrolled through these images. The data makes sense: those exposed to pictures of drugs and alcohol are more inclined to seek and experiment with it themselves. Dr. Charles Sophy, a Los Angeles-based psychiatrist and Medical Director for the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, explains that “no matter what genetics a teen may possess, they are impressionable and adding social media to the already prevalent peer pressure only ramps that pressure up further.” He has treated several young adults that are now confronting the aftermath of prolonged social media exposure. The danger, Dr. Lager says, is that constant exposure to pictures of teens under the influence glamorizes the use of alcohol and drugs. “Teens may become desensitized and believe that since everyone else is trying them, they should too.” In terms of whether social media addiction exists, she explains that researchers have found some behavioral similarities between excessive Internet use and substance abuse, “including tolerance, withdrawal, unsuccessful attempts to cut back, and impairment in functioning.” However, Dr. Lager clarifies that additional research needs to be done before defining “social media addiction” as a distinct diagnosis. While many are quick to praise Facebook for transforming our social landscape by connecting millions of people, the conversation that examines whether our dependence on it is reaching destructive levels is a few steps behind. The University of Michigan addressed this issue in a study published in August of 2013 that observed the relationship between Facebook use and well-being. By texting study participants five times a day over two weeks about how they felt after using Facebook and how satisfied they were with their lives after the two-week period, their study found that Facebook negatively impacted them with each variable. The more people used Facebook “the worse they felt” and “the more their life satisfaction levels declined over time." If Facebook makes us feel worse, why can’t we stop ourselves from going back for more? The reason we can’t keep our thumbs away from updating, liking, and hashtagging was explored in a study conducted by Harvard University’s Psychology Department that found that there is a biological reward that happens when people disclose information about themselves. “Self-disclosure was strongly associated with increased activation in brain regions that form the mesolimbic dopamine system, including the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area,” the study reported. Rewards were magnified when participants knew that their thoughts would be communicated to another person. So why are we so enmeshed in the allure of social media? It’s because we’re programmed that way. Our desire to disclose personal information about ourselves to others is ingrained in the human condition—it’s not just a product of social media. It’s so ingrained, in fact, that people would actually forgo money to talk about themselves instead of discussing other people or answering fact questions. While this may not be a phenomenon specific to social media, social media does supply the platform to self-disclose to the masses and receive immediate feedback. Dr. Adi Jaffe, who holds a Ph.D in Psychology and serves as the Director of Research, Education, and Innovation at Alternatives, an addiction treatment program, comments on the downside to this phenomenon. “The immediacy and reward associated with social media (especially through mobile avenues) can be thought of as a ‘quick hit’ and would be expected to result in a minority of users experiencing ‘addiction-like’ symptoms,” he says. Dr. Jaffe’s response is not the first time someone compared the effect of social media to a hit of a drug. Rameet Chawla, a programmer and not so avid social media user, encountered a scenario showing the entrenched power social media can hold over someone’s life. A self-professed narcissist in terms of his Instagram, Chawla only posted things for mere bragging rights. He told the Daily Dot that his friends were growing agitated because of his inactive response to their posts on social networks. To solve the conflict, Chawla created a bot that would automatically go through his feed and like all of his friends’ posts. After the program went into effect he became so popular that his follower count skyrocketed, his pictures were liked more often, and someone even recognized him on the street. He said, “People are addicted. We experience withdrawals. We are so driven by this drug, getting just one hit elicits truly peculiar responses.” Chawla’s comparing the rush of social media fame to crack cocaine may seem extreme, but this type of association is becoming a ubiquitous metaphor. Many people have correlated the high one feels from increasing recognition on social networks to drugs, and Dr. Sophy explains how that rush affects the psychology of teens. “I’ve encountered many young children as well as teenagers and adults who have become obsessed with social media, using it as a tool to guide their self-esteem and self-worth.” However, Dr. Sophy explains that these are “false measures, and when reality sets in, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric issues begin to emerge.” Is social media unleashing a new problem that wasn’t there before, or intensifying other underlying issues? “Social media is simply providing a quicker peeling of the onion, however in most cases the problems were already there,” Dr. Sophy says. He also believes that there are similar mindsets and behaviors that lead people to be addicted to substances as well as social media. “Many people are genetically predisposed to use excessive amounts of potentially harmful tools (sex, substances, food, social media, etc.) to self soothe. And yet there are others who learn these behaviors due to life circumstances and events.” So, what do we do about it? Dr. Adi Jaffe feels the best course of action is to redirect our focus. “The interesting thing is that since experimentation with substances is so common in that age group [teenagers], not experimenting at all has been shown to possibly indicate some social maladjustment. The question then becomes if experimenting with substances is the problem we should be focusing on, or if rather we should be focusing our attention on doing a better job of identifying and providing the appropriate support for those who are struggling,” Dr. Jaffe says. This prescription speaks volumes to the recovery community. Most recovering addicts and alcoholics understand that many people can experiment and not get addicted. Just as the solution to alcoholism is not to regress back to the times of prohibition, instead of restricting social media, treatment needs to be available for the populations that do develop serious uncontrollable habits. Dr. Lager believes that we are still in the infant stages of understanding whether “excessive internet use causes depression, or if teenagers with depression and other psychological problems are more likely to overuse the internet.” Dr. Lager continues, “In my private practice I see teens with anxiety and depression that use the Internet to reach out for help and look for social support. It becomes a problem when they use it excessively as a way to disconnect from their feelings and escape their problems.” So, how do we digest these professional opinions and where do we place social media on the positive and negative scale? Dr. Bernard Luskin, the President of the “Society for Media Technology and Psychology” of the American Psychological Association, encapsulates the binary and comments on the recent news regarding Danny Bowman. “Social media is a tool for good and evil,” Luskin says. “Danny Bowman had OCD. The vehicle just happened to be social media, if it wasn’t that one, it would have been another one. It’s a case where OCD got out of control.” Many adults in their 20’s and 30’s are quick to judge the data and refute social media addiction as an actual reality. While most accept that they have been raised to be more wanting of instant gratification than their parents, with every answer at the touch of a fingertip, they feel that they did just fine growing up with Myspace and Facebook. But, Millennials may not be in the correct chat room to judge. Dr. Luskin believes that teens today are part of a generation he deems “technology natives,” while adults in their 20’s and 30’s are “technology immigrants.” As adults today, we can’t possibly understand the reality of being born into a technology run universe. Social networks are such an ingrained part of the identity of children today that there must be psychological effects we, as “immigrants,” can’t accurately grasp. In terms of his stance on whether we can categorize social media obsession as an addiction, Dr. Luskin responds with the difference between what he calls “soft addictions” and “hard addictions.” “We draw the line between habit and addiction when it interferes with living a normal life,” he says. Since we can’t deny that social media addiction exists for some, Dr. Luskin believes that we can’t dispute that it’s real. “There is a small minority of people addicted and the good thing is that they can be helped. For some, social media is addictive and can be absolutely lethal, just like anything else can be—even water can be deadly and people do drown themselves. We need to be circumspect and never dismiss the problem and say no.” Clearly, addictive tendencies are emerging from our relationship with social media, and while we haven’t reached a consensus on whether social media addiction is an actual mental health diagnosis, something is definitely up besides ‘likes’. Today, social media is praised as a sought-after career skill by plenty of employers, but what if it’s harming the younger generations who can’t even fathom a life without profile pictures and follower counts? Source:http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/social-media-dependency-has-become-mental-health-issue |
Game Addiction
Video game addiction and other Internet compulsive disorders mask depression, anxiety, learning disabilities
Addiction to video games and the Internet is gaining legitimacy as a psychological disorder, and experts say it's not uncommon for kids to become violent when their 'drug' is taken away BY TRACY MILLER NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Monday, March 25, 2013, 10:40 AM Updated: Monday, March 25, 2013, 1:36 PM Video game addiction will be acknowledged for the first time in the updated edition of the American Psychological Association diagnostic manual, DSM-5, out in May. Violent video games can be as addicting as drugs, experts say. “It affects the same pleasure centers in the brain that make people want to come back," said Dr. Michael Fraser, a clinical psychologist on the upper East Side and professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. "If you look at alcoholism and Internet addiction, it's the exact same pattern of behavior," agreed Dr. Kimberly Young, a psychologist and founder of the Center for Online and Internet Addiction in Bradford, Penn. Kids are among the most vulnerable to video game addiction, experts said, and may become violent when their "drug" is taken away. "Kids can become physically and verbally abusive," said Fraser. "Most parents have trouble imagining this—that their 12-year-old boy would push his mother when she tries to unplug the game." Young agreed, based on her 19 years of researching Internet-based addictions. Games like 'Call of Duty' are open-ended, unlike arcade games of yore, which may make them even more addictive. "There definitely seems to be a correlation between violent game use and aggressive behavior," Young said. "[Kids] will throw things, they'll hit their parents, they'll start becoming violent at school. Parents say, ‘he was a good boy; he didn’t act like this before.’ "The reality is, these games must teach you something,” she continued. “When you're actively participating, looking at various weapons, getting reinforcement and recognition for your achievements from the game and from other players…I think it desensitizes you." Video game and Internet addiction usually point to other mental problems including anxiety, depression and trouble forming healthy relationships, said Fraser. His patients—mostly boys in middle, high school and early college—use games as means of escape, whether from social anxiety or from a learning disability that makes concentrating on schoolwork difficult. “When it comes time to bear down and concentrate, rather than work through that frustration they escape into gaming, like a drug,” Fraser said. Modern day video games may be even more addictive, he added, because they are open-ended and allow players to save their place and pick back up again, unlike the older generations of games like Pac-Man, where players lose their allotted lives and are forced to start over. Dr. Kimberly Young, director of the Center for Online Addiction and a researcher of Internet-based addictions, says there 'definitely seems to be a correllation' between violent video game use and aggressive behavior in kids. 'The reality is, these games must teach you something,' she said. As with other addictions, some people may be more susceptible than others. "In other words we wouldn't want anybody to think, when we use the term 'video game addiction' or 'compulsive gaming' that the problem lies in the video games, any more than the problem for an alcoholic lies in a can of beer," Fraser said. "Many people can have one can of beer, and that's it. But others may have a biological predisposition towards addictive behavior in general." Cases such as Newtown shooter Adam Lanza—who kept a videogame-style score sheet of past murders—may be rare, but Fraser and Young agreed that parents need to actively set usage and access boundaries. “Monitoring is very important,” Fraser said. “If you put an iPad in a 6-year-old’s hands, that’s no different than sending them into an R-rated movie theater unsupervised.” "When you see a heavy drinker going into a bar, you know what they're going in there for,” he also said. “But when a kid goes into the library or their room and sits at a laptop, it's not always apparent that they're going to do something detrimental." Dr. Michael Fraser, a clinical psychologist in Manhattan who specializes in treating video game addiction, says troubled kids often use games as a means of escape from depression and anxiety. There’s no formal diagnosis for video game addiction—but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. Starting this year, a variety of Internet-related psychological conditions – from compulsive gaming to online gambling – will take a major step towards legitimacy when they are mentioned for the first time in DSM-5, the updated manual of mental disorders by the American Psychiatric Association, under the heading "Internet use gaming disorder." That could pave the way for more research funding and health insurance coverage—as well as a greater understanding of how these disorders operate and how they can be treated. 7 SIGNS OF INTERNET AND GAMING ADDICTION It’s normal for kids (and adults) to be a little obsessed with a new game or gadget in the weeks after they first get it, Fraser says. But if the following signs of problematic Internet or gaming use persist for longer than 3-6 months, it may be worth seeking psychological help. - Secrecy or lying about use Kids struggling with other mental and emotional issues may seek escape in video games, which can turn unhealthy, Fraser said. Pictured: the first-person shooter game 'Gears of War: Judgment.' - Spending more than 24-30 hours a week online not for work or school - Mood shifts, such as increased irritability, if access is taken away - A significant decrease in other activities and interests - Neglecting friends, family and other responsibilities - Sleep problems - Deterioration of personal hygiene Source:http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/kids-addicted-video-games-violent-experts-article-1.1298338 Gaming to death: What turns a hobby into a health hazard?
By Mark Griffiths Updated 2103 GMT (0503 HKT) January 21, 2015 Any activity if done for days on end could lead to severe health problems, writes Mark Griffiths. Story highlights
Mark Griffiths is a Chartered Psychologist and Director of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University(UK). His latest book published in January 2015 (written with Dr. Daria Kuss) is "Internet Addiction in Psychotherapy" (Palgrave Press). The views expressed in this commentary are solely the author's. (CNN)Earlier this month, a 32-year old male gamer was found dead at a Taiwanese Internet cafe following a non-stop three-day gaming session. This followed the death of another male gamer who died in Taipei at the start of the year following a five-day gaming binge. While these cases are extremely rare, it does beg the question of why gaming can lead to such excessive behavior. I have spent nearly three decades studying videogame addiction and there are many studies published in both the medical and psychological literature showing that very excessive gaming can lead to a variety of health problems that range from repetitive strain injuries and obesity, through to auditory and visual hallucinations and addiction. I have to stress that there is lots of scientific research showing the many educational and therapeutic benefits of playing but there is definitely a small minority of gamers that develop problems as a result of gaming overuse. Mark Griffiths But what is it that makes gaming so compulsive and addictive for the small minority? For me, addiction boils down to constant reinforcement, or put more simply, being constantly rewarded while playing the game. Gaming rewards can be physiological (such as feeling "high" or getting a "buzz" while playing or beating your personal high score), psychological (such as feeling you have complete control in a specific situation or knowing that your strategic play helped you win), social (such as being congratulated by fellow gamers when doing something well in the game) and, in some cases, financial (such as winning a gaming tournament). Most of these rewards are -- at least to some extent -- unpredictable. Not knowing when the next reward will come keeps some players in the game. In short, they carry on gaming even though they may not have received an immediate reward. They simply hope that another reward is "just around the corner" and keep on playing. Added to this is the shift over the last decade from standalone console gaming to massively multiplayer online games where games never end and gamers have to compete and/or collaborate with other gamers in real time (instead of being able to pause the game and come back and play from the point at which the player left it). Many excessive gamers report that they hate logging off and leaving such games. They don't like it as they don't know what is going on in the game when they are not online. The last five years has seen large increase in the number of scientific studies on problematic gaming. In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association published the fifth edition of the"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"(DSM-5). For the first time, the DSM-5 included "internet gaming disorder" (IGD) as a psychological condition that warrants future research. Throughout my research career I have argued that although all addictions have particular and idiosyncratic characteristics, they share more commonalities than differences such as total preoccupation, mood modification, cravings, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict with work, education and other people, and loss of control. These similarities likely reflect a common etiology of addictive behavior. At the simplest level, healthy enthusiasms add to life and addictions take away from it. Mark Griffiths So when does a healthy enthusiasm turn into an addiction? At the simplest level, healthy enthusiasms add to life and addictions take away from it. But how much is too much? This is difficult to answer as I know many gamers who play many hours every day without any detrimental effects. The DSM-5 lists nine criteria for IGD. If any gamer endorses five or more of the following criteria they would likely be diagnosed as having IGD: (1) preoccupation with internet games; (2) withdrawal symptoms when internet gaming is taken away; (3) the need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in internet gaming, (4) unsuccessful attempts to control participation in internet gaming; (5) loss of interest in hobbies and entertainment as a result of, and with the exception of, internet gaming; (6) continued excessive use of internet games despite knowledge of psychosocial problems; (7) deception of family members, therapists, or others regarding the amount of internet gaming; (8) use of the internet gaming to escape or relieve a negative mood; and (9) loss of a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of participation in internet games. The good news is that only a small minority of gamers suffer form IGD. Most online games are fun and exciting to play. But like any activity that is taken to excess, in a minority of cases the activity can become addictive. Any activity if done for days on end could lead to severe health problems and even death -- and gaming is no exception. Instead of demonizing games, we need to educate gamers about the potential dangers of very excessive use. Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/21/opinion/gaming-addiction-risks/ |
The psychology of video game addiction
Jack Flanagan Just another hour... (Miguel Villagran/Getty Images) February 6, 2014 "I would not inflict this game upon anyone" was the testimony of a gamer codenamed Leo as he looked into the camera, his left cheek illuminated, offscreen, by a computer monitor. He was speaking about World of Warcraft, the notorious poster boy of the gaming industry, and, later in the documentary, he'd reveal why: 12 hours a day at a computer screen, sometimes more. No money, no education, no life. Leo gave everything to World of Warcraft and, unsurprisingly, it gave nothing back. But Leo's story is not unusual. Scan internet forums like Reddit or Olganon (On-line Gamers Anonymous) are replete with horror stories of lives lost — in some cases, literally. In 2005, a South Korean man died after a reported 50-hour video gaming session, and in 2012 a Taiwanese man was discovered dead in his gaming chair, arms outstretched for his computer even in the middle of a fatal cardiac arrest. No, you wouldn't wish that on anyone. Video game addiction exists. It has all the features you need to classify an addiction: losing jobs and loved ones; withdrawal symptoms like cold sweats and anger; developing migraines and back problems and, very occasionally, death. And it's occurring around the globe, but especially in America, the UK, and parts of Asia (China, Korea, and Japan). How many people are affected, no one knows, but two statistics stand out: Globally, this is a $66 billion dollar industry, and in 2007 a study found almost 12 percent of participants in a 7,000 person study were diagnosed as addicted to video games. If that trend even partially reflects numbers in the greater population, we're in trouble. So why does video game addiction merit little more than a footnote in the latest DSM, the manual for understanding and diagnosing mental illness? Studies have been conducted which look at the source of the problem. We've moved past the wagging finger of maternal disapprobation, which tells us, "just switch it off, for God's sake," and are now just starting to take it seriously. The right questions are at least now being asked: How can a video game become addictive? What is it in the brain that switches, or was always ready-to-go, which makes a person sit until their back aches and their eyes stream? What turns a hobby into a sickness? Single white male A recent study looked into motivations in video gaming addiction: A questionnaire asked gamers found on video game websites what they got out of the gaming. They got a huge number of respondents: over 1,600. The survey justified stereotypes: Participants were 87 percent male, 79 percent white. Joseph Hilgard, one of the researchers, said he came to the study thinking they might learn more about the reward pathways in the brain — the "go-to" areas in addiction research. When we do anything that triggers our brain's reward system, that information gets locked into our brains. A reward system is, basically, a system that governs how the brain feels when we do something — a chore, a job, anything — that results in reward at least some of the time. If we keep getting a reward for the same task, we start to understand the relationship between the two and our brain builds the appropriate connections. It means the next time we come across the chance to do that same task, we assume we're at least a bit likely to get a gift in return. How strong the reward system is in our brains depends on how often we get the reward and how big of a reward it is. Video games are built to exploit this part of our brain. Kill monster, get points. Complete level, get happy music. Win game, feel satisfied. It's a very simple and primitive part of who we are. We react the same way to everything, from food to sex, in education and even in our relationship with our parents, who, if they are good parents, scold bad behaviour and reward good. No 'I' in Warcraft "[This is what] we expected to be the number one thing," Hilgard says, "Thinking that what makes Diablo so addictive is the small chance of getting treasure for every monster you kill." Diablo is a video game, produced by the same people as World of Warcraft. Psychologists call this PRE, or Partial Reinforcement Effect, in which the reward is only offered randomly, some of the time, such as in gambling. This leaves gamers hoping that just round the corner lies the suit of armour, gold, or some other reward they've been waiting for. That "reward" plays a part in the psychology of addiction is certain: Plenty of gamers will be familiar with the phrase "just ten more minutes". But Hilgard and his researchers discovered other results from the survey, things they did not expect. First of all, a lot of people said they felt they were "duty bound" to go online, that "people were relying on them." Online games, like World of Warcraft or Eve Online, feature massive worlds. So massive that you're not very strong by yourself, and people aren't too strong without you. "All for one and one for all" counts double if you're a gamer. So most people join guilds — in-games factions — in order to achieve more within their virtual life. But with that benefit comes a cost: social responsibility. Often, you need to play every day and often it means several hours per day. If you don't play, there are people (granted, somewhere else in the world) who will think badly of you. They'll slander you on the forums and blacklist you from future raids. And, anyway,people like to feel included, so aside from the threat of social censure most people enjoy being part of a group. You get benefits, such as better rewards and faster in-game advancement, but you inevitably have to give back to the community which has helped you. In World of Warcraft, "raids," in which groups of players dive into a monster-invested cavern for rewards, can take a couple of hours and require quite a bit of organization, and most take place with upward of five people, and at a prearranged time. In his confessional autobiographyUnplugged, video-game addict Ryan Van Cleave remembers countless missed dinners and social occasions he instead spent "plugged in" toWarcraft conducting raids. He wasn't just enjoying himself: He had promises to keep. Social obligation itself can't really be a true addiction; it's just guilt. Anyone with a shred of conscience would feel bad leaving a team to fend for themselves if you'd made a promise to them. And it is just that, guilt, which can tie people into a lifetime of gaming. Not just guilt about your community or your guild, but for your character, too. Ryan devotes a few paragraphs to remember his Warcraft characters, who he loved and nurtured. Unfortunately, in exclusion of his real children, whom he neglected. Grass is greener The other factor, in fact the largest reported factor found in the study, was escapism. Many people in the study reported that they enjoyed games because games took them out of the real world. These same people were the most likely to develop addiction-like symptoms. Why be a landscape architect when you could be an invincible mage? Or, feeling doomed to unpopularity in real-life, why not join a guild online? This isn't the first study to find the relationship between video games and escapism: A study in 2009 found 41 percent of its participants said they played to escape the real world. In a way, video games are the spiritual successors to fantasy literature. Like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, or Shizuku in Studio Ghibli's Whispers of the Heart, people are escaping from their humdrum lives into a world of invented magic and wonder. This is why games like World of Warcraft are a gamers' "drug of choice": they span massive worlds, across continents and with thousands of quests to join. If someone has a powerful imagination, the real world doesn't really cut it anymore. The difference is, video games are personalized and meticulously tested experiences which, unlike books, are constantly tinkered with by their manufacturers to be as "sticky" — that is to say, addictive — as possible. Easy targets Hyperactive imaginations aside, there are a number of people with more serious conditions that might look to video games to escape from real problems. People with depression can find a temporary high in these virtual wonderlands. In one of the worst cases in video game addiction, a Korean couple suffering from depression played Prius, a game in which you raise a child, until their real baby daughter died from starvation. True to stereotypes, those with social phobias, or just poor social skills in general, are more likely to turn to gaming. Not only do games offer them that elusive social affirmation — NPCs, or non-playable characters, telling you how wonderful you are, how brave and so on — but there is the opportunity with online games to speak with real people, who share your hobby and are likely to be less judgmental than the people they know in real life. Social stigma toward video games and the nagging knowledge that you're neglecting your responsibilities lead people deeper down the rabbit hole. Hilgard calls these "bad coping strategies": he says, "just like refreshing my browser tabs because I'm nervous and want to keep my mind off of something, gamers are often playing to forget their real-life problems." The problem is: The problems get worse, and so the pull to gaming gets even stronger. It's a vicious, downward facing, spiral. Van Cleave's Unplugged is a study in this cycle of destruction, 300 pages of twisting every way he could to escape how hard life had become for him. And it only got worse. At every checkpoint in his life he could for many hours a day escape to a world in which he wasn't overweight, underemployed, disliked and disenfranchised, but instead a legend. There's a lot more work to be done before we truly understand this stuff. Indeed, the science of addiction itself is still hopelessly infantile. In the meantime, gaming addicts are more or less on their own, and have to fight their addiction by figuring out what makes the real world so unappealing when compared the bright lights of the computer screen. And the rest of us have to keep an eye on games manufacturers stepping over the line from entertainment to exploitation. Source:http://theweek.com/articles/451660/psychology-video-game-addiction |