Are You Addicted To The Internet?

According to the reStart Internet Addiction Recovery Program’s website, if 5 or more of these describe you, you might be an Internet addict:

• Increasing amounts of time spent on computer and internet activities
• Failed attempts to control behavior
• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and internet activities
• Craving more time on the computer and internet
• Neglecting friends and family
• Feeling restless when not engaged in the activity
• Being dishonest with others
• Computer use interfering with job/school performance
• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of behavior
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpel tunnel syndrome
• Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

I take issue with some of the wording in this list. Like “Increasing amounts of time spent on computer and internet activities” — increasing since when? By how much? Mine has been increasing since I was 16 as access became faster and more available. “Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of behavior” — which behavior? Being on the Internet itself or doing things on the Internet I shouldn’t be doing? Leaving aside that this could be a bit better worded, I’m sure many of the people reading this can check off 3 of the above (which suggests abuse, according to reStart). If you got more, maybe their 45 day recovery program will help you cast aside your computer, game, or cell-phone in favor of face-to-face interactions with people. It will cost you $14,500 for the pleasure, which is on a par with other kinds of rehab. Internet addiction as reStart is attempting to define it is probably worth some concern and attention, and perhaps World of Warcraft players could use some help stepping away from the gaming rigs. But I’m unsure that heavy Internet use or extensive gaming necessarily leads to a lack of “everyday life skills,” especially for kids who grow up in an increasingly connected world. Soon people won’t be able to function in the developed world without some kind of access to the Web or the Cloud. How will addiction be defined then? Hat Tip: CrunchGear