Australian Politics Forum - Internet addiction

mantra

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Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Feb 25^th, 2009 at 5:03pm

Someone was talking about internet addiction the other day - which apparently is becoming a very serious "illness" in our society. I've joked about being addicted, but suddenly realised that I am. I did the test and my results are 57% and if I spend approx. 20% of this time asleep - these results look very unhealthy. The test...

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouaddictedtotheinternetquiz/

This comment from an addict..

"I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m reading. Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle."

There is conflicting evidence about internet addiction. Some researchers say that evidence, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of a group of people over 40 while they surfed the 'Net found that the web-savvy group reflected about twice as much activity compared to the brains of those who were not web-savvy.

Symptoms of addiction

The symptoms of Internet addiction are "vague and often difficult to diagnose." Depression, anxiety, isolation, loss of productivity, and sleeplessness are possible symptoms of Internet addiction.

Other research shows an addiction to the Internet could cause physical symptoms such as the "cyber shakes" – similar to someone struggling with an alcohol addiction. Headaches, dry eyes and carpal tunnel syndrome could result – and so could lower productivity, lower grades, and even financial debt. Depending on the focus of the Internet addiction (say, Internet gambling or online emotional intimacy), divorce or job loss could result.

People at greatest risk for Internet addiction

Teenagers and women whose children have recently moved out are at the greatest risk of struggling with addiction to the Internet. Men and women unused to the loneliness of the "empty nest" may have more time on their hands, and turn to the Internet out of boredom.

According to some mental health professionals, the Internet will take more of our time and energy so more and more people will need Internet addiction treatment.

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Neferti

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Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Reply #1 - Feb 25^th, 2009 at 5:23pm

Mantra is addicted. Cheesy

I did the test out of curiosity and got 41%. Tongue

I do spend a lot of time communicating with friends via email. It's a daily thing .. get up, get the coffee, check email and reply.

Then, check the news sites, read the blogs and forums. Not much sparks my curiosity there, lately, unfortunately.

These days with Broadband we tend to leave the computer on 24/7 anyway. If you have email checking every 5 minutes like I do, you hear the sound and wonder what "jokes" arrived.

Nothing wrong with that!

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« Last Edit: Feb 25^th, 2009 at 5:34pm by Neferti »

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mantra

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Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Reply #2 - Feb 25^th, 2009 at 6:14pm

Quote:

Then, check the news sites, read the blogs and forums. Not much sparks my curiosity there, lately, unfortunately.

These days with Broadband we tend to leave the computer on 24/7 anyway. If you have email checking every 5 minutes like I do, you hear the sound and wonder what "jokes" arrived.

Nothing wrong with that!

Hmmm. What about the games? Wink

I can't sit at the computer for more than about 20 minutes at a time but I am backwards and forwards to it all day. I often resent having to cook a meal or meet commitments and I'm definitely not as diligent as I used to be. I can relate to the book reader - instead of reading a couple of books a week - I'm lucky if it's a couple a month now.

But I'm going to look at it positively - so I go with the "web-savvy" research where it indicates that my brain activity is twice as active as someone who isn't web savvy. Cheesy

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oceanz Gold Member Offline Auzgurl.. Posts: 3531 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #3 - Feb 25^th, 2009 at 9:29pm Im finding much the same thing mantra..I often find myself fiitting things in around the computer schedule. When I spend too much time on here it effects my sleep patterns...in so much as I dont sleep well . It resets bio rythms or something like that. I'll take the test tomorrow.
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Jim Profit Senior Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 439 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #4 - Mar 1^st, 2009 at 8:44am Quote: YOU ARE 56% ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET You're somewhat addicted to the internet - but who isn't? You can keep it under check, and you're by no means a hermit.
Back to top	But I still believe there's something left for you and me. IP Logged

Calanen Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 2241	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #5 - Mar 2^nd, 2009 at 9:40pm The Chinese say: "A strong man can put down, whatever he picks up." If you can put it down, you are not addicted.
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Amadd Gold Member Offline Mo Posts: 6217	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #6 - Mar 2^nd, 2009 at 11:25pm Quote: If you can put it down, you are not addicted. For how long?
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Jasin Gold Member Online Posts: 49448 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #7 - Nov 4^th, 2019 at 8:48pm Is a person who takes LSD when a teenager, never takes another 'narcotic'/illicit drug until 90 years of age and drops some Acid. Are they addicted?
Back to top	AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

AiA Gold Member Offline Posts: 18405 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #8 - Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:26pm I used to be able to sit and read books for hours. Not anymore. Thanks, internet.
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Jasin Gold Member Online Posts: 49448 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #9 - Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:30pm Serve the TV once, now the Internet. Both designed to give you the advantage over your 'primitive' rivals when fighting over a dirty puddle of water.
Back to top	4911890858_f181f521f1_001.jpg (47 KB \| 19 ) AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

AiA Gold Member Offline Posts: 18405 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #10 - Nov 5^th, 2019 at 1:56am Jasin wrote on Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:30pm: Serve the TV once, now the Internet. Both designed to give you the advantage over your 'primitive' rivals when fighting over a dirty puddle of water. I have no TV, cable, satellite or otherwise, and haven't for a few years.
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Jasin

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Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Reply #11 - Nov 5^th, 2019 at 2:14am

AiA wrote on Nov 5^th, 2019 at 1:56am:

Jasin wrote on Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:30pm:

Serve the TV once, now the Internet.
Both designed to give you the advantage over your 'primitive' rivals when fighting over a dirty puddle of water.

I have no TV, cable, satellite or otherwise, and haven't for a few years.

you've evolved to the internet-computer

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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AiA

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Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Reply #12 - Nov 5^th, 2019 at 2:53am

Jasin wrote on Nov 5^th, 2019 at 2:14am:

AiA wrote on Nov 5^th, 2019 at 1:56am:

Jasin wrote on Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:30pm:

Serve the TV once, now the Internet.
Both designed to give you the advantage over your 'primitive' rivals when fighting over a dirty puddle of water.

I have no TV, cable, satellite or otherwise, and haven't for a few years.

you've evolved to the internet-computer

Other than the occasional movie on Amazon Prime, that is it for me. I read a lot on the internet.

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“Jerry, just remember: It’s not a lie … if you believe it.” George Costanza

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Jasin Gold Member Online Posts: 49448 Gender:	Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains? Reply #13 - Nov 5^th, 2019 at 2:31pm I do miss 'staples' on the Internet. I miss 'staples' on a gorgeous nude chick picture. Magazines always had staples on the centrefold chick! Looked better than Tattoos.
Back to top	AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

UnSubRocky

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Re: Internet addiction - is it changing our brains?
Reply #14 - Nov 6^th, 2019 at 4:03pm

AiA wrote on Nov 4^th, 2019 at 10:26pm:

I used to be able to sit and read books for hours. Not anymore. Thanks, internet.

In the last 22 years, the internet has changed my life remarkably. After reading up various sites for 6 months throughout the 'net, I came to the conclusion that there are some very screwed up people out there. Not that I can really eliminate my own wild thoughts from criticism. But, at least I don't post about them online.

"Surfing the 'net" became an overwhelming experience. After a while, I gave up taking things personally or feeling sorry for other people getting abuse. I considered the online sinister postings to be very much those from whom considered anonymous impunity a guarantee.

These days, it is just facebook where I get personal attacks. I just block the user and get on with my life. No point stressing about someone you are not going to meet in real life over an issue that is trivial.

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At this stage...

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