Internet Addiction – What is It?

There is so much to do on the Internet! In fact, you can do almost everything online – shop, socialize, play, learn, research, talk. More and more people are spending more and more of their time surfing the Internet. People who did not use a computer until recently, are suddenly waking up to the convenience of having so much available at your fingertips. There is no doubt that no single thing has changed our lives as much as the internet has.

Almost anything you can do in real life, you can do online today. That’s convenient  when it’s snowing and you don’t want to venture outside or you can save some gas by shopping online or your family and friends are spread around the globe and communication online is the easiest and cheapest way to stay in touch. But for some, gradually, their virtual life sometimes takes over their “real” life and they find themselves spending hours online at the computer each day.

From business people who check their email constantly to teens who are wired every hour of the day, the Internet is playing a more central role in our lives. And if you are not careful, it can become an unhealthy compulsion that is hard to control.

Experts note that children that are growing up online suffer from a lack of social skills, problem solving skills, they are overweight, have a shorter attention span and in general, are not leading a healthy lifestyle while they sit for hours in front of a computer screen. It’s a real addiction and already, therapists, clinics, books, and self help groups offering to cure the addiction are popping up everywhere.

 How do you know if someone is addicted to the Internet?

Internet addiction is a difficult problem to recognize in yourself or even in others because the Internet has become such a mainstream, daily part of all of our lives at work and at home. Furthermore, most people don’t even realize it is possible to be addicted to the Internet. The Web is not a drug – where you can say any use is outright bad. It’s not gambling, where you can tell someone has a problem when the habit starts to show in their bank account. We all use the Internet. We shop, order airline tickets, pay bills, write to friends, read the news, watch videos, etc. But for some, the Internet takes so much time from their life, that one day, they find themselves practically living online.

 Is it dangerous?

Compulsive Internet use is characterized by a difficulty to limit time spent online. Some of the more commonly recognized Internet problems are online gambling, porn addiction and too much online shopping. Even specific sites are known to be problems – “EBay addiction” is becoming a recognized addiction as more users actually become hooked to the site and its shopping activity. Pathological Internet use can cause many serious problems:

1.     Gambling and shopping online obsessively can cause financial problems.

2.     Spending too much time online can cause social and health problems.

3.     Viewing online porn can easily turn into compulsive behavior that ruins relationships.

Can Internet Addiction be cured?

Of course it can be cured. But before it actually becomes a compulsive disorder, families and individuals should take responsibility and place rules and limits on Internet use in their homes.

Install a web filter, to easily define the precise Internet environment that you want -block out certain sites or categories of content, control the activities that can be done online and set a precise online schedule to limit when and how much time the Internet can be accessed. A web filter, such as Optenet PC, is a software solution, that you install and manage on your computer. It can be a fast and easy way to curb a problem that is just beginning or helping a serious compulsive addict limit his Internet activity.