Can excessive internet use lead to serious negative consequences?
Potenza, a psychiatrist at Yale and the director of the school’s Program for Research on Impulsivity and Impulse Control Disorders, has been treating addiction for more than two decades. Early in his career, he, like most others studying addiction at the time, focussed on substance-abuse problems—cocaine and heroin addicts, alcoholics, and the like. Soon, however, he noticed patients with other problems that were more difficult to classify.
A substance affects a person physically in a way that a behavior simply cannot: no matter how severe your trichotillomania, you’re not introducing something new to your bloodstream. But, in what may be a more fundamental way, they share much in common. As Potenza and his colleague point out in a recent review of the last two decades of research, there are many commonalities between those two categories of addiction. Both behavioral and substance addictions are characterized by an inability to control how often or how intensely you engage in an activity, even when you feel the negative consequences. Both come with urges and cravings: you feel a sudden and debilitating need to place a bet or to take a hit in the middle of a meal. Both are marked by an inability to stop.
Internet addiction, often referred to as problematic internet use (PIU) or compulsive internet use (CIU), is a controversial topic that has garnered significant attention in recent years. While some argue that internet addiction is a legitimate condition with serious consequences, others contend that it is merely a symptom of underlying mental health issues or a product of societal factors. To understand the debate surrounding internet addiction, it is crucial to examine both sides of the argument and consider the evidence presented by proponents and skeptics alike.
In recent years, however, Potenza has been increasingly treating a new kind of problem: people who come to him because they can’t get off the Internet. In some ways, it seems exactly like the behavioral addictions that he has been treating for years, with much of the same consequences.
Those in support of the concept of internet addiction argue that excessive internet use can lead to various negative consequences, similar to those associated with substance abuse disorders. They point to studies showing that individuals who spend an excessive amount of time online may experience withdrawal symptoms when unable to access the internet, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, they highlight the impact of internet addiction on academic, occupational, and social functioning, with some individuals neglecting their responsibilities and relationships in favor of online activities.
The realization that the Internet may be inducing some addictive-seeming behaviors in its own right has only grown more widespread. One study, published in 2012, of nearly twelve thousand adolescents in eleven European countries, found a 4.4 per cent prevalence of what the authors termed “pathological Internet use” or using the Internet in a way that affected subjects’ health and life. That is, through a combination of excessive time spent online and that time interfering with necessary social and professional activities, Internet use would result in either mental distress or clinical impairment, akin to the type of inability to function associated with pathological gambling.
For maladaptive Internet use—a milder condition characterized by problematic but not yet fully disruptive behavior—the number was 13.5 per cent. People who exhibited problematic use were also more likely to suffer from other psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, A.D.H.D., and O.C.D.
Some critics have pointed out that the concept of internet addiction has been heavily influenced by cultural and societal factors, with different countries and cultures exhibiting varying levels of concern regarding problematic internet use. What may be considered excessive internet use in one culture may be perfectly acceptable in another, highlighting the importance of considering cultural context when assessing internet addiction.
Behavioral addictions are quite real, and, in a number of respects, Internet addiction shares their core features. But the differences that set it apart mean that the avenues of treatment may differ somewhat from those typically associated with behavioral—and substance—addictions. One of the most effective ways of treating those addictions is by identifying and removing the catalysts. Cancel the credit card. Get rid of the bottles. Avoid the places you go to drink or to gamble, and, at times, avoid the people you do these activities with. Be aware of your triggers. With the Internet, though, that solution is far more problematic. Computers and virtual connections have become an integral part of daily life. You can’t just pull the plug and expect to function. A student may be suffering from what she’s doing online, but she also might need to use the Internet for her classes. The thing she needs to avoid in order to do well is also the thing she needs to use to reach the same end.
To get past this addiction requires a multifaceted approach. First, set clear boundaries by scheduling specific times for internet use and sticking to them. Gradually decrease your screen time each day to regain control. Find alternative activities to replace excessive internet usage, such as exercising, reading, or spending time with friends and family. Engage in hobbies or activities that you enjoy and that don't involve screens.
Limit access to tempting websites and apps by using website blockers or parental controls. Disconnect from devices at least an hour before bedtime to improve sleep quality. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to hold yourself accountable and stay motivated. Join support groups or online communities of individuals going through similar struggles for encouragement and advice.
Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize triggers and urges to use the internet excessively. Develop coping strategies to deal with stress or negative emotions without turning to the internet for escape. Celebrate small victories and progress, and be patient with yourself throughout the recovery process. Remember that breaking free from internet addiction is a journey, and it's okay to ask for help along the way.
Therefore, the debate surrounding internet addiction is complex and multifaceted. While some argue that internet addiction is a real and serious condition with neurobiological underpinnings, others contend that it lacks empirical support and may be better understood as a symptom of underlying mental health issues or a product of societal factors. Moving forward, further research is needed to better understand the nature of problematic internet use and its implications for mental health and well-being.
A substance affects a person physically in a way that a behavior simply cannot: no matter how severe your trichotillomania, you’re not introducing something new to your bloodstream. But, in what may be a more fundamental way, they share much in common. As Potenza and his colleague point out in a recent review of the last two decades of research, there are many commonalities between those two categories of addiction. Both behavioral and substance addictions are characterized by an inability to control how often or how intensely you engage in an activity, even when you feel the negative consequences. Both come with urges and cravings: you feel a sudden and debilitating need to place a bet or to take a hit in the middle of a meal. Both are marked by an inability to stop.
Internet addiction, often referred to as problematic internet use (PIU) or compulsive internet use (CIU), is a controversial topic that has garnered significant attention in recent years. While some argue that internet addiction is a legitimate condition with serious consequences, others contend that it is merely a symptom of underlying mental health issues or a product of societal factors. To understand the debate surrounding internet addiction, it is crucial to examine both sides of the argument and consider the evidence presented by proponents and skeptics alike.
In recent years, however, Potenza has been increasingly treating a new kind of problem: people who come to him because they can’t get off the Internet. In some ways, it seems exactly like the behavioral addictions that he has been treating for years, with much of the same consequences.
Those in support of the concept of internet addiction argue that excessive internet use can lead to various negative consequences, similar to those associated with substance abuse disorders. They point to studies showing that individuals who spend an excessive amount of time online may experience withdrawal symptoms when unable to access the internet, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, they highlight the impact of internet addiction on academic, occupational, and social functioning, with some individuals neglecting their responsibilities and relationships in favor of online activities.
The realization that the Internet may be inducing some addictive-seeming behaviors in its own right has only grown more widespread. One study, published in 2012, of nearly twelve thousand adolescents in eleven European countries, found a 4.4 per cent prevalence of what the authors termed “pathological Internet use” or using the Internet in a way that affected subjects’ health and life. That is, through a combination of excessive time spent online and that time interfering with necessary social and professional activities, Internet use would result in either mental distress or clinical impairment, akin to the type of inability to function associated with pathological gambling.
For maladaptive Internet use—a milder condition characterized by problematic but not yet fully disruptive behavior—the number was 13.5 per cent. People who exhibited problematic use were also more likely to suffer from other psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, A.D.H.D., and O.C.D.
Some critics have pointed out that the concept of internet addiction has been heavily influenced by cultural and societal factors, with different countries and cultures exhibiting varying levels of concern regarding problematic internet use. What may be considered excessive internet use in one culture may be perfectly acceptable in another, highlighting the importance of considering cultural context when assessing internet addiction.
Behavioral addictions are quite real, and, in a number of respects, Internet addiction shares their core features. But the differences that set it apart mean that the avenues of treatment may differ somewhat from those typically associated with behavioral—and substance—addictions. One of the most effective ways of treating those addictions is by identifying and removing the catalysts. Cancel the credit card. Get rid of the bottles. Avoid the places you go to drink or to gamble, and, at times, avoid the people you do these activities with. Be aware of your triggers. With the Internet, though, that solution is far more problematic. Computers and virtual connections have become an integral part of daily life. You can’t just pull the plug and expect to function. A student may be suffering from what she’s doing online, but she also might need to use the Internet for her classes. The thing she needs to avoid in order to do well is also the thing she needs to use to reach the same end.
To get past this addiction requires a multifaceted approach. First, set clear boundaries by scheduling specific times for internet use and sticking to them. Gradually decrease your screen time each day to regain control. Find alternative activities to replace excessive internet usage, such as exercising, reading, or spending time with friends and family. Engage in hobbies or activities that you enjoy and that don't involve screens.
Limit access to tempting websites and apps by using website blockers or parental controls. Disconnect from devices at least an hour before bedtime to improve sleep quality. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to hold yourself accountable and stay motivated. Join support groups or online communities of individuals going through similar struggles for encouragement and advice.
Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize triggers and urges to use the internet excessively. Develop coping strategies to deal with stress or negative emotions without turning to the internet for escape. Celebrate small victories and progress, and be patient with yourself throughout the recovery process. Remember that breaking free from internet addiction is a journey, and it's okay to ask for help along the way.
Therefore, the debate surrounding internet addiction is complex and multifaceted. While some argue that internet addiction is a real and serious condition with neurobiological underpinnings, others contend that it lacks empirical support and may be better understood as a symptom of underlying mental health issues or a product of societal factors. Moving forward, further research is needed to better understand the nature of problematic internet use and its implications for mental health and well-being.
