Reading(3)：TheeffectsoftheInternetonourlives.doc

Internet AddictionJosh was 12 when his parents bought him a computer for his room, thinking it would be useful now that Josh was in junior high school. He immediately took to internet and soon discovered email and chat rooms. His parents watched over his shoulder for the first few weeks and discussed the need to be cautious with personal information and made sure that Josh was steering clear of pornographic and violent websites. As they became comfortable with Joshs behavior on the internet, they no longer watched over him while he chatted with online friends and played online games.Problems soon arose, however. Josh began to spend most of his time in his bedroom with the computer, and he was moody when he was forced to spend time with his family. His grades dropped from As and Bs to Cs and Ds. He was irritable when he was away from his computer and often stayed online into the early mornings. When his alarmed parents removed the computer from Joshs room, he became very hostile and threatened to harm himself. Joshs parents quickly sought counseling for internet addiction.What is Internet Addiction?Internet Addiction is a growing concern in the Information Age. Internet access is a vital part of the modern world and an important tool in the education of our children. It is present in schools, homes and even shopping malls. Mastering the use of the internet is likely to be an important skill for those entering the job markets of the future. In addition, it is a highly entertaining and informative medium. However, these very qualities also make it an enticing escape for many users. The internet offers 24-hour access to a world of constant stimulation and alluring anonymity. An internet user can be anyone he or she wants to be 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, one can enter a different world where the problems of the real world are no longer present, and all the things one wishes he or she could be or experience are possible.Like addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine, internet addiction is marked by symptoms of increasing tolerance, withdrawal, mood changes, and interruption of social relationships. Children and adolescents who have become addicted to the internet will require increasing amounts of time online in order to feel satisfied. When they do not have access to the internet, they may have symptoms of withdrawal, which include anxiety, depression, irritability, trembling hands, restlessness and obsessive thinking or fantasizing about the internet. While online they may feel uninhibited and experience an increased sense of intimacy. Relationships in the real world may be neglected as those in the virtual world increase in importance. Academic performance is likely to suffer.The term internet addiction actually refers to a broad range of behaviors. Researchers in the field have identified five different types of internet addiction: Net-Gaming - Net-gaming encompasses a variety of different internet activities. Individuals may participate in online games or Multi-User Dungeon Games (often called MUDs), visit virtual casinos, or become obsessed with e-auctions, online trading or online shopping. This type of addiction can be especially expensive as these individuals may rack up charges on a parents charge card or internet bill. Cyber-Relational Addiction - Online relationships in chat rooms become more important than relationships with family and non-internet friends. In addition to spending time chatting online with these new acquaintances, long-distance charges may accumulate as the conversations begin to enter the non-virtual (real) world. Concerns that the individual may attempt to meet an online acquaintance in person should be taken seriously, as there is no way of knowing who someone met over the internet really is. Information Overload - The amount of data available on the internet is virtually unlimited. Some individuals may become obsessed with tracking down certain types of information and organizing it. Surfing the web and conducting extensive searches of online data bases may become an all-consuming activity, reaching obsessive-compulsive levels. Computer Addiction - While not a true internet addiction, computer addiction shares a lot of the same qualities. Computer games that can be played without access to the internet can also become addictive to some individuals. This may also happen with games played on such platforms as Sega and Play Station. Cybersexual Addiction - Pornography is easily obtainable on the internet. While a variety of parental control software has been designed to limit the types of internet sites to which children can have access, many pornographic sites are designing ways around this software as quickly as the newest controls are introduced. A determined internet user may get access to pornographic websites despite the use of the most sophisticated parental control software. Adolescents who have a cybersexual addiction typically spend time viewing, downloading or trading online pornography. They may also participate in adult fantasy and/or role-play chat rooms, typically with members much older than themselves. These kids may even be enticed to send pornographic pictures or videos of themselves to other online users. Pornography on the InternetInternet access to pornography is a great concern to many parents, even if their sons or daughters do not use the internet excessively. An innocent search conducted in order to complete a school assignment can lead to unexpected encounters with a number of different pornographic sites. Bulk emails from sites peddling everything from sex toys to live video feeds of sexual acts can flood a childs email box. A number of steps can be taken to limit these chance encounters. Parental control software such as CyberPatrol or Net Nanny can be installed that will block the majority of pornographic websites. Most email programs have the ability to engage filters or blocks to eliminate emails from various types of senders. You should review the documentation that came with your email software or contact your internet service provider for more information. As mentioned earlier, creators of a number of pornographic sites have developed ways to get around these various attempts to restrict access to their sites. However, unless an internet user is actively trying to access these sites, parental control software and email blocks or filters will greatly reduce the odds of a child or adolescent viewing pornographic material while using the internet.For parents concerned that their son or daughter may be circumventing the control software installed on their home computer, new computer programs like Spector /default.asp?refer=82 are being released all the time that monitor computer activity without the knowledge of the user. These programs provide detailed information about which sites are being visited and the conversations being held in chat rooms. A word of caution, however: using software such as this is akin to installing a video surveillance camera in your sons or daughters room, taping his or her phone conversations, or snooping through a diary. You may want to consider discussing with your child your intention to monitor their computer activity; otherwise, you may violate his or her sense of privacy and break the fragile bond of trust that exists between parents and children. It may be more effective to have an honest and open conversation with your son or daughter about your concerns and fears. Who is Likely to Develop an Internet Addiction?Internet addiction is not limited just to introverted computer-techies. Males and females from all walks of life can and do become addicted to online relationships, gaming, information gathering and sexual experiences. Although there is no single type of person who is most prone to developing an internet addiction, people who lack strong connections with others may be especially likely to seeking refuge in online relationships. The internet can also provide a welcome escape for individuals who already suffer from a variety of psychological difficulties including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Additionally, those who have struggled with other types of addiction may more easily become obsessed with the internet. Parents would be wise to watch for signs of obsessive internet use in all children who have access to a computer and a modem.Preventing and Treating Internet AddictionUsing the internet can be an enjoyable and educational experience, but it is wise to agree on a few ground rules before allowing a child or adolescent access to the online world. You may want to review the following guidelines with your son or daughter before allowing him or her to go online. While these guidelines alone will not prevent a child from developing an unhealthy obsession with the internet, they will help ensure a safer internet experience.In addition to ensuring agreement on the safety guidelines, parents should monitor the amount of time their child spends on the internet and watch for any of the warning signs of internet addiction listed at the beginning of this article. Warning Signs of Internet Addiction If a child is showing any of these signs, a plan to address the problem should be worked out. Quitting internet usage completely may not be necessary, or even advisable. However, a structured plan that gradually reduces internet usage to a more reasonable amount may be helpful. For example, a child using the internet 6 to 8 hours a day may gradually reduce usage to 1 hour. External reminders like a timer and a visible copy of the agreed-upon schedule may help the internet user keep track of time and more easily adhere to the ne