By  Selin Ecem Altınkaya

Apr 2, 2017

If You See These 3 Signs,

Then BE CAREFUL!

   
  How many of you refuse to believe that they are addicted to internet?  

50 percent of teenagers and 27 percent of adults accepted that they are addicted to internet .  Internet addiction makes you mentally and physically sick.  Not only you, but also people around you are affected by it. Well, if you still don’t accept, just continue to read. Internet addiction is a big issue and it has 3 main symptoms.

     The Internet has made life a lot easier by making information more accessible to all and creating connections with different people around the world. However, it has also made a lot of people spend too much time on internet, so that it becomes the center of their lives. This can lead to an ınternet addiction.

Internet addiction is described as an impulse control disorder, which does not involve use of an intoxicating drug and is very similar to pathological gambling. Cyber sex and pornography use are the most common types of Internet addictions. People can also become addicted to online chatting, shopping, gambling and website surfing.

     Addicted people are mostly teenagers. Aided by the convenience and constant access provided by mobile devices, especially smartphones, 92% of teens report going online daily,and nearly three-quarters of teens have or have access to a smartphone, which makes people more addicted, since they carry internet to everywhere they go.  

    

 Many people don’t know that they are addicted to internet. Here’s how to tell if it’s time to seek help for an Internet addiction.

1. You’re spending more time online than with family or friends

Do you find that you stay online longer than you intended?

The amount of time people spend on social media is constantly increasing. Teens now spend up to nine hours a day on social platforms. Facebook is the most frequently used social media platform among teens; half of teens use Instagram, and nearly as many use Snapchat.  

Internet addicts choose to spend time online rather than participate in social activities. If you are one, this makes you isolated and self conscious. If your Internet use is out of control, your family and friends question why you’re choosing the computer over them or complain about the amount of time you’re spending online, and this ruins your relationships with others. And sometimes, you  form new relationships with others online, which is dangerous for your safety.

2. You’re neglecting yourself and your studies

If you are an internet addict, you spend so much time online that you forget about your job and your school work. You neglect housework, your schoolwork, job performance and your productivity suffers. Internet addicts use social media also during night, which means that they lose sleep due to being online late at night, and researchers suggested that the light that cell phones emit can suppress the secretion of melatonin, which promotes sleep. Not enough sleep lowers your mood and causes problems. If you find that your Internet use is causing you to neglect your health, your chores and your work, it may be time to seek help.

3. You’re using the Internet to alter your mood

Do you turn to your iPhone because you’re bored or because you’re trying to avoid dealing with stressful or unpleasant things in your life?  

If you are depressed or you suffer from anxiety disorders , then you are more likely to  become hooked on the internet.  In social media you create a new character, so that you can be like how you wanted to be, or you escape the situation and chat with friends or surf on the internet. You feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back online. Since your purposes of using internet deviate and internet becomes a second life for you, you be hooked on internet.

If you feel like an addict, it’s time to do something. You can declare tech-free zones and times by finding balance and setting limits. You may stop using your phone while eating or after 10 p.m. You can check the ratings, so you choose beneficial sites and encourage yourself to be creative and responsible, not passive users. Or  ıf you observe significant negative issues you can seek expert help, consult your pediatrician, a psychologist, a social worker or another professional for advice.

So now leave your devices and...

Works Cited

“Internet Addiction Quiz.”. Psychcentral.com.Physchcentral. 22 Nov 2016. Web. 3Apr.2017.

Joyce.Amy.”Teens Say They’re Addicted To Technology. Here’s How Parents Can Help.”.Washingtonpost.com.May 3, 2016.Web.1Apr.2017

Lenhart.Amanda.”Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015”.Pewinternet.org. PewResearchCenter. Apr 9 2015.Web.Apr 1 2017.

Mazzola.Jessica.”Nighttime Texting Linked To Bad Grades”.Nj.com.New Jersey On-Line LLC. Oct 8 2015. Web.1 Apr. 2017.