Computer addiction is a growing problem around the world. It's an addiction that’s shared by young and old, and now strikes as many women as men, as many young people as retirees, and people from every education and intellectual level. Different groups are more likely to be struck by different types of addictions, but there's plenty of computer addiction to go around.
The first group that's likely to get hooked are folks who have difficulty with social situations. They may be shy, insecure, and find the computer a desirable way to be able to interact with large groups of people without having to physically be in their presence. The old Internet joke that "no one knows you're a dog" may make some people smile, but for socially challenged folks, being able to develop relationships with people from around the world is no laughing matter. There's a certain safety on the Internet that raises people's self-confidence without having the stress of face-to-face encounters.
However, it isn't just socially challenged people who find themselves addicted to the computer. The latest breed of computer addicts are people who like to lose themselves in multimedia presentations and the sheer color and glitz of the World Wide Web. It's no longer necessary to have any real computer training to get on the Internet and surf to your heart’s content. All you need is a modem and a browser, and you're off and running. That means millions more people are surfing, which brings with it the potential for an exponential increase in various computer addictions.
Children are becoming especially vulnerable to becoming computer addicts, because there are an unlimited number of video games available, twenty-four hours a day. If you're a parent worried about your children, watch them for signs of withdrawals when they can't play on the computer for an extended period. They'll become irritable and studies have shown that children develop strong cravings for their games, not unlike a drug addict yearning for a fix.
Adolescents are even more vulnerable, and can spend extreme amounts of time on the computer if given free rein. Spending too much time on the computer damages social skills and can adversely affect friendships, schoolwork, and many other areas of their lives. Teens may be the most likely to become computer addicts, although there is some evidence to show that they may outgrow it to a large extent once they get older.
Another rapidly growing area of addiction is among older adults. They decide to get a computer and log onto the Internet out of curiosity about all the fuss, and quickly find themselves being drawn into the web. Many of them are attracted to Internet gaming, and there have been cases of some older people losing huge sums on the Internet after being unable to stop themselves from gambling. One of the thing older folks complain about after realizing that they've become addicted, is the amount of precious time they've been losing, time they really don't have to spare in many cases.
Computers and the Internet are wonderful things, and there is a huge amount of information available to more people than ever before. However, it seems that some people just can't seem to know when to say when.
Jeanette Fisher helps home makers create homes for healing and happy living. In her research on happiness, she found that many people today suffer from depression and one big recent problem is computer addiction.
More information about Design Psychology Expert Jeanette Fisher
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Life Beyond Computer Addiction
