Effects of Internet Addiction (Essay/Paper Sample)


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Effects of Internet Addiction

Internet usage in the current generation, especially among the youths, has reached a point whereby most of the users have social, educational, psychological or occupational problems. Most of the students spend a lot of time on the internet conducting researches as well as fulfilling their educational needs. Thus, the rampant usage of internet affects their behavior when searching information. In relation to addiction, internet users have both short-term and long-term effects that include forgotten responsibilities, weight gain, backache, neck pain, and syndrome and vision problems. The essay presents an elaboration of various forms of internet addiction.

Most addictions that are well known involve the use of intoxicating drugs. However, internet addiction involves an impulse control disorder which is similar to a pathological gambling addiction.  Some internet users have developed emotional relationships or attachment to on-line friends and other activities such as playing video games online hence they spend most of their times on the internet. In addition, others spend time blogging, socializing and journaling. Most of the addicts on the internet use virtual fantasy world to meet people online as an alternative for meeting real people that they are unable to meet.

Overuse of internet causes physical effects due to the sedentary lifestyle. Such people tend to gain weight and continue to decline in their physical fitness. On the same note, some internet addicts have improper postures due to too much leaning forward hence causes back and neck problems.  In relation to the health of internet users, addicts normally suffer from physical discomfort, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, backaches, dry eyes, eating disorders, severe headaches, sleep disturbances, and ignoring personal hygiene. On the same note, various psychological and emotional problems associated with internet addictions include restlessness, boredom, loneliness, sadness, irritability, mood swings, and depression among others.

Some internet addicts have real life impairments regarding relationships and increased isolation. These people have developed poor relationships due to too much usage of internet to an extent of spending time with their family members. In addition, most addicted internet users spend solitary seclusions, have no time to spend with real people hence they become socially irrelevant or awkward. The much time spent on the internet instead of spending time with people increases distrust and disturbance for the ample time in a relationship.  On the same note, the internet addicts usually create unique online profiles and alter their own identities. Thus, they create their own secret life since they suffer from low-self esteem, feelings of inadequacies, depressed and have anxiety as well as fearful for being disapproved by their colleagues or family members.

Internet addiction has sexual effects on the addicts.  Too much exposure to different explicit materials available on the internet leads to a deception or real-life sexual relations as well as sex addiction. The internet addicts exhibit unwarranted sexual behaviors that are compulsiveness which increases negative legal, physical impacts, and emotion among others.

Internet addictions cause procrastination of work. Internet addicts perform numerous activities online on a regular basis such as online gaming instead of performing important tasks such as making phone calls, procrastinating assignments as well as family activities. In addition, the addicts’ work rates normally reduce with time. For example, employees who are addicted to the internet have lower work productivity due to procrastination. These people put off their normal work and normally lose focus on jobs due to frequent disruptions. On the same note, low productivity results due to time distortion. This is exhibited through web surfing among addicts who realize that time is consumed rapidly while on the internet. These people are unable to notice or allocate time for other duties hence are unable to priorities on important activities hence reduce productivity.

In conclusion, too much internet usage has negative effects that are related to social, personal, health as well as causes overall disruption of daily activities. Such side effects can be minimized through prioritization of activities. On the same note, it is better for employees who engage in online transactions to avoid engagement in unnecessary activities that lead to low productivity.

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