Tech addiction a growing problem

As a child born in this generation, I grow up with computers, electronic games and hand-phone. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t have a PC at home or a hand-phone or anyone who doesn’t leave home without their hand-phone.

 

Technology has indeed become a large part of our everyday lives. That is why this article is certainly a wake-up call. We can’t help being surrounded by these things; at home or in school. But what we don’t know it’s that it’s all too easy to get addicted to them (cell phones, video games, PDAs and the Internet) without realizing it.

 

These new technology is just too awesome. I, myself cannot wait to get my hands on the latest 3G iphone.

 

With hand-phones such as these, Blackberries, IM and email, anyone can find themselves perpetually in communication.

 

But how much is too much? How do we know whether we are addicts or not?

 

I know someone who spent most of his time online playing games. Each time I logged on, usually at night, at anytime, he was online. He was online after school, at some internet café, till late at night. Weekends he was online for the whole day. It was not until recently that he was put into ‘cold turkey’ by his father.

 

 I was told that he was so addicted to the games, he would do anything to get his hands on the computer….like hacking into his siblings’ computers after his was confiscated by his dad. They even went to the extent of pulling out all the cables and locked the room where the computers are in. Yet he would break into the room and tried to get online. Poor fellow, he is now without his computer, except when he is doing his school work with his dad looking over his shoulders, and he is also on curfew after school. His is probably the worst case I know.

 

Psychologists have officially classified technology addiction as an impulse disorder that can be as socially devastating as alcoholism, gambling, sex and drug addiction.

 

They have drawn out a list of warning signs of personal technology addiction: 

 

• An inability to predict the amount of time you spend on the computer;

•  A sense of euphoria while using the computer;
•  Lying to employers and family about computer activity;
•  Withdrawal from real life hobbies and social interactions; and
•  Health issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, weight gain and backaches.

 

Going through the list, I am quite relieved that I do not fall under the category of ‘addict’ but I would be lying if I said I don’t enjoy online games, IM etc., etc…

Heck! All my friends do too. We play on-line games and chat on line for hours. It’s a teen thing. As long as we are responsible and in control and do not lose sight of reality and what is important, going on-line to play an occasional game is cool.

 

 

I feel that it is the individual’s responsibility to manage his time and be considerate to his family. It is too easy and tempting what is available for us on the internet. It is scary to hear that people have to seek professional advice for this sort of addiction. I would not want to end up like that someone I know. No way.