Jour 4551
As the internet has progressed and developed over the years, people are becoming dependent and in some circumstances addicted. Because there are so many means for information, entertainment and satisfaction through the internet, it has been said that ten percent of internet surfers are addicted. These addicts are mostly people who began surfing the internet as a teenager or earlier and have become dependent on the entertainment and satisfaction that it provides them. Teens today become consumed with video games, social networking sites and in many cases, shopping.
I believe that this recent realization that several people are becoming addicted to internet use, is an extremely important issue that needs to be addressed. Earlier I said that I feel that the digital divide is the most important issue that needs to be resolved pertaining to the internet. I feel that Internet addiction is more severe and can have extremely life altering affects for people, but the digital divide affects many more people and that is why I said that it is most important.
It has been said that social networking sites are the largest cause for internet addiction. Sites such as second life, cause people to escape reality and their everyday problems to sit on the internet and life a whole different life which many people take way way too far. Socialization is what makes the Internet so addicting. Plain old hanging out with other people and talking with them. Whether it's via e-mail, a discussion forum, chat, or a game online (such as a MUD), people are spending this time exchanging information, support, and chit-chat with other people like themselves. To me this is a sign that internet addiction could come from depression or loneliness because many people who are uncomfortable interacting with certain types of people in real life, become addicted to online interaction and cravethe attention and affection that they are receiving through the web.