causes and effects of internet addiction essay

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Essay on Internet Addiction | Internet Addiction Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Internet Addiction: The origins of the Internet can be traced back to the 1960s. Over the last 60 years, technology has improved in such strides that it seems virtually unrecognizable today to what it was when it started. No other invention has evolved at a pace as fast as this. The Internet gives us access to the entire world for anything and everything. If one has access to the Internet and enough money, there can be no need for any individual to step out of the house whatsoever. As much as it has connected us to the world, it has also isolated us.

What’s worse is that now there exists a phenomenon of ‘internet addiction.’ Which is an unhealthy addition to a world already struggling with addictions as it is. And just like any other addiction, it has its fair share of negative consequences and problems that can affect a person physically and mentally.

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Long and Short Essays on Internet Addiction for Students and Kids in English

As of recently, internet addiction has become a global problem among people of all ages. Not just the youth but also children. They sit in front of the screen on social media, chatting, or video games. Using the Internet in excess can be destructive for the person and even fatal.

While the Internet is a great tool and can be used to make life easier, it is essential to check how much time we spend. It is harmful when individuals make their whole lives revolve around the Internet.

The Internet is also filled with dangerous people, and it can therefore cause people to get isolated from their family and friends and influence individuals to make wrong decisions. It is crucial to regulate internet usage, and parents and guardians must be careful and aware of their children so that they don’t develop an over-dependence on the Internet.

Short Essay on Internet Addiction 350 Words in English

Short Essay on Internet Addiction is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Internet addiction has become a new age addiction that has gripped people around the world. People belonging to different age groups suffer from this addiction, though it’s more prevalent among the youth. People access the Internet to kill boredom, find a way out of loneliness, or simply to have some fun in their lives. However, before they know it, they are hooked to it.

The Internet is a massive entertainment and engagement source, and it’s hard to resist the addictive things it offers. However, it’s essential to regulate internet use to ensure that it has not become an addiction. Like any other addiction, this one too has grave consequences. It can have a severe impact on a person’s neurological functioning. People can lose their sense of time and bearing and neglect their family, friends, and even their work and responsibilities.

Many internet addicts develop anxiety issues and depression. This hampers their personal and professional growth. Their physical health also deteriorates. They can incur health problems like obesity, heart condition, and hypertension. To live a balanced life, it is essential to be careful of one’s internet usage and to have the self-control not to let it take over your life.

Introduction

The number of internet users worldwide is increasing drastically, and with every passing day, the number of internet addicts is also rising. The Internet can be a very alluring place. Video games, chat rooms, social media platforms, entertainment videos, engrossing web series, and interesting blogs can keep an individual hooked for hours. People begin to use the Internet to beat loneliness and tedium and end up attached to it within no time.

Smart Phones and Internet Addiction

Around a decade ago, when the Internet could only be accessed on the desktop or a laptop, web usage was limited. Many were still excessively using it, but it was not as bad as it is now. The introduction of smartphones has given the rates of internet addiction a boost. People are seen glued to their screens wherever they go. This becomes worse as work is done on screen as well. And in these times, you need this technology for getting an education as well.

Internet addicts forget to eat, complete essential tasks, and ignore their loved ones. All they need is a high-speed internet connection and a tool to access it. This is more than enough to consume all their attention throughout the day.

Internet addiction is a severe disorder that affects a person’s ability to think rationally. Even though internet addicts often know the harmful consequences of this addiction, they do not make much effort to beat it. This often results in severe problems like depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.

Read More: Social Media Essay 250 Words

Internet Addiction Essay 400 Words in English

The Internet is one of the world’s most important sources of data that is used worldwide. People from across the globe communicate with one another through the Internet. Whether it’s watching a movie or catching up with an old friend, the Internet has made everything easier. It has also made us more productive and has made life so much easier.

It is hard to pinpoint precisely what causes internet addiction. But it is known that it can be easily compared to other types of addictions with the sort of dependency it causes. Internet addiction is a more recent phenomenon, and the causes can vary with gender, age, and personality.

Causes of internet addiction

Social circles play a critical role in causing behavioral issues like addiction. Internet addiction is no exception, as constant internet surfing has become commonplace among the youth. There is even an encouragement to seek friends online while playing online games, chat rooms, or just on social media.

The Internet can also become a coping-mechanism for self-soothing and as an escape for those who are suffering from mental health issues and such. The same way that people who suffer from depression or anxiety use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate, the Internet can be a distraction. Be it by playing video games, watching shows, or merely surfing forums.

An addition to the last point is that emotions and thought patterns have a huge role to play when it comes to addictions being developed. Those that desire an evasion from real life or a distraction from problems go to the Internet for emotional support. When an individual finds this sort of support only on the Internet and not in real life, it becomes an addiction. Introverts or are shy and do not have social skills can also develop an internet addiction. They find that it is easier to interact with people online than in person. It is also that easy for people to fabricate their identities and scam people like those who are naïve.

People get addicted due to the dopamine high that internet surfing can give. A person who receives this only from the Internet and nowhere else can very quickly be addicted. All of us need to be careful with our internet usage and dependency. Regulation or completely cutting it off can sometimes be the answer.

Long Essay on Internet Addiction 800 Words in English

Long Essay on Internet Addiction is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

People around the world are now having the issue of compulsive internet usage. They spend hours and hours on end on the Internet knowing that it does not benefit and is simply a waste of time. They make no effort to change this even though they know that it is harmful and can become an addiction. This lack of self-control can be hazardous, just as any other addiction is. People who are addicted to the internet face mental and physical issues, which can end up being fatal and end a person’s life prematurely.

Internet Addiction and the Youth

Internet addiction is more prevalent among youngsters. They end up scrolling on social media or forums or other websites, watching videos, shows, chatting, or shopping online. Time on the Internet may have begun as very minimal but ends up taking hours and hours of a person’s day as the usage increases. As they grow addicted, other responsibilities at home or studying are neglected. This can affect a person’s education and even inhibit their social growth.

When social skills are not allowed to be built, they do not know how to function in society anymore. They are unable to interact with people in real life normally due to this. They can also develop social anxiety. They prefer friends online who can very easily be dangerous individuals scamming them and negatively influencing them. They can be groomed inappropriately or end up stealing and losing money. When their education is affected, it hampers their future, and they spend no time developing skills that can build their careers. Spending all the time online can cause health issues if they do not exercise or go out.

It is also regrettable that parents hand their children iPads to distract them. From a young age, the children begin to develop a dependency on the Internet. Even while eating, the children gravitate towards the screen to watch something. Another sad development is the fact that now smartphones and laptops are essential for education. Notes, lectures, and all resources can be found online. If all a student’s time studying and relaxing is spent online, there is no time to be present in real life.

In the same manner, many young working professionals also fall prey to the same problem. Their time is wasted on the Internet when they should concentrate on furthering their careers and networking. Internet addiction has an adverse effect on young people today and presents a genuine danger for their future.

Consequences 

Internet addiction can have extremely harmful consequences. It can deteriorate one’s ability to function normally in society and affect them physically and mentally. It can cause various types of disorders and problems. Here are some examples of the same.

Mental Health

Constant use of the Internet reduces the brain’s capacity to grasp and understand new things. It drastically affects one’s attention span. The addicts have a continual desire to get back on the screen and surf regardless of what work is pending. It affects productivity and can cause behavioral issues.

It can also induce mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. An excellent example of this is anxiety caused by doomscrolling. It can also cause paranoia.

Social well-being

As mentioned before, individuals spend more time online than offline, which hampers social skills growth. Individuals no longer know how to interact and function normally in society. And the lack of such skills results in more avoidance, which furthers the problem and does nothing to solve it. It can lead to a feeling of isolation and even depression.

Physical Health

When all of a person’s time is spent on the Internet, and no time is spent walking around and going out, they develop an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle. This can cause obesity and cardiac issues. They can even become overweight, putting them at risk for stroke, diabetes, and such illnesses.

Withdrawal Symptoms

An obvious indication that spending time on the Internet is becoming an addiction is withdrawal symptoms. Individuals begin to feel restless, angry, and irritated when offline. The Internet becomes a crutch that they cannot live without. This causes stress and anxiety, and the emotional outburst caused by not accessing the Internet can be disturbing. It can be harmful to people around as there have been incidents where people had murdered family members when the internet connection was cut off.

Internet Addiction Essay Conclusion

People must be careful not to let internet usage get this bad and get help if it does develop into an addiction. It should not be taken lightly, and we must be careful so that we can lead healthy lives.

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Internet Addiction

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

More a popular idea than a scientifically valid concept, internet addiction is the belief that people can become so dependent on using their mobile phones or other electronic devices that they lose control of their own behavior and suffer negative consequences. The harm is alleged to stem both from direct involvement with the device—something that has never been proven—and from the abandonment of other activities, such as studying, face-to-face socializing, or sleep.

• What Is Internet Addiction?
• Signs of Excessive Internet Use
• Internet Use and Mental Health
• What to Do About Internet Addiction

There is much debate in the scientific community about whether excessive internet use can be classified as a true addiction. In an addiction to substances such as drugs or alcohol , consumption ceases being pleasurable but continues and is difficult to escape even as the likelihood of harm to the body and life mounts. In the case of internet use, there is no clear point at which being online becomes non-pleasurable for most individuals. In part for this reason, behavioral "addictions," including using the internet, remain controversial: Experts debate where the line should be drawn between passionate absorption in any activity—say, devoting a lot of time to playing the cello or reading books—and being stuck in a rut of compulsivity that stops being useful and detrimentally affects other areas of life.

In preparing the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , psychiatrists and other experts debated whether to include internet addiction. They decided that there was not enough scientific evidence to support inclusion at this time, although the DSM-5 does recognize Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition warranting further study.

Most often, the word “addiction” is used in the colloquial sense. Common Sense Media finds that 59 percent of parents “feel” their kids are addicted to their mobile devices—just as 27 percent of the parents feel that they themselves are. Sixty-nine percent of parents say they check their own devices at least hourly, as do 78 percent of teens. Spending a lot of time on the internet is increasingly considered normal behavior, especially for adolescents. Much of their social activity has simply moved online. Like any new technology, the computer has changed the way everyone lives, learns, and communicates. It is possible to be online far too much, even though this does not constitute a true addiction in the eyes of most clinicians. 

Internet content creators leverage the ways in which the brain works to rally consumers '  attention . One simple example: A perceived threat activates your fight-or-flight response, a part of the brain known as the Reticular Activating System mobilizes the body for action. So online content exploits potential dangers—violence, natural disaster, disease, etc.—to attract and hold your attention.  

Problematic or excessive internet use can indeed pose a serious problem. It can displace such important needs as sleep, homework, and exercise, often a source of friction between parents and teens. It can have negative effects on real-life relationships. 

The idea of internet addiction is a particular concern among parents, who worry about the harmful effects of screen time and often argue about device use with their children. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Common Sense Media, children aged 8 to 12 now spend 5 hours a day on digital devices, while teens clock more than 7 hours—not including schoolwork. Teen screen time is slowly ticking upward, and most teens take their phones to bed with them.

Whether classified as an addiction or not, heavy use of technology can be detrimental. It can impair focus, resulting in poor performance at school or work. Excessive internet consumption also makes it more difficult for people to communicate normally or to regulate their emotions. They spend less time on non-internet-related activities at the cost of relationships with friends, family, and significant others.

One way to assess whether you’re using the internet too much is to ask yourself if your basics needs (or your child’s, if they are the concern) are being met. Do you sleep enough, eat healthy, get enough exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time socializing in-person? The real harm of screen time may lie in missed opportunities for growth and connection.

Excessive screen time can be particularly harmful to a developing brain: It decreases focus and attention span while increasing the need for more constant stimulation and instant gratification. Those who use the internet excessively may feel anxious if their access to their device gets restricted. They tend to be more impulsive and struggle to recognize facial and nonverbal cues in real life.

Internet use becomes a problem when people start substituting online connections for real, physical relationships. The effects of technology on relationships include increased isolation and loneliness . Defaulting to online communication also denies us the opportunity to hear someone’s voice and read their facial cues in-person; it can also lead to poorer outcomes and miscommunication. Experts recommend that we save the important conversations for when we can be face-to-face for just this reason.   

Online content has been designed to elicit specific “checking habits,” which can result in distraction and poor performance at school or work. Constantly checking your smartphone or another device can also lead to relationship-sabotaging behaviors, like phubbing (snubbing loved ones for the instant gratification of checking the internet on your device). As more time is spent online, less is devoted to the natural pleasures of everyday life.  

Excessive use of the internet is known to negatively impact a person’s mental health. It has been associated with mental health issues, such as loneliness, depression , anxiety , and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research suggests that people are likely to use the internet more as an emotional crutch to cope with negative feelings instead of addressing them in proactive and healthy ways.

This is a subject of debate at present. While internet addiction is not in the DSM-V, it is clearly a behavior that negatively impacts mental health and cognition for many, and many struggle to cut back on their time online. The term "addiction" is often used as a shorthand for, “My child spends a lot of time on social media , texting friends, or playing video games, and I’m worried how it will affect his or her future development and success.” At the same time, many people label it a behavioral addiction, engaging reward circuitry seen in other problematic behaviors such as gambling.

Time online is also sometimes used as an escape from boredom or relief from loneliness or other unpleasantness. Occasionally, excessive screen time masks a state of depression or anxiety. In such cases, digital engagement becomes an attempt to remedy the feelings of distress caused by true mental health disorders that could likely benefit from professional or other attention.

Given how much people rely on technology to complete everyday tasks, from online schooling to paying bills to ordering food to keeping in touch with loved ones who are far away, it isn’t feasible to stop using the internet altogether. In most cases, the goal should be to reduce the time spent online. Many of those who’ve struggled to balance internet use with other activities recommend such simple “digital detox” measures as leaving devices in the kitchen or any other room but the bedroom at night. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help address addiction-like behaviors, like constant checking habits. 

Amidst growing concerns about the increased amount of time people are spending online, the “digital detox” has become a popular way to cope. A digital detox involves temporarily abstaining from using devices, like computers and smartphones. Someone may go on a digital detox in order to re-engage with a passion or activity, focus more on in-person interactions, or break free of a pattern of compulsive or excessive use. Digital detoxes also allow more time for self-care that a person may have been neglecting in order to stay plugged into the internet, which can lead to lower stress levels and better sleep.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You may want to digitally detox if you notice that you’re experiencing sleep disruptions due to staying up late or waking up early to be on a device, if the internet is making you feel depressed, or if the constant need to be connected causes you stress. Other signs may include feeling anxious if you can’t locate your phone, having FOMO ( fear of missing out) if you’re not checking the internet or social media, struggling to focus without (or due to) constant checking behaviors, etc.

Unlike other detoxes where the goal is to abstain completely, digital detoxes are more flexible and tailored to the individual. It may not be possible due to work or personal obligations to shut your devices off entirely for long periods of time. If it’s time for a digital detox , there are some strategies you can try: Block off non-screen time during the day and/or night, set a “digital curfew” for using devices at night or on weekends, specify digital-free spaces in your home (e.g., the bedroom or dinner table), and use the additional time in fulfilling ways (e.g., socialize, rekindle old interests, volunteer, etc.).

Use the internet and social media with purpose; set time limits on your unstructured use to avoid going down long and unfulfilling rabbit holes. Take advantage of the extra free time you suddenly have. Spend more time socializing in-person and volunteer. Rekindle old interests or take up a new hobby. Go outside. Pay more attention to how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally.

Parents may feel powerless to influence their children’s reading habits. But, in reality, they can dramatically impact kids’ reading fluency, level, and comprehension.

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Is viewing suicide-related social media content associated with rates of suicide or self-harm?

As the world becomes more and more digitalized, countries must learn from each other about the best ways to combat digital media overdependence.

Experts are alarmed about social media use and its impact on teen mental health. Teens who overuse social media may negatively impact their developing brains.

The US Surgeon General recommends that social media come with a warning about its impact on children’s mental health.

Turning off your phone notifications is good for you and your kids. Try intermittent phone fasting for a few days and see if you agree!

Criticisms of evidence suggesting causal relationships between social media and mental health problems have some scientific merit, but clinically are wide of the mark.

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