Is Internet addiction real? Can it be treated the same as other addictions, such as to drugs? This topic has been quite controversial recently. On "Rock Center" with Brian Williams, Nancy Snyder had the opportunity to interview people from both ends of the spectrum. And after hearing the arguments for myself, I'm not convinced.
This timing is great. In AP Psychology we literally just covered the various drugs and their effects on the body. Addiction can be physiological, psychological, or both. The tolerance that addicts build up to drugs can visibly be seen in the brain. The withdrawl to some of these drugs is excruciating. There are serious, lasting, health effects. In my opinion, it just doesn't make any sense to categorize excessive internet usage as an addiction and weigh it the same as being addicted to heroin, or cocaine, or to being an alcoholic.
Honestly, I think that in today's society we are too quick to diagnose others. We've seen this before, with ADD and ADHD. Companies are doping up kids with drugs, making sure that they develop a dependence to them, and happily pocketing the cash from their families. It's a sick, twisted, never-ending cycle. If we are to now begin diagnosing internet addiction, we're opening up pandora's box. Are we to say that because a child plays computer games way too much, he needs treatment? What about people who have a lot of sex? Or who never stop reading? Should they, too, be diagnosed as having an unhealthy "addiction"? Where do we draw the line?
Now I'm not saying that it's ok for kids to be on the internet all day long. It's not. But we can take matters into our own hands without paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for someone else to. Enforce the number of hours your child is allowed to be on the computer each day. Make them go outside. Plan activities that force them to get out of the house.
Internet addiction may be an issue for some, but it is in no way shape or form a condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
No comments:
Post a Comment