Internet Addiction --- a trending today and a Crisis tomorrow?

1. Internet Addiction ---a trending todayand a Crisis tomorrow? The Internet: SOCIALIZATION vsISOLATION The Yin and Yang of BEING ONLINE

2. What is internet addiction? Who does it affect? How are they effected? • Socially • Emotionally • Physically • Financially • Legally

3. Who’s Watching YOU at home? • Spouse • Partner • Children • Grandchildren • Friends • Neighbors • Any one in the World • Hackers with time on their hands • Law Enforcement

4. Who’s Watching at work ? • The Boss • Security • Coworker • Law Enforcement • Government • Media • Venders • Identify Thieves

5. WEBSITE 2015 INTERNET ADDICTIONIt is not an "official" disorder in the newest DSM, the bible of the American Psychiatric Association but has gained notice. The DSM-5 is calling it a disorder for further study. In the INTERNET ADDICTION world, what has been noticed most is the internet gaming common in young males, and more prevalent in asian countries. In summary, the diagnostic criteria for internet gaming also fits much of our concerns about PERSONAL INTERNET ADDICTION such as the:1. Preoccupation or obsession with internet / googleitis when sick!!! For instance. 2. Withdrawal and panic when unable to get wifi connection at restaurants, hotels, on planes. Often choosing ONLY places to eat, and stay that have internet available.

6. 3. The person tries to hide their usage, or lies about it. 4. The person has had a less interest in other life activities, such as hobbies, reading, and being with others. 5. A person has had continued overuse of internet even when it impacts their lives enough that friends point it out. 6. The person lies to others about his or her internet usage.7. The person uses internet as the MAIN and/or ONLY way to escape.8. The person has lost or put at risk an opportunity or relationship because of their internet usage. 9. The person cannot get through a meal at restaurant without checking their smartphone, reading emails, twitter etc.

7. You are basically “Addicted” : if you are spending a lot of time online and it’s really interfering with your life If it’s causing difficulty in your life, interfering with work, home or relationships, then you likely have a problem. These can all be signs of addiction – Are you spending an excessive amount of time on line?Are you preoccupied with the internet? Are you keeping it a secret from people? Do other people think you might have a problem? Do you experience intense intimacy while online?Has it become you main SEXUAL RELEASE?Do you panic and stress when away from being ONLINE?

8. effects / how it affectS • Interferes with Family Values • Lost Intimacy in relationships • Lost income when ‘stuck in front of computer’, or busy checking smart phone for Facebook/ Twitter/ Snapchat et al updates • Legal problems such as TEXTING while driving

9. effects / how it affectS WORK • Company Policy????? • Budget lost hours • Productivity • Theft (time) “on company time, checking personal emails / Facebook etc • Stigma when labeled by co-workers for your internet time

10. What we do ONLINE • SOCIAL CONNECTION!!!!! • Shopping • Car Buying • Grocery Shopping • Research instead of Library • Self Diagnosis of Medical Issues • Real Estate • Gambling • Gaming • Internet Porn

11. Ugh, beware An employee at a government contracting company, with a wage of $70,000.00 lost his job when it was found that he was using the company internet for - Porn, shopping, and running a personal online business from the office.

12. The justification for use • The user doesn’t believe individual consequences relate to him/her. • The rationalization that no harm will come from these activities. • The user operates in a surrealistic state of mind of non-accountability

13. So - to review signs of Internet Addiction Symptoms • Increasing preoccupation with, and investment of resources (e.g., time, money, energy) on Internet-related activities • Unpleasant feelings (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness, emptiness) when not online • Negative impact on work/school performance • Problems develop in existing relationships • Difficulty in forming new offline relationships • Denial of Internet Impact on Self

14. Socialization ... or Isolation?

15. socialization Technology can facilitate meeting others and communicating with them • E-mail / Instant Messaging (IM) • Cell Phone / Texting / Twitter / Blog • Social Networking (e.g., Facebook) • Playing Online Games / Fantasy Football etc • Can help introverted people develop connections • A person can learn to appreciate another without the distraction of appearance and looks • You can practice social interchange without fear of significant reprisal or rejection • Can raise an individual’s self-esteem

16. socialization • E-mail / Instant Messaging (IM) • Cell Phone / Texting / Twitter / Blog • Social Networking (e.g., Facebook) • Playing Online Games / Fantasy Football etc • Can help introverted people develop connections • A person can learn to appreciate another without the distraction of appearance and looks • You can practice social interchange without fear of significant reprisal or rejection • Can raise an individual’s self-esteem

17. The New Yorker -- July 5, 1993

18. Isolation and negatives Online Interactions allow: • Just words on a screen without ‘seeing the feelings, or the facial expressions’ • As pointed out in last slide - On the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog! • For those whose primary (or sole) mode of interaction is online, there is potential for loss of face-to-face relationship skills • For those who begin before learning face-to-face interaction skills, there is potential for lack of development of these skills • Can foster dependence • Data - Why bother remembering or learning things, when you can GOOGLE and have immediate knowledge? THINKING SKILLS SUFFER. Note the GPS which takes you the way IT wants to go. • Who needs people ? Many inhibited people are closer to ‘Siri’ than anyone real. Siri doesn’t yell at you, ridicule you, say nasty things to you. And LOVES you anytime of the day and night.

19. Some suggestions if you feel you are experiencing Internet Addiction • Establish a Personal Relationship with some LIVE people • Consciously Break the Pattern, i.e., at least once a week or twice, when you get home do not turn on computer. Limit your interaction to checking emails on your Smart Phone only. • Keep computer OUT OF THE BEDROOM, and put phone in another room at night UNLESS expecting some Urgent Call due to health, or family traveling. • Consciously Find Other Ways to Occupy Time, such as a walk, going to a movie, playing a game • Develop “Real Life” Relationships such as talking to neighbors, talking to the PERSON you are having dinner with and not being on the phone!!