Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
so. She stated, “Internet addicts can lose their jobs as they become unable to limit their
time spent online, either because they fail to turn up for work or because they misuse
their office computer facilities” [100].
The traditional definition of addiction is the persistent, compulsive use of a chemi-
cal substance, or drug, despite knowledge of its harmful long-term consequences [101].
However, Orzack and some other psychologists and psychiatrists extended the definition
of addiction to include any persistent, compulsive behavior that the addict recognizes to
be harmful. According to their broader definition of addiction, people can be addicted
to gambling, food, sex, long-distance running, and other activities, including computer-
related activities [102].
Some people spend between 40 and 80 hours per week on the Internet, with indi-
vidual sessions lasting up to 20 hours [103, 104]. Spending so much time online can
have a wide variety of harmful consequences. Fatigue from sleep deprivation can lead to
unsatisfactory performance at school or at work. Physical ailments include carpal tun-
nel syndrome, back strain, and eyestrain. Too many hours in front of a computer can
weaken or destroy relationships with friends and family members [103]. In a few cases,
people have died after prolonged sessions sitting in front of a computer (Figure 3.5).
Kimberly Young created a test for Internet addiction. Using the diagnosis of patho-
logical gambling in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
as her
starting point, Young produced an eight-question screening instrument that probes how
Internet usage is affecting the patient's life, including how preoccupied the patient is with
the Internet, whether the patient has been repeatedly unsuccessful in reducing Internet
usage, and how the patient feels when trying to spend less time online. According to
Young, patients who answer yes to five or more of these questions appear to be addicted
to the Internet, unless “their behavior could not be better accounted for by a Manic
Episode” [103].
Young's use of the phrase “Internet addiction” and her questionnaire are controver-
sial. John Charlton points out that computer use, unlike drug use, is generally considered
to be a positive activity. In addition, while drug addiction leads to an increase in crim-
inal activity, the same level of societal harm is unlikely to occur even if the Internet is
overused by some people. Charlton performed his own study of computer users and
has concluded that Young's checklist approach is likely to overestimate the number of
people addicted to the Internet. According to Charlton, some “people who are classified
as computer-dependent or computer-addicted might often be more accurately said to
be highly computer-engaged” [105].
Mark Griffiths holds a position similar to Charlton, stating that “to date there
is very little empirical evidence that computing activities (i.e., Internet use, hacking,
programming) are addictive” [104, p. 211]. Richard Ries argues that it would be more
accurate to call excessive use of the Internet a compulsion [106].
However, others share Young's perspective. Stanton Peele maintains that “people
become addicted to experiences” [102, p. 97]. In his broader view of addiction, non-
drug experiences can be addictive. Peele has developed a model of addiction that extends
to repetitive, compulsive behaviors.
Our concern in this section is excessive Internet use that causes harm. The dispute
