Month: January 2021

These days we spend several hours on the internet for different reasons. For some, it could be work, and on the other hand, it could be pure recreational fun for others. However, it is imperative to note that there is a thin line between normal internet usage and internet addiction.

Below are some of the adverse effects of internet addiction

Isolation

Someone who is addicted to the internet would prefer to spend lots of their time alone.

They will rather stay by their computer or mobile devices, locked up in a room, than hang around with family and friends. This act makes their social life dysfunctional and anytime they are in public, there are no social skills to exhibit.

For these kind of people, they are great at communicating online but when they meet up with people in reality, it is challenging for them for interact.

Health problems

Unknown to several people, the internet causes health problems. One common adverse effects is eye problems. This is caused by spending several hours on the screen. Also, people develop poor posture when they sit down for too long looking at the computer.

Another notable feature is, people who are addicted to the internet rarely have time to exercise. And this increases the chances of obesity because there is reduced physical activity.

Life interference

Internet addiction makes an individual to lose focus of other aspects in their lives because they have made addiction their primary focus. In addition, these individuals would prioritize the internet over people in reality.

Withdrawal symptoms

Internet addicts are most times aggressive when they are disturbed when they are busy on the internet. They would snap angrily at anyone who tries to disturb their internet time.

Safety concerns

People who spend much time on the internet are susceptible to various hazards on the internet. They would be too engrossed in their internet activity before they realize that their privacy is being infringed on and they are at risk with whom they are interacting with.  

For most people, going online is a normal way of life. The internet can help you conduct meetings, make new relationships and perform other functions. On the other hand, some people have used the internet as a means of escape, thus resulting in addiction.  

Some people also use the internet to engage in risky behavior which is detrimental to any aspect of their health. And the sad part is, there are many addicted internet users who are unaware of what they are battling with.

Below are signs that tells you someone is addicted:

Bad priority skills

If you see someone who takes the internet importantly than other aspects of their lives, it is possible they are addicted. You can confirm this if you discover the person has started losing interest in other areas of their lives.

At that point, other things would come secondary because what primarily matters to them is the internet.

Mood modification

If an individual uses the internet to fix up his or her mood, there is an addiction in play. This means it would be nearly impossible for an individual or activity in reality to help them feel better.

Anytime they feel anxious, depressed and the likes, they come to the internet to feel better.

Denial and Minimization

People who are addicted to the internet do not like talking about how much time they spend on the internet. They would rather lie than say the truth because they know you would complain.

Similarly, these set of people would hide from you when they want to use the internet. They know they can be so engrossed in it, and it would certainly piss you off.

Withdrawal symptoms

If someone who is addicted to the internet is taken off the internet for a while, they begin to exhibit nasty behaviors called withdrawal symptoms. However, if they get access to the internet by any means, they are restored to normalcy.

If you know anyone who is exhibiting signs of internet addiction, it is advisable to seek help for them before it gets worse.