Depriving oneself of sleep (averaging less than 5 hours) to spend time on the net
Neglecting other important activities like time with family or socializing, work or health concerns but spending several hours a day on the net.
Someone significant in your life has complained about your net use: Your boss, close friend, or partner
Thinking about the net constantly even when you are not on-line
Attempting to cut back on time on the internet, often telling yourself you will, but being unable to do this. Frequently telling yourself you will just spend a small amount of time on-line, only to discover hours later that several hours have gone by.
From the Home page of Dr. Nancy Wesson, psychologist.
Maintained by Dr. Kimberly Young, who has done extensive research on Internet Addiction for the University of Pittsburgh
Includes links to an addiction support chat room, surveys and papers on Internet Addiction
This site has become increasingly more commericial over the past three years. It was at one time strictly an academic site which focused on conducting research and providing information. Now, this site seems to be mainly interested in selling Dr. Young's book "Caught in the Net."
Has grown considerably over the past six months (more than doubled).
Internet Addiction Notes:
Most Internet Addicts
overuse chat tools, such as MUDs (Multi-user Dungeons; role-playing games), IRC
(Internet Relay Chat; "chat-rooms"), and America OnLine chat rooms.
Web sites are
not the usual drug of choice for Internet Addicts, although cases of Online Sexual
Addiction (overusing porn-oriented Web sites and chat rooms) is becoming more common.
The typical profile of an Internet Addict is someone who is very shy or has had
little social success. These people generally have a great deal of success
socializing in chat rooms, and therefore choose to replace real-world relationships
and reality with the online world.
The stigma of using the Internet is fading
away. Three years ago, you were considered an odd and disturbing person if you met a
romantic partner online. This is no longer the case. Also, "techies" were once
considered geeks and nerds who needed to get out more. Now. being a "techie" makes
you knowledgeable in an important area as well as qualified for the best jobs.
There is a group of academics in Communications studies who believe that using the
Internet's virtual worlds (chat rooms) allows the soul to transcend the body and
become a part of the computer network.
This site was created especially for students of the UNC School of Journalism's JOMC 050 Class, and anyone else who may be interested.
For more information, please contactdaikat@email.unc.edu