Introduction
It’s 10:00 at night, and you decide to take a quick look at your social media platforms, just to stay caught up with friends. You scroll and scroll, until the next thing you know its midnight, and you have no idea where the time went. The only thing you know is that you have that familiar ting of envy, and a sense of sadness you don’t remember having before. Technology is a part of our everyday lives. Whether it be for entertainment, communication, or work, we can’t go a day without looking at our bright little boxes. You have the whole world at your fingertips, but what’s the point if you can’t see the real thing? Trying to stay caught up with the ever-changing world is no sin, but when does that interest move to obsession, and that love turns to hate? Studies now show that the devices made for entertaining can lead to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia (Walton 1). Technology probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind when the word “epidemic” is spoken, but it is, in fact, one all the same. We are the generation to cause this epidemic, can we be the ones to end it too?
History
Since technology is relatively new, so is this epidemic. Internet addiction disorder (IAD), also known as Compulsive Internet Use (CIU), Problematic Internet Use (PIU), or iDisorder, has a rather shaky history as it was initially debated whether or not it was a legitimate disease by many health professionals (Gregory 1). The first time it was brought to the psychological scene was in 1995 when Dr. Ivan Goldberg satirically theorized it as a disorder (1). Though at first it was made to be more of a joke than anything else, through the years Internet addiction has evolved and became a very real thing (1). Since the internet is such a diverse place and addiction can manifest itself in a multitude of ways, there is no true definition for internet addiction. However, it can be recognized when people start to have trouble filling both personal and professional obligations because of online activities.
When internet addiction was first theorized it was a very generalized idea, but now it has morphed into five distinctive categories: Gaming, Information seeking, Cyber-relationships, Net compulsions, and Cybersexual (“Risky Business: Internet Addiction” 1). Gaming refers to any online game playing and is probably the most recognized of the whole list. Information Seeking relates to obsessive web surfing or database searches, basically when you go down a rabbit hole online. Cyber-relationships are the catch-all category for social media, online data, and virtually all other virtual communication. Net compulsions are any online addictive behaviors with money involved, such as online gambling, shopping, or stock trading. Lastly, there is cybersexual which includes the darker side of the web and pornography (1). While all these forms of internet addiction are very different they all have one thing in common: they begin when love turns to obsession.
Social Effects
Social media is “the root of all evil” when it comes to this epidemic, both literally and figuratively; since social media is so easily accessible and common, it is extremely prevalent, and the vanity, envy, and self-deprecating thoughts that stem from the platforms are nothing short of evil. Studies have proven that jealousy spikes with the use of social sharing sites (Markowicz 1). The University of Michigan recently conducted a study focused on the social media platform, Facebook, that concluded that the more time people spend on the platform, the lower their self-esteem becomes (1). Many people think of social media as harmless applications that main uses are to connect people, but even more, studies show that those same platforms are associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (Griffiths Addicted 1). As harmless as social media may seem, more and more research is coming out of how harming it truly is.
The effect of the technology epidemic is devastating and especially prevalent in youths. One of the major points, or most widespread in children, is communication disabilities and social anxiety (Sadorski 1). Since this next generation is growing up with technology within arm's reach, they genuinely don’t know life without it. There also is a severe disconnect with reality that comes with not enough face to face communication. Since they can simply type whatever they feel on a little screen, they lose the ability to recognize many of the social cues that we, as a culture depend on (1). Since kids now rely so much on communicating over social media, they get more anxious talking to someone in person (1). On a more serious, scientific side there is recent research that adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) have abnormal white matter integrity. It is affecting the orbital-formal cortex of the brain, which plays a vital role in emotional processing and addiction-related phenomena, in the same way as alcohol and cocaine. There is also abnormal white matter integrity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which plays an essential role in cognitive control, emotional processing and craving (Lin et. al). It is terrible to see just how much technology is affecting our world, on not just a social level but a physiological one as well.
Examples
One of the most serious cases of technology addiction was back in 2013. After 31-year-old became addicted to his Google Glasses, he clocked in 18 hour days using the glasses and reportedly only took them off to sleep and bathe. After just two months of wearing these technology laced glasses, he began not only relying on them but also experienced his dreams as if viewed through the device’s small grey window (Griffiths Evolution 1). The enlisted service member that recently returned for a seven month trip in Afghanistan began wearing the Google Glasses as a way to function at a higher rate in public environments, while also suffering from alcoholism. In September 2013, the patient checked into the Substance Addiction Recovery Program (SARP) for his alcoholism; during this time he was still oblivious to the fact he was addicted to his glasses as well (1). The facility, SARP, requires all patients to abolish all addictive behaviors for their 35-day treatment, while also giving up all electronic devices. It was only then that his Internet Addiction Disorder was uncovered. While recovering, he stated, “The withdrawal from this is much worse than the withdrawal I went through from alcohol,” and that he “Craved using the device” (1). Alls well that ends well, and at the end of his 35-day inpatient stay the outcome was reported as good. The patient claimed to feel less irritable and no longer felt reliant on the device (1). Though this is an extreme case, and Google Glasses have generally gone out of style, it is important to realize how out of control technology addiction can become.
On a far lighter note is a personal example that many can relate to, which is being obsessed with the image you put out on social media. It takes countless pictures just to put up an “effortless” picture on Instagram. There is a common phrase that goes, “If you didn’t post it, did it even happen?” and that has really infiltrated our society’s outlook. Having grown up in the time where technology is everywhere, it is difficult to be without it, but there is a very fine line between wanting to be on your phone/computer/fill in the blank and needing to have it. If you go out to dinner, you can see everyone is on their phones scrolling away, and paying little to no mind to their company. Though going through social media for a couple of minutes is by no means an addiction, we all need to be aware and careful not to let it develop into an addiction.
Solutions
It is estimated that 61% of all Americans feel addicted to the internet (Skipper 1). So what can you do to reverse the signs of internet addiction? If it is merely a minor addiction, minor adjustments are needed to break the cycle. The term for this adjustment is known as digital detox or digital diet (Griffiths Tips 1). This just refers to a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world (1). This change could be as small as actively going 15 minutes without technology then slowly increasing the time intervals until the urge to be on an electronic device dissipates (1). Another manifestation of this simple technique is blocking off times of the day as designated “tech times” in which you can go on your device of choice, but then keep the rest of the day completely free of distraction (1). The final way to digitally detox yourself is the exact opposite of the previous technique. Instead of having certain times in which you use technology, the vice versa is used this time so that you have designated technology free time, such as dinner time; or technology free rooms, such as a living room for example.
For a more serious addiction, more drastic measures are used to reverse the effects. Some professionals classify Internet addiction as an obsessive-compulsive disorder, while others liken it to an impulse control disorder. Therefore, there is no one specific treatment for Internet addiction, though professionals may be able to treat internet addiction in either light (“Risky Business: Internet Addiction” 1). One common strand between both treatments is the incorporation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or group therapy (1). Medication may also come into play to manage any underlying mental illness and control intrusive thoughts that result from being online (1). One last treatment option is exercise, which helps to ease the effects of reduced dopamine in the brain resulting from restricted Internet use (1). The most important thing to realize is that treatment is out there, from tiny breaks to medication, internet addiction can be cured.
Camus and Absurdity
Albert Camus was a French-Algerian writer and philosopher who contributed significantly to absurdism (“Albert Camus” 1). Camus once wrote, “Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal” which parallels to the technology epidemic (“A Quote by Albert Camus.”). A big piece of the technology epidemic is social media, which is a platform all about trying to put up the best image of yourself, and in the process ends up wasting a lot of time and energy. Because of this fact, Camus would most likely have assumed this epidemic as absurd and may have even tried to obliterate it. Camus was extremely strong-willed and vocal, so he would have had no problem speaking against technology, social media in particular. Since the technology epidemic has no end in sight, Camus would be saddened by the obsession. He wanted the world to be free from any bondage: whether it be religion, beliefs, or doubts, and technology would have fit right in with those categories (Class Notes 4-22-19).
Conclusion
The technology epidemic is extremely important to be conscious of because it attacks people from all walks of life. Though it may not seem as serious as deadly diseases, the effects could be just as dangerous. If you were to fall victim to the technology epidemic, the most important thing is to get help. Even though it is new and relatively unknown, it is still valid and should never be taken lightly. The lingering depression and anxiety is nothing short of serious, and the brain of an addict reacts to technology the same way as a one addicted to drugs. The positive in all this is that the epidemic can be stopped in its place, with proactive planning and medical intervention. Technology is continuing to evolve and disperse throughout our culture, so the technology epidemic will most likely be around for some time, but as long as we stay conscientious, we can end the technology epidemic.
Works Cited
“Albert Camus.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 16 Apr. 2019, www.biography.com/scholar/albert-camus. (“Albert Camus”)
“A Quote by Albert Camus.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/8178- nobody-realizes-that-some-people-expend-tremendous-energy-merely-to. (“A Quote by Albert Camus.”)
Gregory, Christina. “Internet Addiction Disorder - Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments.” PsyCom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986, www.psycom.net/ iadcriteria.html. (Gregory)
Griffiths, Mark D. “Addicted to Social Media?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 7 May 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201805/addicted-social-media. (Griffiths Addicted)
Griffiths, Mark D. “The Evolution Of Technological Addictions.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 20 Aug. 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201508/the- evolution-technological-addictions. (Griffiths Evolution)
Griffiths, Mark D. “Top Tips for a Digital Detox.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201507/top-tips-digital-detox.
(Griffiths Tips)
Lin, Fuchun, et al. “Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study.” PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, 11 Jan. 2012, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0030253. (Lin et. al)
Markowicz, Karol. “America's Ugly Epidemic of Social Media Envy.” New York Post, New York Post, 17 Jan. 2014, nypost.com/2014/01/16/americas-ugly-epidemic-of-social- media-envy/. (Markowicz)
“Risky Business: Internet Addiction.” Mental Health America, 3 Apr. 2018, www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/risky-business-internet-addiction. (“Risky Business: Internet Addiction")
Sadorski, Anthony. “Social Media Epidemic.” The Point Press, 8 Feb. 2019, thepointpress.org/2018/features/social-media-epidemic/. (Sadorski)
Skipper, Kaisey. “Internet Addiction: the Road to Recovery - BYU-I Scroll.” BYU, 10 Oct. 2017, byuiscroll.org/internet-addiction-the-road-to-recovery/. (Skipper)
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