Lost in Cyberspace
By WENDY SETTLE
Do you know someone who goes online so frequently that they are in danger of becoming lost in cyberspace? How much is too much? Is excessive computer use unhealthy? There are plenty of anecdotes of people who appear to be "addicted"to online games, the Web and even instant messaging.
The term "internet addiction disorder" was first coined as a tongue-in-cheek parody of symptoms proposed by Dr. Ivan Goldberg on the Web in 1997.
Once discovered, his media-bite became front page news. The mental health community has continued to debate whether it actually exists as a disorder at all, and empirical research from truly representative samples, rather than online studies ;-) has been slow to follow.
Is it a disorder, like pathological gambling? If so, why not talk about a TV addiction disorder? Or a telephone addiction disorder? How about a technology addiction disorder?
Should we only examine excessive use or should we examine what the use is for? Others are arguing that there is no "Internet addiction,"but want to specify that it is defined by the activity that is addictive on the Internet, such as a "sex/pornography addiction"or a "Star Trek chat room addiction"(Holmes, 1998).
Others say that being hooked on the Internet is akin to a disorder of impulse control, similar to kleptomania or compulsive shopping (Shapira, 1998). So shall we call it "Internetomania"?
That is enough of the debate. Whatever you call it, I'll bet you do know a fellow roommate, friend or acquaintance whose time spent online is, shall we say, excessive if not close to pathological.
Notre Dame ranked 23rd on the 1999 Yahoo! Internet Life's list of the top 100 "most wired"campuses in the U.S because the internet is so easily accessible. Our technology includes 8,000 ResNet ports as well as "cybercafé" ports in LaFortune Student Center, Reckers and Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.
College students are particularly susceptible to bite the lure and get hooked for hours online, some from midnight 'til dawn (Kandell, 1998). Percentages of college students whose computer use is considered to be dependent run about 10 to 13 percent (Anderson, in press; Scherer, 1997).
Another study conducted with college students found that "pathological" use of computers was correlated with loneliness, personal problems, withdrawal symptoms, and mood altering use (Morahan-Martin and Schumaker, 1997). The pathological users averaged 8.5 hours of internet use per week, students with limited symptoms averaged 3.2 hours per week and those with no symptoms averaged 2.4 hours per week. Scherer (1997) lists some of the critical warning signs of Internet dependency: declining grades, failing to fulfill major responsibilities — academic, professional, or social—, health problems such as sleep deprivation and legal or financial problems.
There's no doubt about it — the computer can become a trusted friend who allows instant gratification, stimulation and reinforcement. Whether students are procrastinating to delay the anxiety of an assignment, or filling a social void via the excitement of meeting strangers online who quickly lose their inhibitions during numerous short exchanges, or immersing themselves into fantasy worlds through MUD games or pornographic sites, they hardly ever self-identify that these activities have become excessive or a problem.
If they do come for counseling, they tend to present a vague cluster of problems such as class absences, erratic sleep schedules, low-level depression, problems with interpersonal relationships or other addictions. Psychologists at many universities report that it is only after counseling is well under way that the number of hours spent online is shamefully revealed.
It must be said that using computers as a tool in one's life in a balanced manner can be a life-giving activity rather than a life-draining activity. Some students do report they have developed positive relationships with friends first met in cyberspace.
Perhaps most significantly, the computer can open up an instant library of information or a diversity of entertainment for the asking at 3 a.m. But if you're trying to decide if your own Internet use is problematic, you can take one of the self tests — available online, of course.
Better yet, you can ask yourself Holmes' (1998) simple question: Is my computer use getting in the way of the rest of my life?
The intent of this monthly series of articles is not to provide counseling but to provide information about a variety of mental health topics. To seek help with your individual concerns, please contact the University Counseling Center at 631-7336 to schedule an appointment.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Scene Stories for Monday, September 20, 1999
