Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

PBS Digital Nation Covers Internet Addiction

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After yesterday’s disclosure about my internet addiction, PBS’ Digital Nation staff offered to help me and anyone else who may have a little problem with time spent online.

I may have been making fun of the CNN article for its sensational nature, but internet addiction is very serious in other countries like South Korea.  Last night I watched the South Korea segment on FRONTLINE/World which is called “the most wired place on Earth” because 97% of the houses in country have internet access.  I learned that gaming is a big problem in the country where internet cafes, called PC Bang, are dedicated centers for online gaming where people come and play all night long, often forgoing sleep in favor of playing.

South Korea is the first country to recognize internet addiction as a psychological disorder because of its negative affects on health and performance in school.  Widespread internet addiction caused the South Korean government to intervene by establishing Internet Rescue Camps, 2 week detox programs where addicted youths come to unplug.  Schools are starting to provide education to young children about netiquette in schools.  To learn more about South Korea and see some of the same footage I saw last night, visit the Digital Nation website.

As I watched, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is where we might be headed in a number of years.  Perhaps South Korea is facing these problems first because they are more wired than we are.   As I’ve been blogging I’ve come to realize that it is a reality in many homes due of the sheer numbers of parents who ask me about curbing their children’s time on the internet and hear my students talk about the time they spend on the computer doing things other than homework.   While our country may not be where South Korea is now, I have to wonder if we get there at some point in time.

If internet usage is a problem, the Digital Nation blog has a wealth of links about internet addiction. Follow these steps in order and consider it your 5 step program to recovery.

Step 1: Determine if you are truly addicted to the internet by taking a free online Internet Addiction Test by Dr. Kimberly Young.

Step 2: Read the Internet Addiction Guide by Dr. John Grohol of PsychCentral.

Step 3: Play this interview with Dr. Jerald Block who advocates classifying Internet addiction as an official disorder and read why he thinks it should be included as a mental disorder.

Step 4: Participate in Digital Nation’s live discussion at 11 am EST about internet addiction with psychologist Dr. John Grohol. Since it is a live discussion occurring on their blog, everyone is welcome to ask him questions about internet addiction.

Step 5: Pull the plug like those who attend Internet Rescue Camp. Unplug for a day or two, or even a week.  While it may not completely curtail your internet usage, it might make you think about it a little more.  To see the Digital Nation video footage of the Internet Rescue Camp go to the tab under the video player in the features section.

Even though I’m not planning to take a trip to South Korea anytime soon, I find the discussion about internet addiction fascinating. I almost became a clinical psychologist before I realized I could help more kids as a teacher and spent a great deal studying the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for my college and gradute level psychology classes.

If internet addiction does become classified as a mental disorder, it will most likely be listed as a clinical syndrome since it is a compulsion that will be defined by excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging both on and offline. Characteristics include excessive use, withdrawal, tolerance, and negative repercussions.* It will be listed with other disorders such as anorexia, bipolar disorder, exhibitionism, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.

*From Dr. Block’s Editorial: Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction.

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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Comments

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