Internet Addiction

According to recent studies, internet addiction is a growing problem among teenagers. Click on the following links and read the articles about internet addiction. After you read the articles, look over the signs of internet addiction, do any of these apply to you? Do you think they could be representative of a real problem, or is this all nonsense?
Leave a PARAGRAPH long post about internet addiction: do you agree or disagree that it is a problem? Most of your posts lately have been lacking any real critical thinking skills, so try to step it up this time... It will be much more difficult to get full points this time. :) Don't forget to leave a reply as well (remember: these should also show some critical thinking skills) Here are the links:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/05/depression.adhd.internet.addiction/index.html

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/internet-addictions-teens.html

Signs of Internet Addiction

Dr. Kimberly Young has likened Internet addiction to addictive syndromes similar to impulse-control disorders on the Axis I Scale of the DSM. She developed the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) to diagnose the disorder. Meeting five of the following symptoms were considered necessary to be diagnosed.

1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?
2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

Other Symptoms Include:

• Failed attempts to control behavior
• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and Internet activities
• Neglecting friends and family
• Neglecting sleep to stay online
• Being dishonest with others
• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior
• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

Internet Safety

Click on the link below and read the article about internet safety. Remember, you are clicking on a link, so it will take you to that website to read the article. Make sure you click "continue" on the bottom of the page to read all four "pages" of the article. The article has a lot of good information about staying safe on the internet. After you read the article, hit the back button on your browser to get back to the class blog. I want you to leave a comment about something that you read in the article, or you can offer your own internet safety tip, or you can tell a story about a time you almost got in trouble on the internet and what you learned from that experience. Don't forget to reply to someone else's comment as well.
Here's the link:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/internet_safety.html