14 Dec 08 Internet Addiction To Be Classified As A Disorder?
I was reading over at How To Split An Atom how some therapists would like to classify Internet addiction as a clinical disorder.
How much is an addiction? Four hours apparently (outside of whatever online time you do for work).
Myself I think this is nonsense. Perhaps if you spend 4 hours doing one single thing every single night, it could be considered an addiction, but there is so much to do online, from reading, listening to music, to blogging, researching for personal interest, and so on.
Anyway, what about television? If being sat at the computer for fours hours in your spare time is an addiction, then sat in front of the TV for that time is surely one as well? I don’t hear any proposals to treat people for TV addiction, and many spend more than 4 hours each evening watching it.
That’s the thing too. I am one of the few people that doesn’t watch TV. Seldom. Perhaps an hour or two a month, that’s about it. Occasionally a few hours more, it’s the exception rather than the rule. I don’t know how little time it really is, as I’ve never keep a log, but I often go weeks without watching a single thing. Now, that is considered odd by many – that I have no interest in TV. However, if I sit at the computer for the same time instead, I’m addicted to it!
I’ve been sitting here for nearly three hours already this evening, and there was over three hours this morning.
I guess I should finish writing this, and go find a shrink. I’m sure, as they’re probably in league with the drug companies, they can find a pill for me to take to stop me sitting here.
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Internet Addict that a nice title…
Nice post. But what should parents do with their children? I hear that the American Academy of Pediatrics's recommendation that parents limit screen time to no more than two hours per day includes television, videos/DVDs, and video games. 100% adult supervision 24/7 for our children is impossible, cause we are not always with them. My children like you don’t like watch TV. To prevent them from spending all spare time on the Internet, I use internet filtering software Ez Internet Timer: http://www.internettimer.net It helps me control, schedule and filter Internet activity on the kids PC.
Nice post. But what should parents do with their children? I hear that the American Academy of Pediatrics's recommendation that parents limit screen time to no more than two hours per day includes television, videos/DVDs, and video games. 100% adult supervision 24/7 for our children is impossible, cause we are not always with them. My children like you don’t like watch TV. To prevent them from spending all spare time on the Internet, I use internet filtering software Ez Internet Timer: http://www.internettimer.net It helps me control, schedule and filter Internet activity on the kids PC.