Is internet addiction a problem among our youth?

[Auberean]

There can't be any denying that internet usage for long periods of time has a number of negative consequences. Staring at a computer monitor does a horrible number on your eyes, sitting still isn't exactly helping your body, and it can be argued that interacting with people through the internet is actually damaging our social mechanism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still, the internet is a very attractive option. It has games, incredible tracts of information, and large areas where people can interact with one other. Using the internet as a replacement for others things such as libraries and physical social settings is rather easy to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While all adults aren't exactly masters of their of bodies and minds, children and teenagers tend to be much more susceptible to harm due to their developmental stages. Bad habits you learn growing up usually tend to be bad habits that you carry with you through adulthood. There lies our problem. While we're young, we really don't know what's good for us, and we're not very good at making positive decisions when faced when an entertaining and easy alternative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, do you think this is a problem? Do you think that prolonged internet usage is seriously damaging the minds and bodies of our youths, destroying their social skills, and discouraging hard work? Or do you think that our youths today are capable of taking care of themselves, and that the internet does not pose a problem? Who is ultimately responsible in this situation?

[jak722]

1 in 5 American parents say their kids spent way too much time on the internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I certainly do... -.-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IM WIRED!!! :wall:

[Ragen]

I spend too much time on the net :P But it's cheaper than when I was going through a video game a week and I get to socialise with people from all backgrounds and be on MSN at the same time as forums. I love it :D

[kelem_ryu]

Whew sounds like an article out of a paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is responsible? This question directly leads to: Who is to blame? It should be obvious, that the answers to both questions are an amalgam of many, many factors. Also it's obvious that sitting in front of the PC around the clock (like i do) can't be ideal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The question isn't "Who is responsible?", it is: Why don't i care about anything, not even my health and what can be done about it? The first part, although also an amalgam can be answered comperatively easy: Frustration, neglect, lack of love -> boredom, withdrawl from live/reality. If i knew the answer to the second part of the question i wouldn't be writing this.

[Fadfdfd]

What else would I be doing? Playing video games or watching TV

[kelem_ryu]

What else would I be doing? Playing video games or watching TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You could play guitar, do some excercises, learn for school or university, write something just for fun, draw or learn to do so, learn a random language, clean up your room or clean up anything else, build something like idk a chair or whatever, decorate your room or house, cook something, go for a walk, learn to write code, read a book (or comics for that matter), ask around if somebody needs any help with anything or listen to music. You could meet up with friends to play ome basketball or chess, go to the cinema or to play billard. You could try to organize something, be it a party or a charity. You could learn any random thing like tailoring, dancing, origami, yoga, buisness administration, ethnology or knitting. You could as well just sit around and [bleep] your head. You could take a knife and stab a random person, build a bomb and blast a car. You could eat whatever food is available until you are so fat you can't move anymore. You could smoke some weed or crack. You could go out on the street, running in circles, whilst screaming from the top of your lungs, or of course you could just curl in corner somewhere and cry, there are enough reasons to do that. Nobody cares.

[gonpost]

My philosophy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are worse things to be addicted to. People with addictive personalities usually have to have some sort of addiction, and at least RS isn't too bad for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be perfectly honest, I think this is just like when Television came out and became popular in the 60's. People were saying similar things back then...people are always afraid of something new....something that they don't personally use but see millions of other people spend hours using. They see change, they are afraid of it, and so they speak out against it. The internet has its merits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least the internet's better than TV, in most ways.

[indy500fan]

Too much of anything isn't good. The internet is no exception.

[Tigra00]

Doing "things" is SO 10 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was a kid, I was always outside being active...Riding bikes, etc etc. Kids today do not even know how to ride bikes. Honestly, I learned to ride a bike when I was 4 or 5, but the other day, I met a 13 year old that didn't know how. He didn't know how to rollerblade either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Shrug*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NEW thing to do is to play video games...Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that you get fat, video games is way better than real life. No consequences for your actions, and you can't be harmed by being hit by some drunk driver on your bike. :P

[BlueLancer]

Doing "things" is SO 10 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm amazed I read that line, I was going to make a post contrary on the opposite. But I pondered on this realistically and you are right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For example, my cousin who I've seen grow up from 10 to 16, is a very socially active and non-shy person. However, especially after the year 2000, it has become 'obvious' amongst his friends that spending time on video games and internet is more fun than just 'hanging out' for no good reason at the mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And no, he's not even nearly fat nor are the friends of his (that I have seen). You don't have to overdo it by spending all of your time on the internet. You can *still* go to the movies and do other stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, I learned to ride a bike when I was 4 or 5, but the other day, I met a 13 year old that didn't know how. He didn't know how to rollerblade either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's the problem, when these kids grow up, they wont have anything to teach to their children, like how to ride a bike, how to lure fish, other than how their "bal-zorgoroth warrior level 142 with gandalf sword+7 will pwn everyone in EverQuest 4", that is if they even have children.

[BlueTear]

That's the problem, when these kids grow up, they wont have anything to teach to their children, like how to ride a bike, how to lure fish, other than how their "bal-zorgoroth warrior level 142 with gandalf sword+7 will pwn everyone in EverQuest 4", that is if they even have children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How is teaching your kid WarCraft VII, or how to navigate a low level character through World of Warcraft III, somehow "less" than teaching the kid to play chess?

[Tigra00]

Yes, and it is kinda' sad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to be extremely active, and I just got tired of it, so for the last few years I've been gaming and stuff. I'm getting out of the phase more now and seeing it as a hobby rather than a "thing to do", as in something I need to do to have fun. Games are awesome, but trust me, when you're someone like me, someone who has played games pretty much exclusively for 3-4 years, yoooou get very bored, very fast. :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For example, I won't be buying the WoW expansion, even though I am very interested in the awesome content. Why? Because I know that when I sit there and start playing, I get bored after 5 minutes and just shut it off. So sadly, I'm passing. I'm very over the MMO phase, but I still <3 consoles and PC games like RTS's and the like...I'm looking forward to Spore, for example, and getting an Xbox360 soon to play GoW and stuff. By the way, that game pwns. I played it at my sister's house with her boyfriend and it was amazing. :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANYWAYS! I wish kids were more active today, because the internet makes you a jerk-off. Have you ever noticed that there is that one really inflamitory guy that rubs off on everyone? I'm a really nice person in the real world, but on the 'net, I'm a bit more mean...I contribute this directly to reading Maddox's website for the last few years, but his site also made me a better writer, so it's okay. Kid's, however, don't read to better themselves, they read to get...Cheat codes. :lol: So that one inflamitory guy rubs off and kid's think it's cool to act that way, and then everyone acts that way. This is why MMO communities suck. There is the one douche who is actually like that in real life (god help him) and he rubs off on people. That's why things like Xbox Live suck. Kids swearing and screaming at you like they're 22 year old rappers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They need to be beaten, if you ask me. :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, being non-active really sucks for your body...If you don't get fat, you lose muscle, or you'll get fat AND lose muscle. I, personally, used to weigh 220 (6'2") pounds and now, 3-4 years later after gaming pretty heavy, I weigh 185. Same height, and I have not gained or lost any fat-mass at all. Looking at pictures of myself then and now make me want to work out. :lol: I used to be really muscular from Tae Kwon Do, skating, biking, and just being active in general, but now I'm...Not so much. :-s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There you have it. My analysis on kid's sucking. I mean...Technology sucking. Yea. That's the ticket.

[Ragen]

I spend most of my time on the net yet I am incredibally sporting and I have lots of friends. I also play guitar and I love reading. Actually, I don't spend most of my time on the net only about 2-3 hours a night. I just spend longer doing that than I do doing homework/ guitar/ friends/ sport.

[Guest GhostRanger]

Staring at a computer monitor does a horrible number on your eyes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I found out you can go grocery shopping online. I never knew this but how awesome is that! I won't ever have to leave my house again! :P

[BlueTear]

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

[Guest GhostRanger]

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pft...I don't know anything about evolution! Who's Lamarck?

[apinagez]

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's Lamarck's theory, not Darwin's.

 

 

 

His theory is that a giraffe would give birth to giraffes with longer and longer necks, in order for them to reach the food on the top of trees.

 

 

 

Darwin's theory, however, came after his and says a group of giraffes would be born with longer necks and those would prevail with time, since those'd be more apt to survive.

[gonpost]

 

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's Lamarck's theory, not Darwin's.

 

 

 

His theory is that a giraffe would give birth to giraffes with longer and longer necks, in order for them to reach the food on the top of trees.

 

 

 

Darwin's theory, however, came after his and says a group of giraffes would be born with longer necks and those would prevail with time, since those'd be more apt to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are adapting, not evolving. :)

[How2PK]

Of course.

[Guest GhostRanger]

 

 

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's Lamarck's theory, not Darwin's.

 

 

 

His theory is that a giraffe would give birth to giraffes with longer and longer necks, in order for them to reach the food on the top of trees.

 

 

 

Darwin's theory, however, came after his and says a group of giraffes would be born with longer necks and those would prevail with time, since those'd be more apt to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are adapting, not evolving. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either way...my kids are gonna own your all's kids at CS:Source because of their super adapted/evolved screen-sensitive eyes.

[apinagez]

 

 

 

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's Lamarck's theory, not Darwin's.

 

 

 

His theory is that a giraffe would give birth to giraffes with longer and longer necks, in order for them to reach the food on the top of trees.

 

 

 

Darwin's theory, however, came after his and says a group of giraffes would be born with longer necks and those would prevail with time, since those'd be more apt to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are adapting, not evolving. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either way...my kids are gonna own your all's kids at CS:Source because of their super adapted/evolved screen-sensitive eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine will be wearing their sunglasses. 8-)

[Auberean]

Whew sounds like an article out of a paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, after reading a majority of the posts in this thread, it seems like the problem is that people know what the problem is, but don't have the ability or initiative to treat it.

[ThurinEthir]

*Beep*

 

 

 

Hello, this is 3PD speaking.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

The internet is a fascinating way for youths to entertain themselves.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

Most kids can figure out a balance of exercise, schoolwork and computer/TV time.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

If you cannot, I'd say you're addicted to internet. or TV. Or computers. Or video games.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

There are very few kids who don't exercise at all, and don't do homework because they want to spend time using technology.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

Although many homework assignments require typing, powerpoints, and internet research.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

Typing skills can be improved by chatting, unless you use "chat speak".

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

Internet research is actually recommended by some teachers.

 

 

 

*Beep*

 

 

 

This is 3PD. Logging off.

 

 

 

*BEEP! Connection lost! BEEP! Connection lost!*

 

 

 

*Presses self-destruct button*

 

 

 

*BOOM!!!*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now...that was mainly true, although partially off-topic.

 

 

 

We are entering the age of technology. Almost everything done has to do with technology. At school, projectors were used 5 years ago. Now, we have little thingies that connect laptops to TVs, more modern projectors, and textbooks on compact discs. So teachers are kind of recommending internet and using all this new technology, even if they don't know it.

[Adam007]

 

 

 

 

That's exactly why I'm online so much. It seems to me that we're just moving more and more towards doing everything in life on a screen, so I'm staring at one as much as I can so my child will have an evolved eyesight and be able to stare at screens without it being bad for him. Darwin for the win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck, you mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's Lamarck's theory, not Darwin's.

 

 

 

His theory is that a giraffe would give birth to giraffes with longer and longer necks, in order for them to reach the food on the top of trees.

 

 

 

Darwin's theory, however, came after his and says a group of giraffes would be born with longer necks and those would prevail with time, since those'd be more apt to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamarck was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are adapting, not evolving. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either way...my kids are gonna own your all's kids at CS:Source because of their super adapted/evolved screen-sensitive eyes.

 

 

 

Lamarck's theory says so. But it's basically been proven wrong with Darwin's. And if Darwin's is correct, you could stare at screens 24/7 and it wouldn't help your kids at all. They'll get the same genes you'd pass down if you never saw a screen in your entire life - the genes you were born with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel boring. :(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On topic, yes, it is a problem. Studies have been showing that it's effecting a ton of people. I spend so much time on the internet in procrastination of things I hate doing - aka homework. But in my opinion there's always something more productive you can be doing than being on the internet, so being on the internet ever is technically a waste of time, unless you're researching or doing something relatively important.

[Viktorkrum77]

No, I can learn from the internet, I can experience new cultures. Further my understanding of recent issues, debate, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents are just jealous they never had internet when they were young.