Cyber Addiction

" The difference between technology and slavery is that slaves are fully aware that they are not free.”

So much of our life we live is on the internet, it's how we keep in touch with friends, how we entertain ourselves, and how we learn about the things going on in the world around us. But have you ever thought that how our internet life may be hampering our daily life? Now since we are realizing this, think of one more aspect, don't we think we demand more from our life now just because we got influenced by the internet? Is it safe or it is the beginning of an addiction that we don’t realize.

What is Addiction?

"Addiction” is a really strong word! What medically classifies someone as an addict? Is it just an exaggerated feeling?

Let us suppose an example

We like eating pizzas at parties and we feel very happy eating it but we stop eating it after we are full. So are we pizza addicted?  No, addiction is a situation where we can't stop yourself, where we crave it, and we aren’t rational enough to see the negative effects it is causing and then act weirdly angry when people try to explain it to us. If you feel this is the situation when somebody explains to you about the negative effects of the internet, then you might be showing early signs of addiction.

What is Cyber Addiction?

Cyber Addiction is defined as the compulsive behavior of an addict's which interferes with normal living and can cause harmful stress on family and all your personal and professional relations.
In 2008 china declared cyber addiction to be a clinical disorder, saying it's a top health threat to its teenagers.
We are so much into the online world today, that it is consuming a better part of our life. We miss many moments that might give us actual happiness and ignore our mates just to peep into mobile screens. We click photographs of the food we eat before satisfying our appetite, ruin our trip with friends because we are too busy clicking pictures to share it with our internet friends. We enjoy social media companies more than the friends who are actually there with us!

Is the internet really worth it? Is it worth giving up the real and falling for the virtual things?

Some research shows that up to, 22% of people would rather have internet access than basic utilities like water and some studies think over one-third of people could have an internet addiction. We find ourselves on social media every second of our time. To the point, where we are wasting the valuable time which we could spend on learning something productive. Our mornings begin with the internet and end with it as well! Sometimes we are not happy while we are surfing the web but still continue to do so, Why?

Is internet addiction really that bad?

Everyone likes the internet and nothing can be done without it but do you know how much it affects our daily life routine, our perspective, our relationships, our self-esteem? Some scientific facts to prove the ill-effects of cyber addiction are here:

• A study found it can make you hate how you look. The more participants used the internet and social media, the more likely they were to feel ashamed of their body, the desire to change your face, hair, skin was affected mostly by social media or fashion websites, which will lower your self-esteem.


• Peeping into screens all the time and using social media can make you narcissistic. This is the main cause of why relationships end. Spying, stalking, jealousy, and insecurity grabs the neck of any relationship if not handled cautiously.


• Social media can cause depression. Participants who reported most frequently checking social media throughout the week had 2.7% times the likelihood of depression.


•  Insomnia - Many of us use their mobile until late nights which is the great cause of insomnia found in many young students. This will result in a lack of emotions, decision-making abilities, and self-control. A study shows that the person who's sleep is about 4-5 hours have 13% chances to die early.

These are some fact-based researches that can be caused by cyber addiction, but how can we cope up with this situation and what are the solutions.

What to do to cure Cyber Addiction?

1. Set boundaries:- Set boundaries of how much time you are going to give on the internet daily, reduce it daily by some amount of time and this can be done by saying " oh, I’ll just use my internet on a set schedule”. It’s that easy!


2. Apps like screen time, rescue time, cold turkey can help you a lot. Just go through these apps and you will start observing changes.


3. Therapy and medication are also used as a weapon against this illness. You can be cured within 3-4 months with this option. Seeking professional help is always the best option and you shouldn’t be ashamed of it.

Conclusion

The Internet is a useful thing but harmful as well. Anything done in excess is harmful to us. We should control and use it in a way that it does not affect our daily life and relationships. It is necessary to maintain a healthy balance.

If you think you are addicted and falling into this “rat-trap” then confide in your family and seek help. Never be ashamed of seeking help.

Cyber Addiction is nothing to be ashamed of and many people are facing the same thing without even knowing about that. Don’t be like them!