Internet Addiction: Ease of using Internet and Laziness
Internet addiction was not always taken very seriously; researchers argued and deabated if the problem even existed, but now addiction is recognized as a potential problem. The estimated number of Internet addicts are thought to number between six percent and 13 percent globally (Morahan-Martin, 2005). Pyschologists now call Internet addiction disorder (IAD) “problematic Internet use” (PIU) or compulsive Internet use (CIU) (Pychl, 2009). Other labels for Internet Addiction demonstrate that IAD is a big problem: excessive computer use, iDisorder, pathological use and problematic computer use (Brown et al., 2000; Rosen, 2012). Rosen (2012) wrote a book titled iDisorder (or internetDisorder). The argument presented here is that the ease of using the Internet and laziness are integral components of Internet addiction.
The definition of the problem is based on the definitions lised in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for the psychological disorders of “substance use and pathological gambling” (Shapira et al., 2000, 267). The definition for problematic internet use is based on the three behaviors listed below.
Noticibly distressing, “time-consuming” or causing problems in the spheres of the work, social and financial for the user, and
The symptons are noted even when hypomanic and manic symptons are not present (Shapira, 2000, 267).
A behavior that is a tip that social media and online communication is an addiction is when a person is always keeping their mobile phone nearby; at meals and even when they sleep (Rosen, 2012). Teens are especially noted for this behavior and Rosen (2012) explains that without access to the internet a large number of teens feel strong anxiety; about 50 percent of the “teenagers and young adults in the iGeneration (born in the 1990s) and in the NetGeneratin (born in the 1980s)” feel they must have their applications accessible 24 hours a day. Rosen (2012) points to the easy use and mobility of the Smartphone as leading to internet addiction to the internet. Even adults of retirement age, one in six Baby Boomers and one in thre GenXers check their “devices all the time” (Rosen, 2012)
The internet and social media users most likely to become addicted show the characteristic of “lack of self-esteem” as well as feeling lonliness, bored or depressed, introversion is another charactieristic and a history of addictions (Potera, 1998). Procrastination is defined as putting off doing something that needs to be done due to laziness, not wanting to to the task or for other reasons (“Procrastinate,” n.d.). In other words procrastination allows a person to voluntarily delay an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay” (Rozental et al., 2015). In a study to aid users withs addictive behaviors online, Rozental et al. (2015) found that approaches that gave the users increased self-assurance and self-belief gave successful results in relieving the addictive behaviors. The users were able to “come to terms with their problems, regain confidence, and view themselves as something else other than lazy or worthless” (317). The approaches used in the study by Rozental et al. (2015) was leading participants in their study through Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT). The participants of the therapist-guided self-help ICBT were involved in a ten week program. The materials used for the therapy included a workbook with 166 pages for a total of ten modules (Rozental et al., 2015). The authors noted that treating procrastination and applying internet interventions are useful for helping people with online addictions (Rozental et al., 2015).
“. . . online I feel . . . unmotivated and lazy. Offline there’s much more activity to keep me active. On the net I become connected to the screen and block out everything else around me” stated a male 22-year old about his Internet habits (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010, 41). Studies such as the survey carried out by Przepiorka and Blachnio (2016) demonstrate that addiction to the Internet and Facebook can cause “maladaptive behaviors” in some users (13). Users like the person above who blocks everything else out in the environment are also blocking out time. The amount of time spent daily and the age of the user were found to be predictors of “Internet addiction, Facebook intensity and Facebook intrusion” (Przepiorka and Blachnio, 2016). Facebook intursion is also known as Facebook addiction (Elphinston & Noller, 2011; Andreassen et al., 2012).
Ease of use also makes staying on the internet and losing the sense of time very easy as mentioned above. But another factor of “ease of use” that can lead to addictive behaviors is “disinhibition” (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010, 40). Disinhibition allows people to feel more confident online than offline; they can feel more confident and hope and deal with people more honestly online (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010). For example the study by Widyanto and Griffiths (2010, 39) one 19 year old female participant s said “ . . . online I am not myself at all . . . I am far more confident and as a result my personality changes” (I am not as confident offline but online) I “can talk to the opposite sex wit more ease on the net as you are not face-to-face.” Another participant, a 17 year old female said that she likes to “use forums or chat to people who can relate to situatins taking place in my life . . . (in real life+ I am socially inept, but on the internet, I have absolutely no problem speaking to others . . . I have more time to consider my words and I have anonymity . . .” (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010, 40).
One study noted the potential for extroverts to become easily addicted to internet communication because it is flexible, easy to control and offers ways to talk to communicate with more than one person at a time (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010). However other studies have noted that extroverts communicate online for less time than do introverts (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010). One theory is that introverts have a higher potential of becoming addicted to social media and other types of online communication because they have more control online than in face-to-face conversations because the internet “meets their social and intimacy needs” (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010, 5). Introverts are comfortable with the ease of use, they can stay anonymous and social media an easy way to find people with the same interests that may lead them to become addicted (Widyanto and Griffiths, 2010).
Internet addiction is a serious disorder and must be taken seriously. Researchers point out that the ease of use, for example mobile access to the internet and social media, set the stage for people who have a tendency to addictions. In studies that are carried out with surveys and interviews the participants mention that on the internet is easier for them to connect with people if they are shy around people face-to-face. Therefore the findings that introverts are more likely to become addicted that extroverts is explained. Procrastination is directly linked to laziness and studies have shown that staying online to procrastinate does lead to addiction in some people.
Works Cited
Andreassen, C. S., Torsheim, T., Brunborg, G. S., & Pallesen, S. (2012). Development of a facebook addiction scale. Psychological Reports, 110(2), 501e517. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/02.09.18.PR0.110.2.501-517
Elphinston, R. A., & Noller, P. (2011). Time to face it! Facebook intrusion and the implications for romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 14(11), 631e635. http://dx.doi.org 10.1089/cyber.2010.0318
Morahan-Martin, J. (2005). Internet abuse. Addiction? disorder? symptom? alternative explanations? Social Science Computer Review, 23(1), 39e48. http://www.internetbehavior.com/jandk/internet%20abuse%20addiction.pdf
Potera, Carol. Trapped in the Web: Can’t force yourself to log off? You might have internet addiction. Psychology Today. 18 Aug. 2004. Web. 7 March 2016. https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199803/trapped-in-the-web
"Procrastinate." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Przepiorka, Aneta, & Blachnio, Agata. “Time perspective in Internet and Facebook addiction.” Computers in Human Behavior, 60, 13-18. July 2016. Web. 8 March 2016.
Rosen, Larry. Face the Facts: We are all headed for an iDisorder. Psychology Today. 28 March 2012. Web. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201203/face-the-facts-we-are-all-headed-idisorder
Rozental, Alexander, Forsström, David, Josefine Almquist, Tangen, Per Carlbring. Experiences of undergoing Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for procrastination: A qualitative study, Internet Interventions, 2(3, September 2015, Pages 314-322, ISSN 2214-7829. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221478291500024X
Shapira NA, Goldsmith TD, Keck PE Jr, Khosla UM, McElroy SL. Psychiatric features of individuals with problematic internet use. J Affect Disord. 2000Jan-Mar; 57(1-3):267-72 doi:10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00107-X
Widyanto, Laura and Griffiths, Mark. Unravelling the Web: Adolescents and Internet Addiction. Chapt. 3 in Robert Zheng, Jason Burrow-Sanchez and Clifford Drew (Eds.), Adolescent Online Social Communicatioin and Behavior: Relationship Formation on the Internet. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. 2010. pp. 29-49.
