Cause and Effect of Computer Addiction

In the 21st Century, computer addiction Isn’t all that uncommon anymore. Now, that anyone can get a relatively good PC without breaking the bank, more people are getting hooked without even knowing It and became a computer addict. I can personally say that computer addiction being a real problem in society today. The online banking, shopping, movies, games, and other source of entertainment. There is really no need to leave the house other than for physical interaction.

It all tarts when you open the internet browser for the first time and find something that is capable of holding your attention for what seems like only minutes, which eventually turns into hours. World of Warcraft or also known as Dota is one of the major time ‘sink holes’, but let’s not forget about the companies that produce and support ‘mini games’ on Facebook like ‘Farm town’, ‘Candy Crash’, Sims’, among others. They’re all fueling Internet-goers that urges to stay online with the promise of more In-game currency and experience points. Most of us have stayed on the computer much longer than we had originally intended.

But, when you start looking for signs of addiction you can almost always notice the same pattern. The typical pattern is as follows: lost track of time, conscious efforts to cut back on computer time and repeatedly failing, thinking frequently about the computer when not using it, or constantly looking forward to the next opportunity to use it. Others tend to use the computer as a means to ‘escape’ from the ‘real world’ when they’re feeling depressed or stressed. The beginning stages of addiction begin when your need to stay online takes precedence over going out with friends and being socially active.

Relationships begin to wither as the user stops attending social gatherings, skips meetings with friends and avoids family members to get more computer time. Even when they do Interact with their friends, users may become irritable when away from the computer, causing further social harm. Eventually, excessive use of the computer can cause the user to withdraw completely from society. When the user is constantly gaming on the PC, it can cause someone to place more value on something within the game rather than things happening in their real lives, such as choosing to compete in a tournament’ when they have class at that time.

Some of the long-term effects of computer addiction which include health but are not limited to: carpal tunnel, diminishing eye sight, weight gain, back problems, and blood clots from sitting at the computer for too long. As for the late night computer sessions, these can cut Into much needed sleep time. Long-term sleep deprivation can cause drowsiness, problems concentrating, and slowing of the Immune system. Computer addiction can also indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and up to the user. Late-night use or misuse on the Job will affect overall Job performance, which could eventually lead to demotion or Job loss.

While medical professionals do not agree that it is possible to become addicted to he computer and internet, it is without doubt a real problem in today’s society. With technology advancing every day and computers continuously getting cheaper, it’s only going to get easier and more convenient for children to stay at home on the computer rather than going to play outside with their friends. Doctors from around the globe suspect an even larger increase in childhood obesity and early onset diabetes as more children are choosing to stay ‘connected’ for longer time frames.