Multitasking has forced some students to constantly check e-mails and text messages throughout the day. Though technology has increased the efficiency of the business world and people’s personal lives, some experts think this positive innovation comes with negative side effects.
Jerald Block, American Journal of Psychiatry editorial writer, said Internet addiction should be added as a mental disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
In his editorial, Block said people who excessively use technology may experience “withdrawal symptoms,” like depression or anger, if they do not have contact with a computer for an extended period of time. Users may feel socially isolated, less productive and more argumentative in personal relationships.
The South Korean government considers technology addiction - mainly computer gaming - the most important public health issue in Korea, Block said. The Korean government reported 10 game-related deaths in Internet cafes because gamers would go excessive hours without food or sleep.
Most deaths were cardio-related.
Patrick Lingenfelter, biological psychology graduate, said some studies indicate the powerful draw of Internet “addiction” is the social function it offers, but he does not really believe the “addiction” could be called a disorder.
“Text messaging and similar methods allow people to express things they might be afraid to say face to face,” Lingenfelter said. “Shyness is no longer the barrier to social interaction it once was.”
Lingenfelter said technology “addiction” could more properly be classified as an impulse control disorder like pathological gambling. Gambling models have been used as the basis for studying “addiction” to things like television, video games and the Internet, he said.
“The overwhelming majority of people that play video games would not be classified as ‘addicted,’” Lingenfelter said. “Rather, it’s people that play so much that it becomes detrimental to work, school and social relationships.”
University students said they do not feel “addicted” to technology but dependent on it.
