By
Jessie Kong Seng Ding (47093)
Are you aware of Internet addiction? As we know, Internet addiction acts as a host of bad
effects in our life. Nevertheless, it is still a growing issue in our society. Therefore,
are you struggling to fight with the Internet addiction? Here are some tips for
you.
First of all, we
have to recognize the triggers that make us to connect with the Internet. Is it
when you are bored or lonely? Or you are experiencing stress, depress or anxiety
so the digital devices become the way to sooth yourselves? Young and Rodgers
(1998) proved that there is a relationship between depression and internet
addiction. Casey (2016) stated that we need to concern about some signs shown
are meant that internet use is harming our health. It can be happen physically.
The signs of Internet addiction are loss or gain of weight, headaches, back pain
and interrupted sleep cycle (Casey, 2016). We have to be alerted to control the
use of internet. Instead of play with digital devices, we shall find a
healthier way to manage our moods such as go for a jog or find a close friend
to talk.
Secondly, list
down the online activities that spend us time by developing a personal
inventory. Through this, we able to identify what activities that we spend the
most time. Then, find something to do to replace screens. Internet is just a
part of our life, it really does not matter that much. Spend more time with
people who we care and who care about us is the best antidote to cure the
Internet addiction.
Thirdly,
discipline ourselves. Set the time limit to control our Internet consumption.
For instances, schedule a break on every 30 minutes of the Internet time and
set 4 hours as the maximum of Internet time for a day. There are many phone
applications that help us to monitor ourselves. Although it may be difficult in
the beginning, we must trust in ourselves that we able to achieve it.
Beside, seek for
help from others. Find a support group that provides various strategies to
overcome for Internet addicts to solve their problem with knowledge and information.
You may refer to local community centre, counsellor, doctors or anyone you
trusted. They give us advices and motivation to treat internet addiction. Not
only that, we can also get a hand from our family members too. The given emotional
and practical supports from our dearest family members are helpful to treat the
internet addiction.
Last but not
least, figure out the difference between interacting online and in-person. As
stated by Smith, Robinson and Segal (2016), nonverbal cues from face-to-face
interactions such as eye contacts and listening can make us feel calm, secure
and generate a higher understanding towards the intended messages. In addition,
the absence of nonverbal languages in online communication may causes
misunderstandings between communicators. Be socially active with people around us
also help us to expand our social circle and gain a level of self-confidence
while enjoying others’ accompany.
In fact, there
are many other methods to maintain a healthy online time. All of these ways
might be difficult and hard at first when we are trying to overcome the
Internet addition, but do not give up as “I’ m possible” is hiding in the word “impossible!”
References
Casey,
J, B. (2016). How to Overcome Internet
Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Internet-Addiction
Smith,
M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2016). Smartphone
addition: Tips for breaking free of compulsive smartphone use. Retrieved
from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/
addiction/smartphone-and-internet-addiction.htm?pdf=true
addiction/smartphone-and-internet-addiction.htm?pdf=true
Young,
K., S., & Rodgers, R., C. (1998). The relationship between depression and internet
addiction. CyberPsychology &
Behavior. 1(1), 25-28.
Thank you Jessie for the great tips. Actually internet addiction is different with internet dependency. Kita ketagih dengan internet kerana ketaksuban kita. Ada yang meninggal dunia kerana terlalu taksub dengan internet, 'online game', 'online chatting' dan sebagainya. Tips ini sesuai untuk mereka, saya rasa.. Hehehehe.. Tetapi seperti kita-kita yang masih mengharapkan internet untuk kehidupan harian, sebenarnya kita bergantung kepada internet untuk mendapatkan maklumat, untuk berhubung dan sebaginya. Ada baiknya, dan ada juga buurknya. Saya berpendapat bahawa saya masih belum ada gejala ketagihan terhadap internet kerana saya masih boleh hidup walaupun tiada perkhidmatan internet di sekitar saya. Cuba bayangkan sekiranya kita melancong ke negara lain, kita semestinya tidak dapat melayari internet sekiranya kita tidak menggunakan prepaid mereka. Jadi, dari situ, kita juga boleh melatih diri kita untuk mengawal penggunaan internet dan jauh daripada teknologi supaya kita menjadi lebih tenang dan privasi daripada kehidupan harian yang agak sibuk. Sekian.
ReplyDeleteHi, aini.
DeleteIt is good that we still can live without internet. There are still many things we can explore new things in our life. Like u say, travel is one of the good things. I think we can more enjoy when we have our travel without internet.
I should try travel without any internet connection and share with your my experience.
DeleteHi Jessis, amazing tips which I think I can start to apply soon. I think it really boils down to self realisation and self discipline. To be honest, the Internet has brought us so much improvement in terms of information, communication and entertainment. So much so that we always think of the Internet as the main solution before we think of practical ways. That's the sign of strong dependency which can lead to addiction.
ReplyDeleteI used to be really addicted to just going online, where I used the Internet as a way of escaping reality, because to be honest, sometimes reality sucks haha. But escaping reality only makes reality looks even worse. Having the right mindset while going online is important. We are the captain not the servant. =)
Hi, Joyce.
DeleteThank you for your honest comment. People always tend to use the easier ways to struggle with the problem. Instead of internet, I think human brains are more potency to have a better way to solve the problem completely. As a adult, we need to face and accept the reality as the part of our life. The history we went through makes who we are now. So, we should not be escape and internet is not best way for us to escape. This is what I believe ^^ Fighting Joyce.
For those struggling with digital addictions, getting help isn’t always easy. While treatment is relatively similar to that for other addictions, only limited options exist for addressing things like social media, Internet or gaming addictions.
ReplyDeleteI believed the best way is to keep yourself busy. Involve in sports or outdoor activities.
Thank you, Patrick.
DeleteIn my own opinion, the best way among the all ways is to plan the time wisely. We can have our enjoyments but not spend excess time for it. We need to rest and gain energy. Getting help from others just a way to get some suggestion and advice. The most important is we need to have willpower to do it. By the way, remember to rest because u looks always busy =)
Thank you Jessie. I personally think that I am very depending on Internet. I think I am rely on Internet for information, entertainment, to avoid embarrassment and to communicate with people. I do not really aware that I am really depending on it until I received information from your post and also the videos shared by lecturer. To me, it is just a easy borderline to be addict in Internet. I realize how dangerous that the dependence of it makes me feel sick and even leads to physiological illness. I realize that my short- sightedness is getting serious and my mind are getting very tired with the usage of it. I think the suggestions provided by you is very effective for me. Thank you Jessie.
ReplyDeleteHi, Esther~
DeleteIt a bad news that your short-sightedness is getting serious because of the internet. i had the same experience in the long vacation of Form 6 because I spent whole night to play game online. The need of internet became more and more throughout the time. We would only realize that we need to do adjustment when we discover the problem. Luckily, both of us knew need to overcome the internet addiction. I hope that it can be helpful and "solution" for us. Good luck and take care.
Dear Jessie, thank you for your sharing about the tips to overcome the Internet addiction. Frankly speaking, I am the one who cannot live without the Internet in my life in the past but I am controlling myself when spending time with the Internet now. For me, exercise is the best way to disconnect with the virtual world. Through exercise such as jogging and swimming, I got the chance to expose myself in the real world and experience the beauty scenes in the life. I agreed with you about it is difficult to start the first step, but with determination, we all can do it!
ReplyDeleteSok Fern, thank you for your reply.
Deletei do agree with you that exercise is the good way to overcome internet addiction. Sports is good in our health and keep fit. Personally, I do not like to exercise ><. So, I would use another ways that I given to overcome internet addiction. All the best!
Hi Jessie. Tips yang sangat bagus, walaupun sukar untuk melakukan hal tersebut pada awalnya ia tetap membantu saya. Saya akan terus mencuba tips ini bagi mengawal kebergantungan saya terhadap internet. Thank you Jessie
ReplyDeleteAmirah Jasmine~
DeleteIt is really encourage me. Perhaps you can overcome internet addiction by the tips given. I am exciting that you can tell me your feedback after you have try with the tips given. Thank you.
Hai Jessie!
ReplyDeleteTips yang sangat membantu. Bagi saya konsep "ketagihan" dalam menggunakan internet ini terpulang kepada kepentingan setiap individu. Saya juga bersetuju adalah baik kiranya kita jauhkan daripada sikap ketagih terhadap "internet" ini tetapi setiap individu itu mempunyai hak dan kepentingan tersendiri. ada yang menjadikan medium ini sebagai "hiburan" semata-mata, ada yang menjadikan ia sebagai "hobi" yang seringkali di lakukan pada masa lapang atau sebagainya. Maka, saya juga ingin menambah tips yang mampu dijadikan sebagai rujukan atau pandangan sebagai panduan kita bersama. Anda seorang pengguna bijak, anda klik pada pautan yang tepat dan bermanfaat maka andalah seorang pengguna bijak bagaimana untuk kawal kesan ketagihan tehadap internet ini. sekian.terima kasih
Hai Ruzimah^^
DeleteYes, we have to determined to overcome internet addiction.That is why we have to prepare ourselves to solve the problem absolutely. IF not, we might addicted to internet AGAIN. Hope that we are not only overcome internet addiction but also prevent to get addicted again.