US students suffering from Internet addiction
Source: Agencies |
April 25, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
COLLEGE students in the United States are hooked on cell phones, social media and the Internet and showing symptoms similar to drug and alcohol addiction, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Maryland who asked 200 students to give up all media for one day found that after 24 hours many showed signs of withdrawal, craving and anxiety along with an inability to function well without their social links.
Susan Moeller, the study's project director and a journalism professor at the university, said many students wrote about how they hated losing their media connections, which some equated to going without friends and family.
"I clearly am addicted and the dependency is sickening," said one student. "Between having a Blackberry, a laptop, a television and an iPod, people have become unable to shed their media skin."
"Texting and IM-ing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort," wrote one student. "When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life."
A private center called reSTART has been set up to treat excessive use of the Internet, video gaming and texting. Its Website cites various examples of students who ran up large debts or dropped out of college due to their obsession.
Researchers at the University of Maryland who asked 200 students to give up all media for one day found that after 24 hours many showed signs of withdrawal, craving and anxiety along with an inability to function well without their social links.
Susan Moeller, the study's project director and a journalism professor at the university, said many students wrote about how they hated losing their media connections, which some equated to going without friends and family.
"I clearly am addicted and the dependency is sickening," said one student. "Between having a Blackberry, a laptop, a television and an iPod, people have become unable to shed their media skin."
"Texting and IM-ing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort," wrote one student. "When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life."
A private center called reSTART has been set up to treat excessive use of the Internet, video gaming and texting. Its Website cites various examples of students who ran up large debts or dropped out of college due to their obsession.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
