Today: Oct 06, 2024

The constant struggle of internet addiction

Rachel Forst – Special to the Southern News

Hearing the ping noise of a notification go off and then having to check Facebook every five minutes while trying to study for a test or reading for a class is something every student is familiar with, especially those at Southern Connecticut State University. The use of the Internet has become more prominent over the years with technology evolving ever so quickly. Students such as Margaret Appiadu-Antwi knows all too well, “The Internet has made us dependent. I’m very anti-social, my whole life is the internet. It makes those who are antisocial, sociable.”

According to About Addiction Facts, a website dedicated to educating those on addiction statistics said, “About 12.5 percent were often or very often online longer than intended and the same number had seen a need to cut back on internet use at some point.”

While the use of the Internet in a student’s daily life is more prominent in today’s society than it was five years ago due to the fact smartphones are easily accessible to the Internet which can hurt a student’s GPA and if not monitored more often can lead to an addictive behavior. “I think it can be become addictive because people use it as a way to escape what they should be doing and don’t even notice they’re on it for a long period,” said Lauren Czernota, 23-year-old social work major.

Technology evolving much quicker in this present time, young adults have become dependent in a way of always checking Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or Vine without noticing how it affects their daily lives which can lead to depression, anxiety, decreased academic grades and poor social skills according to WebMD. Internet Addiction has become more alarming for those in school.

“I live on campus, so every other weekend I go home and when I’m home my mom complains ‘Why do you even come if you’re always on the phone,’” said Berna Sahin, junior nursing major.

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While in class, students are supposed to be focusing on the professor and listening, but instead many are surfing the web on their smartphones and tablets or laptop computers if the lecture or class is boring. The use of the Internet throughout the day can affect students negatively; while living on campus many have unlimited access to the internet at all times, huge gaps between classes or work, there isn’t any monitoring of any kind; as well as full encouragement from professors and faculty to use the Internet for class and homework purposes, according to a study from Net Addiction a center for Online Addiction.

“I find it difficult to stay focused, especially when writing a paper or doing something for school that involves the Internet. I tend to spend time looking up things unrelated to the assignment,” said Czernota. While the use of the internet is encouraged in classes it can have negative effects on students such as: decreased grades, lack of sleep and fatigue if one stays up till 3 a.m., withdrawal from daily activities, denial of a serious problem, or general edginess when offline.

Although having to be on the computer and constantly checking one’s phone is seen as normal while in college, it can pose a problem for those who are dependent upon the Internet. “Like in class, I see people not focusing and looking down at their phone. It makes you want to check your Facebook or Instagram to see what everyone is looking at. Teachers are becoming stricter when enforcing the use of electronics in class which is a good thing.” said Sahin.

While many students love always being online through a phone it may not be the healthiest of behaviors in school when it comes to learning.

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