Are Today's College Students Internet Addicted?

Ensuring Healthy Internet Usage on Campus

These days Googling and Facebooking are as common daily activities as shaving and sleeping, and all over the world, the amount of time that college students devote to the Web is increasing. As the Internet craze continues at breakneck speed, some are beginning to wonder if�and where�a line should be drawn.

Clicking Down Dark Alleyways

Internet Addiction Disorder, or IAD, is a fairly new concept that has prompted debate within the mental health community. Proponents of the diagnosis apply it to individuals whose online activity matches certain criteria, some of which read alarmingly like substance abuse patterns, with references to increased "tolerance," "social isolation," and symptoms of "withdrawal."

Published research on IAD is limited, and many psychologists reject the notion of Internet addiction altogether, but for young college students the temptation to click awry is often hard to resist. The results aren't normally catastrophic, but even those students who successfully avoid online pharmacies and credit scams can fall prey to seemingly innocuous time wasters like celebrity gossip and instant messaging, detracting from vital study time.

Looking at the Bright Side

Naturally, there are plenty of positive arguments for online activity. It would be virtually impossible for today's students to complete coursework, communicate with instructors and classmates, or research job opportunities and career information without the help of electronic resources.

The Web also provides opportunities for fun and social interaction that are inarguably vital to overall health. Students can interact via sites that offer games, social networks, and up-to-date news on everything from pop culture to politics. For the discerning student, the Internet can be instrumental in the transition to college, and later, professional life.

The key to healthy Internet usage is, of course, moderation. Here are some tips to follow if you feel like you spend too much time online:

Look for warning signs. If you can recall this week's Yahoo News headlines but none of your Spanish vocabulary terms, it's time to rework your schedule, setting aside technology-free study time every day.
Step away from the computer. You can't obsessively refresh your MySpace page every five minutes if you deliberately separate yourself from your laptop now and then. You'll have years to stare at a computer all day�give your screen-weary eyes a break while you can.
Get some face time. Too often college students rely solely on e-mail to communicate with advisors and professors. Opting to meet in person occasionally will help you to kick your technology fixation while getting better acquainted with the folks who just might hold the keys to your future.

by Hannah Roberts, staff writer

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