INTERNET SPECIAL...“Internet is addictive — just like a slot machine”

“Internet is addictive — just like a slot machine”

    Addiction need not always be about substance abuse. These days psychiatrists across the world are reporting a serious surge in virtual addiction. With growth of smart phones, tablets and a range of gadgets, people are now waking up to the side effects of always-on 24x7 connected world that thrives on emails, text messages, Twitter and Facebook updates. Nobody understands this better than
Dr David Greenfield,
a practicing psychiatrist and founder of US-based Center for Internet and Technology Addiction (www.virtualaddiction.com). He has researched on virtual addiction for close to two decades and is the author of “Virtual Addiction”. Excerpts from his interview:
How serious is the problem of virtual addiction?
Let me give you a comparison. In 1999, less than 10% of my patients came with this problem. Today, almost 80-90% of them come with problems related to technology. They come to me because it is disrupting one of their primary relationships in their lives.
How does virtual addiction affect people?
People have to recognise that anywhere, internet-based technology is addictive. We have done many studies where we find that people are not able to adequately measure how much time they spend on technology. This means that chances of them overusing or abusing is high.
You called internet a slot machine. Can you explain?
I think internet is the world’s biggest slot machine. Every time when you open an email or go on ebay, it is like pulling the hands of the slot machine. You do not know what you will get. But once in a while you get something interesting that gives you a little drug rush. This is because when such a communication is received, the brain releases dopamine (the feel-good chemical). That it is unpredictable makes it very addictive — so you are constantly checking your texts and emails to get that hit of dopamine. Slot machines work in the same way.
What kind of impact does virtual addiction have?
For teens and young boys and girls, it is disrupting their lives, it leads to isolation and poor academic performance. Adults see serious disruption at work and degradation of their primary relationships.
Is there a gender spin to virtual addiction?
While women consume technology more than men, it’s the men who suffer (from the addiction) more. If there is something wrong females would always do something to handle it. Men wait much longer to seek help. Almost 95% of my patients are men and almost 98% of these men are brought to me by women. If it weren’t for women I would be out of business (he laughs).
How does this affect children?
Parents did not grow up with technology. And children operate technology like they are operating a toaster. Technology has reversed the knowledge hierarchy in the family system. Parents have to learn how to master it so that they do not lose power to their kids.
How can one avoid it?
Keep gadget-free time. Do not keep your gadgets near your bed. Set boundaries between good and bad use. When you are in an addictive state you stop being rational and act on animal impulse. So blocking addictive websites, even if you can unblock it, helps psychologically.

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