“Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled concerns, urges, or behaviors regarding computer use and Internet access that lead to impairment or distress. The many names given to this phenomenon recognize the various ways in which it has been considered: compulsive computer use, pathological Internet use, problematic Internet use, Internet addiction, Internet addiction, and even internet mania." (Shaw, M., Black, D. 2008). This addiction is a huge and growing problem in today's technological world, people are so consumed by online activities that they experience withdrawal symptoms when offline for extended periods of time. In a study of “445 individuals of whom 46% identified as drug users, they concluded that there was a significant relationship between high Internet use and both depression and introversion.” (Shaw, M., Black, D. 2008). A study of Chinese adolescents revealed that Internet addiction was related to lower self-esteem, lower life satisfaction, perceived rejection, abandonment, and indifference (Wang, L., Lou, J., Gao, W. , Sun, X. 2013). The combination of the psychological effects of depression, anxiety and isolation combined with the inability to switch off from the online world makes children and adolescents susceptible to cyberbullying, social anxiety and even suicide.
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