Internet and texting addiction may lead to illness
- posted:01 Apr. 2008
- scrollnews@byui.edu
Internet addiction may be a new psychiatric diagnosis, according to an article in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
“Conceptually, the diagnosis is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder that involves online and/or offline computer usage and consists of at least three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations and e-mail/text messaging,” according to the article, which was published in the March edition of the journal.
The author, Dr. Jerald Block, asserted that Internet addiction can become a disorder when a person displays the following symptoms: excessive use; feelings of anger, tension or depression when the computer in inaccessible; the need for better equipment, software and more hours of use; social isolation and fatigue from usage.
Few studies have been completed in the United States to justify Internet addiction as a disease, but in Asia there have been several studies done with staggering, significant results, Block said.
“Attempts to measure the phenomenon [in the U.S.] are clouded by shame, denial and minimization,” Block said. This is because, unlike in Asia, games and virtual sex in the U.S. are accessed from the home, said Dr. Block.
While text messaging is not directly linked to the Internet, Dr. Block told the Sunday Telegraph that he included it in the criteria because of “motor vehicle accidents that are caused by cell phone instant messaging; stalking and harassment via instant messaging; and instant messaging at social, educational [and] work functions where it creates problems.”
Text messaging and e-mail can be a problem for students at BYU-Idaho.
“The addiction probably stems from the desire to always be in contact with people,” said Jessica Tingey, a senior studying English, as she pulled out her iPhone to send a text message just before class started.
Tingey admitted to sending about 15-20 text messages a day, but she said that she checks her e-mail every hour.
“Since I get e-mail on my phone, I’m always checking it just because it’s there,” Tingey said.
Reed Stoddard of the BYU-I Counseling Center pointed out that e-mail and text messaging isn’t inherently evil.
“In moderation, Internet gaming, e-mailing and other cyber activities are not a problem, but when done in excess they can definitely interfere with any aspect of a person’s life — including academics,” Stoddard said. 
