I'll+get+two+shots+of+the+internet+and+alcohol+please!

Kathryn Stanford n8285519 Emily Mann 10-11 Thursdays
 * TOPIC**: Discuss the impact of information and communication on Generation Y? How have they been affected? In what ways does this make their experience of the social world different? How has this affected their health?

** "//While the internet is a force for good in many arenas, it also has the power to interfere with our home lives, our romantic relationships, our careers, our parenting abilities- and our very concept of who we are//" - ** Psychiatrist, Elias Aboujaoude who heads the OCD Clinic at Stanford University. Interfering with home lives, relationships, careers, parents... sounds a bit like the effects of alcohol? Well, no... you are most likely on it right now. Give up? The internet.

The artefact 'Internet Vices' is a quirky, funny but very true depiction of social networks and comparing it to alcohol and illicit substances. Both mediums playing an 'important' role in the lives of Generation Y, during day and night time. The author of the site, Patrick Moberg describes tumblr, twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Myspace and Gmail and personifying them to characteristics that fit human behaviour when in these intoxicated states. The fun aside. The question to ask ourselves is, is there a clever new way to cure a social media hangover? Are there any public health side effects to this addiction? **PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE** The artefact presented represents more than just our addictiveness to social media and our connectedness to the online world, but also an array of behavioural, mental and physical effects to a person's health, that come with Generation Y constantly twittering, updating, buzzing, sharing and liking. This essay will discuss the impact of communication technology on Generation Y and how has this affected their view of the social world. Hence, more importantly how does this coincide with their health.

**LITERATURE REVIEW** Social networking media makes kids more likely to drink, smoke and do drugs A National Survey of American attitudes on Substance Abuse had found. The Survey asked teens ‘In a typical day, how many hours do you spend on social networking sites?’ Seventy percent of teens spend time on social networking sites, while 30 percent spend no time on social networking sites. Further analysis was done and the following graphs were produced.



Teens who spend time on a social networking site in a typical day are - Five times likelier to have used tobacco - Three times likelier to have used alcohol - Twice as likely to have used marijuana

(National survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse, 2011)



<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Cyber bullying is also another problem with information technology. Interestingly, cyber bullying has been linked to teen tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use. Showing that teens who have been cyber bullied are at more of a risk in consuming illicit drugs as found in the National Survey of American attitudes on Substance Abuse.



<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Research on the characteristics of cyber bullies and their victims has found that cyber bullies are more likely to report poor parent-child relationships, substance use, and delinquency (Ybarra and Mitchell, 2004) Cyber-victimized youth also have a significantly lower self-esteem and have a higher risk for suicide (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009) and significantly associated with offline problem behaviours such as abusing substances, cheating on school tests and skipping school (Hinduja & Patchin, 2007) and also more likely to suffer from eating disorders and chronic illnesses when compared to their non-victim peers (Mason, 2008). Then, these negative symptoms seem to continue into adulthood (Kowalski, 2008). Considering the research to date, cyber bullying, as well as traditional bullying problems, is an important public mental health concern and has real implications for adolescent development (Hinduja & Patchin, 2007; Ybarra, 2004).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Accordingly, depressive and excessive internet use has been studied widely because of this arise in online bullying. Results indicated that internet addiction was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (Young, 1998; Reinberg, 2010) and obsessive compulsive symptoms (Kim, 2007).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">In contrary to these statistics, according to Rutger et al (2009), their research, aims to find a causal link between visual exposure to drinking models and alcohol consumption. The methodology was in the form on self report data and observational data on alcohol consumption. The movie American Pie 2 and 40 Days and 40 Nights were chosen to be viewed to the participants because of comparable genre but in American Pie 2, characters drank 18 times and 23 times alcohol beverages were portrayed. 40 Days and 40 Nights characters consumed 3 times and beverages portrayed 15 times. Results showed that those in the condition with alcohol portrayal drank on average 1.5 glasses more than those in condition with no alcohol portrayal, within a period on one hour (Rutger, 2009) Therefore, this research shows an immediate drinking behaviour influenced by alcohol portrayals in communication technology.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Moreover, in agreement with this literature is The Washington Post National stating ‘because they see pictures of their peers doing these illegal things. Kids can be fascinated by images of their friends holding red cups, getting sick and passing out (Hughes, 2011). Given the fact that many people watching television at home have the opportunity to drink, these direct effects may actually account for some of overall consumption (Rutger, 2009 ). Consequently, adolescents are using the internet more frequently and being exposed to these unhealthy behaviours. Humans are very social and visual creatures, so the influence that the internet has on humans especially adolescents is fascinating.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Is the internet and communication technology providing teens a new medium for peer pressure? In which they are being exposed to these images and putting their health at risk?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">There has also been a link between communication technology and the worldwide epidemic of obesity. It has been found that there are a number of ways in which communication technology could be contributing to obesity. The increased sedentary activity and displacement of more physical pursuits; unhealthy eating practices learned from both the programming and advertisements; increased snacking behaviour while viewing and the interference with normal sleep patterns (Strasburger, 2011). Children and teenagers who watch more TV tend to consume more calories or eat higher-fat diets (Wiecha, 2006) and this is a cause for concern with Australia’s overweight and obese population.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">The Journal of Adolescent Health has investigated the association between aggressive behaviour and internet addiction. A total of 9405 adolescents were recruited into this study and questionnaires handed our regarding aggressiveness with or without internet, demographic data, family function and self esteem. The results indicated that after controlling for the effect of shared associated factors and watching violent TV programs, adolescents with internet addiction were more likely to have aggressive behaviour during the past year (Ko, 2009). When on the internet and engaging in these online activities, adolescents are more likely to observe, experience and try these aggressive behaviours resulting in positive outcomes, such as being a hero, liking identification in a group or winning games (Ko, 2009).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Anderson (2003) similarly concluded that experimental studies show that violent videogames cause short-term increases in aggressive thoughts, affect, and behaviour as well as decreases in helping behaviour. Hence, this can be especially difficult and strenuous on parents and can negatively impact on home life, school life and social life. This becomes even more concerning, as in the 2003 Report of Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers Kaiser report, 64% of children between 4 and 6 years of age knew how to use a computer mouse to point and click (Rideout & Vandewater & Wartella, 2003)

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">There have been significant studies that have examined Facebook use and GPA. The results revealed that time spent on Facebook was negatively related to overall GPA and time on Facebook was also negatively related to time spent preparing for class (Junco, 2011) Consequently, school failure has a negative impact on a teens self esteem (Chia, 2007) which can effect an adolescents mental health and psychosocial health. Aylin and San (2011) studied the internet and the role of self esteem and results indicated that general self esteem, social self esteem, family-home self-esteem and total self-esteem were significantly and negatively correlated with internet addiction.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Therefore it is quite apparent from the extensive literature review that communication technology plays a considerable role in a person’s behavioural, mental and physical aspect of life.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">** CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">According to guruesque William Gibson, //‘Cyberspace is a consensual hallucination’//. French artist and pioneer in Virtual reality, Nicole Stenger tells us that ‘//Cyberspace is like Oz– it is, we get there, but it has no location. It opens up a space for collective restoration’//. On the flip side, Barrie Sherman and Phil Judkins authors of successful book, Glimpses of Heaven, Visions of Hell: Virtual Reality and its Implications, both describe it as //‘truly the technology of miracles and dreams. Virtual reality allows us to play God.’//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Do you agree with these statements or have your own view of the internet and its users?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">As the first ever digital natives, they have grown up in a world in which information and communication facilities are available to almost everyone and can be used in an active way’ (Veen & Vrakking, 2006, p 29)

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">The influential Jean Baudrillard, proposed that in societies more mediated than ever before, bombarded with images of themselves, reality is reproduced so many times that it produces a ‘hyperreal’ condition. He revealed that reality TV is the pornography of everyday life. It could be that there is no longer the exchange of objects, an assumed social cohesion or conflict that holds social conventions together but rather this movement of simulation or this network in ‘ecstacy of communication.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">‘We are more and more wired to our interfaces. We react to simulations – to the television news rather than the world, to a computer program rather than social interaction, to email rather than vocal communication (Murphie & Potts, 2003, p16)

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">The above statement reveals that in society reaction to these simulations rather than to the immediate environment. We still consume, where once we consumed objects, now we consume signs, pictures.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">However, not only just analysing with social theory but demographics, ethnicity and society all shape and affect the exposure of communication technology on Generation Y. Family environments where after-school TV viewing is part of the home culture and where children have greater autonomy are associated with increased risk of greater time spent with media (Russ & Larson & Franke & Halfon, 2009). Consequently, with a larger amount of time spent in front of the screen, this poses significant effects on their health, as reviewed by the literature. Such as increased snacking behaviour, this increases risk of obesity and poorer dentition – an unfortunate domino effect.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Therefore, the home viewing environment and degree of child represent potential targets for changing media use habits (Russ et al, 2009) and also an area for Health Promotion Officers to look into and educate and promote to parents and guardians the serious risks that overuse of internet and media may have on their children’s health behaviours.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Russ et al study (2009) showed that media use is associated with overweight/obesity only in white and more highly educated families may indicate that in more disadvantaged families. Further interaction analysis showed that TV viewing was associated with overweight and obesity only for white, not black or Hispanic children. Thus, socioeconomic status, parent control and the level of media exposure would be just some of the aspects affecting health status distinguishing between ethnicity. <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Using prior and background knowledge of why this may occur are listed:
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Black or Hispanic families may not be able to afford the internet or TV therefore not being exposed
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Not being able to purchase one because of living area – demographics
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Highly educated families often means more income, therefore the children being able to afford these luxury media devices. Hence, increased risk in indulging in snack foods when exposed to iPods, internet, TV.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Consequently, some kids may have access to a TV and internet in their own room
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Family environments and living arrangements

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">** ANALYSIS OF ARTEFACT ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Communication Technology and our addictiveness to the connected world has transformed and affected our lives in more ways than one. One night, I was watching 60 Minutes on Channel 9 and was hurt and angry by these Nigerian men posing as wealthy business people online and tricking vulnerable women into thinking they were in love with them. Leaving the lost and lonely women penniless and heartbroken in the end. This made me think how far online dating, let alone dating has come, and what it truly means to have an honest friendship and relationship.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">//“Rosalie’s desperate heart made her ignore all the warnings. Even after we’d told her, Rosalie had been back at the computer being wooed by a new man calling himself ‘Richard’.// – Liam Bartlett (60 Minutes Reporter, 2011).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Interestingly, according to Socialnomics, 1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S last year met via social media (Qualman, 2009).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">Nowadays, you’re not friends with someone or dating someone until its ‘Facebook Official.’ Communication Technology brings both good and bad times, and coincidentally alcohol also has the same effect. Just like what has been portrayed in the artefact illustrated at the top of the page called ‘Internet Vices’.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">When used excessively they provoke aggressive and depressive behaviours. Obesity is linked to both alcohol and internet when used inappropriately or not under supervision. Consequently, both have an effect on sleeping patterns. Lastly, both the negative effects of alcohol and internet result in poor school results and school preparation.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">As a side note, more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of social media networks. I would highly recommend all of you addictive ‘Facebookers’ to click on the takethislollipop website.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">‘However, social networks can be dangerous places to share information, particularly if you are careless about the data you provide on your profile without the proper safeguards in place. 'Take this lollipop' will make you think twice about what you share on Facebook’ (Brian, 2011).

[|http://www.takethislollipop.com/]

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Indeed, there possibly is a cure to social media hangover, but lets hope we wont have to set up a 'Facebookers Faceless' like 'Alcoholics Anonymous'.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">**REFERENCE LIST** Anderson, C.A. Berkowitz, l., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L.R., Johnson, J.D., Linz, D.,... Wartella, E. (2003). The influence on media violence on youth. //Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4//(3), 81-110.

Aylin, B., San, S.V. (2011). Internet addiction among adolescents: The role of self-esteem. //Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 15,// 3500-3505.

Bartlett, L for 60 Minutes. (2011). The love trap. Retrieved from []

Brian, M. (2011). Take this lollipop will make you think twice about what you share on Facebook. Retrieved from []

Chia, S. (2007). How depression affects school performance. Retrieved from []

Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J.W. (2009). //Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to Cyberbullying//. Thousand Oaks, CA: Crown Press.

Hindjua, S., & Patchin, J.W. (2007). Office consequences of online victimization: School violence and delinquency. //Journal of School Violence, 6//(3), 89-112.

Hughes, S.A. (2011). Social media may make kids more likely to drink, smoke, do drugs study says. Retrieved from []

Junco, R. (2011). Too much face and not enough books: The relationship between multiple indices of Facebook use and academic performance. //Computers in Human Behavior.// (in press). Doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2011.08.026

Kim, S.Y., Ha, J.H., Soojeong, B.C., Bae, S., Hyungjun, S.M., ... Cho, S. (2007). Depression and internet addiction in adolescents. //Journal of Descriptive and Experimental Psychopathology, 40//(6), 424.

Ko, C.H., Yen, J., Liu, S., Huang, C., Yen, C.F. (2009). The associations between aggressive behaviors and internet addiction and online activities in adolescents. //Journal of Adolescent Health, 44//(6), 598-605.

Kowalski, R., Limber, P.S., & Agatston, W.P. (2008). //Cyberbullying: Bullying in the digital age.// Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Mason, K. (2008). Cyberbullying: A preliminary assessment for school personnel. //Psychology in the Schools, 45//(4), 323-348.

Murphie, A., & Potts, J. (2003). //Culture & Technology//. Fifth Avenue, New York: Palgrave MacMillan.

Qualman, E. (2009). //Statistics show social media is bigger than you think.// Retrieved from []

Reinberg, S. (2010). Addictive internet use tied to depression in teens. Retrieved from []

Rideout, V.C., Vandewater, E.A., & Wartella, E.A. (2003). //A Kaiser Family Foundation Report: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers.// Retrieved from []

Russ, S.A., Larson, K., Franke, T.M., & Halfon, N. (2009). Associations between media use and health in US children. //Academic Pediatrics, 9//(5), 300-306.

Rutger, C., Engels, M.E., Hermans, R., van Baaren, R., Hollenstein, T., Sander, M.B. (2009). Alcohol portrayal on television affects actual drinking behavior. //Oxford Journals, 44//(3), 244-249.

Strasburger, V.V. (2011). Children, adolescents, obesity, and the media. //Pediatrics, 128//(1), 201-208.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. (2011). //National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents.// Retrieved from []

Veen, W., Vrakking, B. (2006). //Homo Zappiens growing up in a digital age.// York Road, London: Network Continuum Education.

Wiecha, J.L., Peterson, K.E., Ludwig, D.S., Kim, J., Sobol, A., Gortmaker, S.L. (2006). When children eat what they watch: Impact of television viewing on dietary intake in youth. //Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160//(4), 436-442.

Ybarra, M.L., & Mitchell, K.J. (2004). Online aggressors/ targets, aggressors and target: A comparison of associated youth characteristics. //Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 45//(7), 1308-1316.

Ybarra, M.L. (2004). Linkages between depressive symptomatology and internet harassment among young regular internet users. //CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7//(2), 247-257.

Young, K., Rogers, R. (1998). The relationship between depression and internet addiction. //CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1//(1), 25-28.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">**LEARNING ENGAGEMENT AND REFLECTION TASK** ** PAGE: Here's an Idea- Provocative Male Cheerleaders For Women's Football? When Pigs Fly! ** **COMMENT:** Eye Opener! Great review of women in sport Taylor. I, myself have never been the real sporty type at school but it was definitely an eye opener for how society structures women in sport. It was interesting to see the statistics that indicated women received 9% of sport coverage in Australian news media and males occupying 81% of sport coverage. This is certainly a massive gap but you don’t usually realize this when at home watching T.V. In regards to these statistics, it does send a false reality of sport in Australia culture and the norm that males will always be more successful at sport. This is a cause for concern as it brings up the ideologue that women and sport must have femininity and be promiscuous which can be damaging to a girls behavior at a very young age. I think this subject is also reinforced by information technology.
 * PAGE: On a scale of 1 to 10 how Culturally ‘Clued-In’ are our Primary and Emergency Service Providers when it comes to Pain? **

**COMMENT:** Different view on culture and health care services As an aspiring emergency health care provider too, the cultural respects and attention we bring to patients is an important one. Most people do grow up with the belief that everyone has the same level of pain and cultural diversity and you’re right- one size fits all certainly is not the case here.

I think the idea by Queensland Health making programs like the Cross Cultural learning and Developmental strategy is a great one and an opportunity for people who work in Emergency health care to fine tune and be aware of cultures in Australian society as it no doubt will continue to grow.

In the past, house calls were unheard of; doctors and nurses knew their patients on a personal level. Doctors who delivered your parents would deliver your future children and so on. You have mentioned that…

//‘loss of the individuals choice to act would be considered appropriately in a world that is becoming more and more busy, where the focus was not customer satisfaction rather efficiency & profit’'//

This made me think about the concept of McDonaldization, first theorized by George Ritzer. The idea that predictability, control, efficiency and quantification are all prevalent in modern health care system and over time health care has emerged into the bureaucratic organization that it is. Moreover, nowadays with everything being done through information communication technology (internet banking, shopping) this may have an effect on how we do health care in the future. This focus on quantity over quality.

What are your views on this and the current and future health care system Thomas?