The+Good,+The+Bad+and+The+Internet.

Kyle Jay Thompson 7477678 Colleen Niland

**CULTURAL ARTIFACT **

This artefact is a fictional cartoon drawing of two people, one of which is an internet addict. The purpose of the drawing is to express our reliance upon the internet for almost anything, including help for an internet addiction. The picture can be compared to using narcotics to help a drug addiction, or alcohol to reduce alcoholism and although these substances are in-fact known to be addictive, there is no conclusive empirical evidence to support internet addiction. The artefact is ironic in nature, and intends to provide a humorous perspective into society’s reliance upon internet.

**PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE ** The public health issue central to my topic is the use or ‘overuse’ of internet in society which can lead to addiction syndrome and the need for intervention. There is no long term empirical evidence to suggest internet addiction is problematic, however academics and institutions alike are comparing the overuse of internet to legitimate disorders such as substance abuse and habitual gambling. There is also a lot of movement towards including Internet Addiction as a diagnosable illness in the upcoming edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V).

**LITERATURE REVIEW ** The term Internet Addiction Disorder was originally created in 1995 by American psychiatrist Ivan Goldberg as an ironic joke, which started an abundance of research and analysis into the topic. Since the origination of the internet addiction concept there has been increasing pressure for internet addiction to be classified as a mental disorder and earn its place within the 2013 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to recent research conducted by Lui, Bao and Wang (2010), up to 16.2% of internet users are addicted, with the greatest prevalence occurring in the male population. However the estimations of prevalence vary greatly between different sources and in particular different demo-graphical studies. In recent media, internet addiction is being compared to that of substance abuse and habitual gambling, both of which are identified as mental disorders according to the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, who is this ‘condition’ really affecting? Is societal media creating this ‘disorder’? Is there a need to combat the overuse of internet? Is internet addiction a by-product of something else?

 According to Warden, Phillips and Ogloff (2004) Internet Addiction does not and may never satisfy the criteria of a mental disorder and cannot be classified as such within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders due to a lack of empirical evidence to support internet addiction being problematic in the long term. The term Internet Addiction is very broad, and includes areas such as;
 * Excessive use of social networking (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, chat rooms etc).
 * Habitual Gambling
 * Online shopping
 * Compulsive web surfing
 * Obsessive online gaming
 * Compulsive use of pornographic material

This list is comprised of the most common facets of internet addiction, however is not a comprehensive list of all apparent inclusions.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">According to Shaw and Black (2008), of 2513 individuals surveyed, 5.9% believe their personal relationships suffer from internet usage, 8.7% conceal their unnecessary internet usage, 13.7% have difficulty in ceasing internet activity for extended periods of time, 8.2% have used the internet to better their mood and 12.4% regularly remain online for longer periods than they had originally anticipated. If the sample study is indicative of a population size such as Australia, greater than three million individuals have difficulty separating themselves from cyberspace and almost two million Australians use the internet as a means to alter their mood.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">South Korea has published some of the most interesting studies on internet addiction, and internet addiction is considered to be a very serious issue in regards to public health by the South Korean Government. Amongst the estimation of over 200 000 affected children, the South Korean Government believe roughly 80% require some form of psychiatric medication, and up to 24% require admission into hospital (Block, 2008). These figures are alarming, however, without internet addiction being a valid mental disorder, and no long term empirical evidence suggesting any debilitating problems, is any form of treating premature? Treating such an illness without a definitive mental diagnosis may just perpetuate the social hysteria seen by the media today.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In terms of habitual gambling, it is estimated that among the American population, twenty million individuals are affected by a compulsive gambling problem, and almost twelve percent of youth gamblers are addicted, almost double that of their adult counterparts (pogo.com, 2000). Online Gambling comes in various forms, such as:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Online Casinos
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Online Poker
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Horse racing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Greyhound racing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Online lotteries

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A large problem with online habitual gambling is the availability, which extends as far as a credit card and an internet connection. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) greater than fifty eight percent of age appropriate individuals in Australia have one or more credit cards. Also, seventy two percent of Australians had access to internet at home in 2008-09 (ABS, 2011), and this figure is constantly rising with reductions in cost, and advances in infrastructure.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">According to Vandelanotte, Sugiyama, Gardiner & Owen (2009), there is a relationship between the high prevalence of obesity and high leisure-time use of internet. According to results of their statistical analysis, a high level of internet usage increases an individual’s risk of becoming obese by over 250%. However, this research fails to identify the possibility that a high level of internet usage may be a by-product of obesity, and as shown by popular media, obesity levels are constantly rising. If internet addiction is a by-product of an obesity epidemic, then internet addiction itself is not necessarily a diagnosable illness, but rather a product of an entirely separate illness and does not warrant being included as a valid mental illness.

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">** CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Society uses the internet in many different ways and generally, the internet is used productively as a workplace tool. It has become essential for delivery of education and indispensable for communicating with family and friends. However, the compulsive use of the internet can be counter-productive in some, and has shown to obstruct relationships and working life. The internet addiction concept has only been circulating for approximately 18 years, with the main body of study being conducted in the previous decade and all studies generally composed of single demographics rather than a broad multinational analysis, which results in inconclusive data non-representative of the entire population.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The famous French philosopher and sociologist Jean Baudrillard studied post-modern culture, and concluded that society today lives within the realm of what is referred to as ‘hyperreality’ (Strong, 2010, para. 1)**//.//** Hyperreality is a theoretical and most importantly a hypothetical concept used in post-modern philosophy to explain the inability of the human consciousness to differentiate between reality and fantasy (Manrai, k. & Manrai, 1996, p. 29). Hyperreality doesn’t necessarily explain internet addiction. However, it is a concept which greatly involves the use or ‘overuse’ of internet and social media. According the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010), seventy two percent of Australian households have access to personal internet within their home. This figure has risen from only 16% in 1998 and continues to rise with the reduction in retail costs of information technology, and the widespread rollout of internet infrastructure, all of which contributes to the hysteria of internet addiction.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In the current social climate, the use of internet is becoming more affordable and accessible than ever thought possible when first invented. According to statistics, internet addiction affects up to 16.2% of users, and with the increasing availability and quality of internet services the problem is likely to increase. However, the notion of a problem is debateable. Internet addicts don’t cause societal problems as opposed to drug addicts and problem gamblers to which they have been compared and there is only circumstantial evidence to suggest that the behaviour of internet addicts inflicts any harm on the individual, be it physical or psychological. However there is a correlation between the level of internet usage and obesity, of which causation in uncertain.

= = <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">** ANALYSIS OF THE ARTEFACT AND LEARNING REFLECTIONS ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The overuse of internet may pose a problem to personal relationships, study and work commitments. However, the responsibility lies with the individual concerned, or their direct guardians to reduce any associated problems of internet overuse. There is no empirical evidence to validate any attention toward treating internet addiction, only research based on self administered tests. I believe there are many societal problems such as depression and substance abuse/misuse which warrant greater attention than internet addiction due to the capacity of such disorders to inflict harm on individuals and society in general. There certainly is evidence to suggest the high reliance upon internet and social media of society today. However, why is it necessarily a problem? Delivery of education has advanced exponentially. The information technology industry employs millions of individuals worldwide. Applications such as; Skype, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter allow communication between individuals unlike anything seen before. Contrary to the positives, there are obvious disadvantages and undesirable social trends with regards to internet use or overuse, such as; illegal pornography, financial scamming, harassment and bullying. However, I believe these factors don't explain internet addiction, and should not be included as products of internet addiction, regardless of their ability to harm.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Popular media regularly reports on the negative effects of the internet, and in particular the growing concern for internet addiction as a public health issue. However, with the lack of evidence to support the concept, I believe the concern is unwarranted. If internet addiction is included in the updated edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, what will be the treatments? Psychiatry, group counselling, medication? Is it considered internet addiction if someone makes money out of using the internet sixteen hours per day, or just work? Is money the bottom line?


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px;">Links: **

http://www.netaddiction.com/index.php?option=com_bfquiz&view=onepage&catid=46&Itemid=106

http://www.netaddiction.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=83

http://www.netaddiction.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=86

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/internet_cybersex_addiction.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYxPXKuvPZ0


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px;">My Comments: **

http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/message/view/Doctors+and+Patients+-+Are+We+From+Different+Planets%3F/45540394

http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/message/view/Are+YOU+a+Hardworking%2C+Tax-Paying+Australian%3F+Our+Health+System+is+in+Need+of+Real+Action%21/45700142


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px;">References :**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Australian Social Trends, June 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011. from. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features50Jun+2011

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Australian Social Trends, March 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2011. from.http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features60March%202009

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Block, J. (2008). Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction. //The American Journal of Psychiatry.//165: 306-307. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101556

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Liu, X., Bao, Z., & Wang, Z. (2010). Internet use and internet addiction disorder among medical students: A case from china. //Asian Social Science, 6//(1), 28-28-34. Retrieved from @http://search.proquest.com/docview/821865691?accountid=13380

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Manrai. K., & Manrai, A. (1996). Global perspectives in cross-cultural and cross-national consumer research. Retrieved from: http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SyHptKcmhc4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA23&dq=hyperreality&ots=_gsuGl04iL&sig=xGprqf5oTdWSkdzqVmKtilw2kt8#v=onepage&q=hyperreality&f=false

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//Pogo.com: Online casinos bring gambling addiction closer to home// (2000). . United States, New York: PR Newswire Association LLC. Retrieved from @http://search.proquest.com/docview/449389247?accountid=13380

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Shaw, M., & Black, D W (May 2008). Internet addiction: definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. //CNS Drugs//, 22, 5. p.353 (13). Retrieved August 30, 2011, from Health Reference Center Academic via Gale:[]

= =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Strong, E. (2010, April 24). Disneyland, Social Media &Hyper-reality. Radical Left and Conceptual Art//.// Retrieved from: http://ed-strong.com/disneyland-social-media-hyper-reality

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Vandelanotte, C., Sugiyama, T., Gardiner, P., & Owen, N. (2009). Associations of Leisure-Time Internet and Computer Use With Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors: Cross-Sectional Study. //Journal of Medical Internet Research.// 11(3). doi:10.2196/jmir.1084

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Warden, N., Phillips, J., & Ogloff, J. (2004). Internet Addiction. //Psychiatry, Psychology and Law//, 11:2, 280-295. Retrieved from: http://www.tandfonline.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/doi/pdf/10.1375/pplt.2004.11.2.280