Internet Addiction by Greg Beato Article Analysis

The internet has come a long way since it was first developed in the late 1980s. It has changed business, education, government, healthcare, and even the ways in which people interact with others. But as with all good things, there is always a downside. In this case, it is the evolution of internet addiction. Internet addiction is excessive or poorly controlled urges or behaviors while utilizing computers and internet access that lead to impairment or distress.  Most students in America use social media nowadays and many teens are starting to develop internet addictions. These can show up in lots of different forms, whether it be scrolling through TikTok until your fingers go numb or binging an exciting new Netflix series until you can’t keep your eyes open anymore. 

As explained in the essay Internet Addiction by Greg Beato, he examines how internet addiction is not seen seriously by American Students nor the American Psychiatric Association which is becoming a massive problem as modern technology advances. This problem has become so gargantuan that there are even rehab centers being started that focus solely on internet addiction treatment. Although internet addiction is not treated properly, all of the students in America need to wake up and see the harsh reality that we are all becoming addicted to the internet. This is especially true for students because they are using the internet more and more nowadays. From school to watching YouTube videos there are tons of reasons why students spend copious amounts of time on the internet. There are multiple steps that can be taken to fight this ongoing problem including understanding the signs of addiction, recognizing how many people are affected by the addiction, and realizing the extent that the addiction is coming to. 

Many students nowadays are addicted to the internet, mindlessly scrolling their way through life. There are many steps that can be taken to beat the universal problem of internet addiction. The first way to tackle the problem of internet addiction is understanding the signs that you are addicted. In the article, Beato mentions how about 200 students at The University of Maryland “went on a 24-hour media fast for a group study, then described how "jittery," "anxious," "miserable," and "crazy" they felt without Twitter, Facebook, iPods, and laptops”(Beato 3). Beato shows how to tell the signs of internet addiction by showing some students’ personal experiences. Therefore, this is important when realizing that internet addiction is something that needs to be taken seriously because it shows just how many young people are actually experiencing these signs of internet addiction. I can personally relate to these students, there have been numerous times while I was away from my Snapchat for an extended period of time and felt out of sorts. If I am off of my phone for a while I feel anxious and can’t seem to focus. Sometimes I will even get dizzy and come close to passing out after not using my cell phone for a while. The same is true for many other students. While the vast majority of students have a social media account and regular internet access, some don’t have social media so they cannot relate to this feeling and honestly, that is an advantageous thing. Although the internet is a useful tool, developing an addiction to it can be a slippery slope that many people, unfortunately, go down. 

Moreover, the next step in tackling the problem of internet addiction is gaining awareness that there is a colossal amount of people affected. In order for students to fully understand the dangers of internet addiction, they need to recognize that a substantial amount of people struggle to control the time that they spend on the internet. Beato talked with the licensed Psychiatrist, David Greenfield who mentioned that “studies have shown 3 percent to 6 percent of Internet users ‘have a problem’"(Beato 6). The author is trying to convey the message that tons of people are affected by internet addiction. Although three percent may not seem like a lot, in reality, it is nearly one hundred thousand people, which is a great deal of the population. An experience in my life that I can relate to this is, often finding myself on my phone for way too long. Sometimes hours or even the whole day ticks by while I am senselessly looking at the new trends on TikTok. I will sit down for five minutes just to have a “quick scroll” on TikTok and find myself thirty minutes later still scrolling through. Whilst countless people may find themselves binging the third Netflix season in a row and struggling to keep their eyes open for just “one more episode”, there are certain people who are completely the opposite and only get on the internet if absolutely necessary. However, these people are few and far between due to the modern advancements of technology and the majority of people have a hard time restricting their internet use. 

Ultimately, to try and come closer to solving the issue of internet addiction, people need to understand the true scope of problems that internet addicts face. The extent of people’s internet addiction is becoming nuttier and nuttier every day. People that are experiencing crippling internet addiction are now being sent to rehab centers for special treatment. Most of these rehab programs are costly and cramped. Beato brought up the point that a new rehab program called ReStart has “room for just six addicts at a time and a $14,500 program fee”(Beato 2). Beato is stressing the point that internet addiction has gotten so detrimental that multiple companies have made rehab centers to treat the addiction. Many internet addicts enter into these programs in hopes of turning a new leaf. This shows a great deal about how far internet addicts will go to be sure that they kick their addiction. I do not feel as if I am that addicted to the internet to the point that I need rehabilitation. Maybe in the future, if I keep going down this path of using the internet way too often I will end up in one of these treatment facilities. Most people do not have that kind of money to get sent to rehab over something like internet addiction. But, there are many tips out there for people struggling to cut their internet usage. These can range from using self-timers to keep on track to setting restrictions to keep your focus while trying to keep internet use to a minimum. 

All things considered, the internet can be a useful tool to help students with school, business, and even leisure activities. However, using the internet excessively without controlling urges can lead to distress and impairment in everyday life. Students need to realize the seriousness of internet addiction and use resources wisely in order to find help to treat their addiction if needed. Students should start taking steps towards fighting the nuance of internet addiction that has become so prevalent in today’s society. There are multiple steps that can be taken to combat the ongoing problem of internet addiction including understanding the signs of addiction, recognizing how many people are affected by the addiction, and realizing the extent that the addiction is coming to. In the future hopefully, the American Psychiatric Association will recognize internet addiction as an actual disorder. So, next time you open Instagram to double-tap and scroll a mile a minute with your thumb, consider setting a limit on how much time you spend mindlessly scrolling. If you don’t you may end up in a rehab program like ReStart trying to battle the crippling addiction and spending thousands of dollars in the meantime. Students need to face the reality that internet addiction is a genuine problem that will soon affect everyone.