Do you find yourself mostly playing online games or shopping online? Do you spend most of your time on social media sites and can't stop it? Is excessive computer use interfering with your daily life? Such as relationships, work, school, sleep patterns. If you answered yes to any of these questions, this may be due to excessive internet usage. The first research in this field is on pathological gambling and game addiction. Later, with the spread of the internet and the use of most applications online, research began to use it as internet addiction. Debates still continue as to whether this is actually an addiction or a compulsive behavior problem. The most common Internet Addiction categories are; gaming, social networking, email, blog, online shopping, gambling, etc. usage areas. Research shows that individuals suffering from Internet Addiction may experience similar symptoms seen in alcohol or other chemical addictions.
The continuous and variable reinforcing effects of Internet addiction are another reason why this behavior continues. Research shows that time spent on the Internet provides many positive and rewarding reinforcements. For example, gaming, gambling, shopping, pornography, etc. The reason you may be addicted may be because these platforms provide multiple tiers of rewards. So, your constant browsing leads to multiple unforeseen rewards. For example; The main reason for your addiction to Facebook is liking your pictures, sharing your posts, it is a platform where you receive repeated and unexpected good news every time you log in, that is, it provides a multiple and unpredictable layer of rewards. Each login is filled with unpredictable rewards that keep you entertained and coming back for more. Massively multiplayer online games can lead to Internet addiction because they actually never end and provide endless entertainment. Susceptibility to internet addiction is also related to anxiety and depression. Many times, if you are already experiencing anxiety or depression, you can turn to the Internet to relieve your pain due to these conditions. Similarly, shy individuals and soci Internet addiction may also occur in people with poor social skills.
Individuals experiencing similar situations should first evaluate whether they can reduce the use in a controlled manner and its impact on their functionality in daily life. If they experience withdrawal like an addiction when they quit or reduce, or if they feel emotions such as anxiety or anger, they may need to consult a specialist and get support.
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