As digital media and other online devices have grown popular, almost 28% of the global adults now report that they go online almost constantly.
Despite the digital platform advantages and productivity enhancement, it has been seen that people are using digital devices more than they need to.
As the internet and other digital devices become intertwined in our daily life, some experts have raised concerns on the concept of people falling victim to digital addiction.
Digital addiction is a new concept in the addiction landscape. It involves a person addicted to using the internet all the time. And if that person is kept away from the internet, they experience the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) effect as a withdrawal symptom.
Today, we will discuss digital addiction and try to find why people are drowning in digital addiction.
What Is Digital Addiction?
Internet and digital devices have been ingrained in modern society. It has changed how we live our lives more than any technological medium yet.
Despite the major effect of the internet and digital devices on our life, relatively little is known about their effect on our behavioral, psychological and mental health.
Comparing digital addiction to addiction behavior, you will find that it is much like substance use disorders. The only difference is that instead of consuming substances, a person consumes digital content.
In the recent study made by Pew Research Center, 77% of Americans connect to the internet every single day.
While streaming online and watching funny videos is relatively harmless, people are spending so much time on the internet that it has started to affect their lives.
Digital addiction is yet to be listed as one of the chronic diseases; the latest studies show that may soon add digital addiction to the list of other addictions.
Types Of Digital Addiction
Digital Addiction is a broad term covering a range of behavioral changes and impulsive control problems involving the internet. While there are no special criteria to diagnose digital addiction, researchers have found its different types.
- Cybersex Addiction: A cybersex addiction is a more self-explanatory addiction. It includes online Pornography, adult chatrooms, XXX webcam services, and adult websites.
- Cyber Relationship Addiction: Cyber relationships are often talked about how people meet their soulmates and maintain online relationships. This goes to the next level when the person involved in the relationship forgets about the real world, family, and friends.
- Gaming Addiction: Sometimes, digital addiction is also known as gaming disorder. It involves both online and offline gaming, where the person spends most of their time sitting at their chair playing video games.
- Net Compulsion: Net compulsion is related to online interactive activities that can be harmful. This includes online gaming, online auctions, and compulsive online shopping.
What Causes Digital Addiction?
While people are aware of the term Digital addiction, it is still not sure what causes it. As there are no particular reasons for digital addiction, we have associated this disorder with a combination of different factors.
1. Personality Issues
Like any other addiction, there is a possibility that the person is suffering from personality issues. And to cope with the problem, they might be spending their time on the Internet.
As we know, the internet allows you to present yourself as a different person than who you actually are. Perhaps, this is what the person wants. But, in real life, they might not be a person with whom everybody wants to spend time.
But, on the internet, they might be a popular person, just like digital media influencers.
2. Biochemical Responses
We just talk about digital media influencers. What are these influencers? Well, they are the people who are quite popular on the internet. When someone’s popularity grows, their brain starts to release feel-good hormones.
The person’s brain starts responding to all the online clouds and makes them feel HIGH. This encourages people to spend more time on the internet and feel good about themselves.
3. Instant Gratification
One of the good things about the internet is that it has a solution to all your problems. Whether you are looking for information for your next thesis or adult content for your pleasure, everything is one click away.
This instant gratification is what encourages people to spend most of their time on the internet.
4. Escapism
One of the cool aspects of intent is that it gives a new life in the digital world. Just like the real world, there are just too many things going on inside the digital world. Connecting to the intent means letting yourself be absorbed by the virtual dimension.
Most people use this virtual dimension to forget about their pain and suffering by communicating with virtual people and playing video games.
Because spending time on the internet makes tej feel better, it encourages people to turn towards the internet whenever they want to escape reality.
5. Shyness
People who are too shy in real life are often unable to show their true selves to others. This makes them feel they do not belong in real life.
The anonymity of the internet allows shy people to be their true selves without people judging their actions.
Perhaps this is why most people spend their free time on the internet.
6. Eliminating The Wall Between Reality & Digital
As people allow more internet and digital devices to control their lives, they are thinning the difference between reality and virtual reality.
For most people, virtual reality is equivalent to real life. For them, virtual reality is a place where they can mold themselves to become the person they ever wanted.
7. FOMO Effect
The Internet is dynamic!
New information is coming every second. Missing one second on the internet means you have missed something important. This Fear Of Missing Out on new information is what keeps people on the internet.
What Treatment Help To Cure Digital Addiction?
Quitting the internet altogether is not possible!
It has made our lives better and more convenient after all. However, there are ways to cure digital addiction. It has been seen that digital addiction responds to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). So that means CBT can be used to treat digital addiction.
