INTERNET ADDICTION

University of the PhilippinesCollege of Education

Educational Technology Department

EDTECH 101 – Instructional Media Resources

Ferdinand B. Pitagan, PhDProfessor of Education

ICT growthICT growth ICTICT – – IInformation and nformation and CCommunications ommunications TTechnologyechnology- fast growth worldwide -- computers, Internet, mobile fast growth worldwide -- computers, Internet, mobile

phones phones - marketmarket- Providers targeting youth Providers targeting youth - Schools introducing ICT in educationSchools introducing ICT in education

See See http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm

Teens -- Over 90% Use the Internet for new information -- Over 70% use instant messaging to keep in touch - Over 50% contact strangers on the net - Over 40% post own information online to be contacted - Over 30% experienced cyberbullying

Overall - 25% of retail stock trades on the Internet - Over 90% Internet users, online shopping (Korea, UK, Germany, Japan, US) - 87% of print journalists connected to the Internet -

-Sources - Lenhart, Simon & Graziano, 2001; Jung, 2003; 2007 Pew/Internet research; 2008 Nielsen

ICT GrowthICT Growth

ICT growthICT growth

Today’s wired / wireless Today’s wired / wireless life life

A bed of roses ?A bed of roses ?

A bed of thorns ?A bed of thorns ?

Both!!Both!!

Some facts (Japan)

20% of families with teens suffer from 20% of families with teens suffer from children’s internet dependency (2003)children’s internet dependency (2003)

35%35% online while resting (2004) online while resting (2004)

21%21% online while studying or working (2004) online while studying or working (2004)

--- Declared Internet Addiction as an Illness--- Declared Internet Addiction as an Illness

http://www.johotsusintokei.soumu.go.jp/whitepaper/eng/WP2004/press_information01.pdfSee (4) Trends in Internet Usage (Japan) – 1 page handout

13.7% of Chinese adolescent Internet users – about 10 million teens - meet Internet addiction diagnostic criteria (2007)

Law: Restricting computer game use; discourage more than 3 hours of daily

game use

Some facts (China)Some facts (China)

Some facts (Korea)Some facts (Korea)

Up to 30 percent of South Koreans under 18, or about 2.4 million people, are at risk of Internet addiction (2007)

Average high school students - 23 hours each week gaming

<< Internet addiction, one of most serious public health issues>>

National level – Center for Internet Addiction Prevention and Counseling (2003)

Institution/school level - 1,043 counselors in the treatment of Internet addiction; enlisted over 190 hospitals and treatment centers; prevention measures into schools

http://www.johotsusintokei.soumu.go.jp/whitepaper/eng/WP2004/press_information01.pdf

Some facts (UK and USA, 1998 - 2004)

1. A study of 445 Internet users in UK --- Most addicts - around 30 years old women

2. A study of 496 Internet users by Young (USA)--- 396 classified as dependent users--- middle-aged women and unemployed

• Recent studies – Teens are in danger!!

• Addicts tend to use chat rooms/online dating, pornography, email, e-shopping, web surfing, online gaming

Calling time per day

none10%

0~1min15%

1~5hours39%

b/t 5 – 15 min15%

Over 15 min21%

Number of Sending & Receiving mails per day

~515%

5~2049%

20~5031%

50~1005%

Source: 2005 ETC100 class

StudiesStudies(ICU, 2005 a small scale study)(ICU, 2005 a small scale study)

39%, Use Mobile 1 – 5 hours

31%, M-Emailing20 – 50 times

Complications in Diagnosing Internet Addiction

Issue #1: Internet, not drugs

Issue #2: Internet, Useful tool

Issue #3: Difficult to diagnose (degree of dependency?)

Check Level of Internet dependency

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

Problem Solving: Discussion

Why is this issue important?Why is this issue important?

Academic problems

Academic problems

Familial proble

ms Occupational problems

Occupational problems

Emotional, cognitive, behavioral changes

What can you do to help What can you do to help Internet / Mobile dependents?Internet / Mobile dependents?

Well…Well…

Some solutionsSome solutionsControlle

d UseControlle

d Use

External stoppersExternal stoppers

Time management

Set goals

Reminder cards

Personal inventory

Abstinence

Time management

Set goals

Reminder cards

Personal inventory

AbstinenceClinic

Support group

Family therapy

Clinic

Support group

Family therapy