Web of addiction

Aug 13

Episode

Web of addiction

Is internet addiction disorder a real medical condition?

A young Chinese plays online games at an internet cafe in Beijing. [EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL]

Could frequent and constant internet use be classified as an addiction? Many Asian countries say it's a serious issue, especially when it comes to online gaming, while the American Psychiatric Association doesn't acknowledge it as a real disorder.

In 2008 an experiment at UCLA documented for the first time that even moderate internet use could rewire the brain. Another study by Chinese researchers found abnormal gray matter in the brains of those with internet addiction disorder (IAD), or specifically a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in the region of the brain responsible for processing speech, memory, motor control, emotion, and other information.

With cases of homicides stemming from compulsive online gaming to internet boot-camps being set up to cure those who overuse the internet, we examine if IAD is a serious mental health problem.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to Dr. Hilarie Cash, co-founder of reSTART, and Dr. David Greenfield, director of The Center for Internet & Technology Addiction.

What do you think? Is internet addiction a real disorder? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.

View the story "Web of addiction" on StorifyWeb of addictionIs internet addiction disorder a real medical condition?Storified by The Stream · Mon, Aug 13 2012 10:05:52Following growing concerns, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) decided to include "Internet Use Disorder" in the fifth edition of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), set to be released in May 2013. The entry is included in an appendix suggesting "conditions that require further research".

Estimates show that approximately one in eight Americans are affected by "internet addiction". http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevision/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=573AJstreamWith extensive technological infrastructures and highly populated urban areas, significant portions of the Chinese and South Korean populations are thought to be at risk of potential internet addiction.

In response, both countries have pioneered a range of treatment options. Internet addiction camps have been set up in China, and members of the video game industry in South Korea have committed technological resources to promote healthy gaming behaviour.

Below, Al Jazeera English explores the issue in South Korea, and an infographic illustrates the magnitude of internet addiction in China and South Korea.
S Korean young caught up in web gaming addictionaljazeeraenglishhttp://coupons.org/pages/internet-addictionAJstreamWith internet use on the rise internationally, many fear the threat of internet addiction will continue to grow.
http://sg.norton.com/cybercrimereport/promoAJstreamClay Shirky, one of the most prominent writers and thinkers on emerging technologies, discusses the influence popular social media networks have over compulsive behaviour online.
Facebook Rehab: The Danger of Internet AddictionbigthinkRecent studies of the brains of internet addicts suggest that those afflicted with Internet Use Disorder have responses similar to those of gambling addicts. One study in China found that prolonged internet use may result in gradual atrophy, or shrinking, of the brain.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1012&sid=18892647AJstreamAlthough there is not a consensus among researchers on how many hours of internet use constitute problematic behaviour, the infographic below reveals the high levels of internet use among both men and women.
http://visual.ly/internet-addiction-men-vs-women?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenewsAJstreamOne blogger found that the issue of internet addiction was first introduced by a psychiatrist in 1995 while parodying the disorders listed in DSM-IV. The light-hearted origin of the disorder is mirrored in many tweets, animations, and videos discussing the topic on the internet.
wow when i was younger i wanted to be a princess or the queen i didnt expect to be a teenager with an internet addictionzayn horanhttp://www.googlygooeys.com/tagged/internet/AJstreamYou Know You're Addicted To The Internet When...worldoftheorangeDespite evidence that supports the prevalence of Internet Use Disorder, many researchers remain skeptical as to whether this is a unique condition or a manifestation of other mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. Critics claim most research on the subject relies on anecdotal evidence, and more empirical research must be conducted in order to legitimise the existence of the disorder.

Below, netizens express their doubts as to whether Internet Use Disorder is a genuine affliction:
Internet addiction is supported largely by anecdotal evidence. http://bit.ly/ROHcgc I think we all knew this already, right?Anna Tarkov@AJStream Internet's where we can socalise-there's no addiction in it.Only idle minds can be addicted and act idiotically in the site.caleb chauroCritics also point to a lack of consistent diagnostic criteria in the research studies conducted as an impediment to accurately defining the disorder, like the test shown below. A popular questionnaire used to measure the likelihood of internet addiction was developed by Dr. Kimberly Young of the Center for Internet Addiction.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2015196/Too-internet-use-damage-teenagers-brains.htmlAJstream

Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.

Monday: Ableism is discrimination against people with disabilities. What are some ways people can combat ableism? Record a video for the show.

Tweet to @AJStream