Screen "Addiction" Perhaps Not Really the Problem

        While reading "Is Internet Addiction a Health Threat for Teens?" in the Room for Debate portion of the summer assignment, I find myself agreeing with many of the arguments. As someone who uses a screen very often, I feel perhaps I am biased in this debate. However, I think what I have seen written in a few of the arguments about the type of time spent on a screen is rather important. For example, Brendesha Tynes mentioned middle school girls who spent hours on a screen creating something productive and useful to help a friend in need. If those girls had been restricted in their screen time, it would have taken longer to develop the app that they did. On the other hand, I think we all know someone who could use some time interacting with humans face to face as opposed to shooting people on a screen and talking to strangers in their ear all day. Screens and the Internet are not a bad thing, but like most inventions that can be incredibly useful, the Internet and screens can be very dangerous. Between video games promoting violence, cyber bullying, and illegal activity on the Internet, adults are understandably concerned about how access to these threats is affecting us. 
      Adults are rightly concerned about our safety and state of mind. Isn't that why we as children have been taught Internet safety since before I can remember? All those assemblies and awkward videos in elementary and middle school about being safe on the web, that's why right? Well, then shouldn't those of us intelligent enough to absorb the message have gotten it by now? Shouldn't teens be able to be smart enough to properly limit their screen time to productive or at least safe activities? I think by limiting screen time for those "addicted" to it our society is babying them. Allowing them to be seen as someone with a problem diagnosed by a professional instead of just a personal issue. Alcohol abuse is an addiction but until the alcoholic decides to admit they have a problem, they can't fix it. Shouldn't it be the same for screens?