While reading the article "Is Internet Addiction a Health Threat for Teenagers?" on Room for Debate, I realized that we are addicted to the internet; some are more addicted than others. I was bothered by the use of the word "addiction" because it has a negative connotation. Although, when I thought about it, the word fits. There's not a day when we are not on our electronics; it's as if we need to check what people are tweeting and snapchatting. It's the same as a smoker, except your phone is the cigarette. A smoker cannot go a day without smoking, just like how we can't go a day without using our phones. Has the internet ever caused you to stay up late and possibly cause you to lose hours of sleep? Why would someone want to jeopardize their amount of sleep and make themselves tired the next day just to continue to be on the internet? Is it because the internet is addictive?
What do you think about this? Do you agree or disagree? Why? If anyone would like to prove me wrong, I challenge you to go as long as you can without using your phone.
I see how a phone can be similar to a cigarette, but unlike a smoking addiction, phones only need to be used in moderation instead of avoided. Phones have many uses, and that is why we use phones so often. But yes, this use can get excessive and start affecting one's life outside of the phone.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a phone, so good luck beating me.
I agree with you Jasmine, there are many times when I stay up late texting or using the internet. When I should be asleep or studying for a test. It is very addicting, but at the same time the internet is helpful, since you can look almost anything up. I try not use my phone as much, but it is very hard not to. So I can see why you used the reference to a smoker since a smoker cannot go a day without smoking. I can't even imagine not using my phone for a day I'm pretty sure It would be extremely hard.
ReplyDeletePhones are indeed very distracting. I also agree with Morgen at the same time, because phones are actually very helpful as well. I cannot imagine a day without using my phone. I don't think I will last very long.
ReplyDeleteLike Jasmine mentioned it is definitely odd to think of ourselves as addicted to the internet although it is quite true. The comparison used of our technology to a cigarette although superficially similar is a bit different in reality as keeping a conscious mind of how long and what we use our phones for can allow us to enjoy the use of the internet without negative effects.
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