Is The Internet Making Us Crazy?

The latest edition of Newsweek is hitting stands with a cover story about internet addiction. It asks the question, "Is the internet making us crazy?". The answer, not surprisingly is a resounding "Yes!". It seems that many people in the mental health industry have been encountering more and more people who have mental health issues related to spending a large portion of their lives online.



According to several studies, extended time spent online can cause us to be more depressed, lonelier and at risk for serious mental breakdowns. It sounds silly at first glance, but after giving it some thought, I can see their point. When I first discovered the internet back in the mid to early 90's, it was like a whole new world opening up to me. I had always been bright and curious. In high school and college, I published an underground newspaper and worked at a public access television station. Technology and communications were my hobbies and the internet brought both of those worlds together.



I had dropped out of college, got married and had a baby very young. Although I don't regret it, at the time, I felt as though I had settled for less than the life I had imagined. Instead of reading books and trying new things, I was changing diapers and fighting with my cute (but not too smart) husband. I was starved for inspiration and the internet provided me with more than I could have imagined. I ended up spending my evenings with my computer. Don't get me wrong, I didn't neglect my child, but I did neglect my family. Instead of focusing on doing things that made our family stronger, I was primarily interested in maximizing my computer time. With a 56k dial up modem, checking email and message boards took a long time.



These days, I have a much healthier balance between the two worlds. However, with the increased use of social media, more and more people are becoming hooked. Instead of being mentally present at important moments in their lives, they are busy trying to take photos and blog about them. The more we try to document our lives, the less able we are to actually enjoy them. It's almost as if we want to share the experience but end up only experiencing it second hand. This leads to a feeling of isolation and can make people feel less connected with the ones that matter the most. Social media was supposed to make us all more connected, instead, it has made us feel more alone than ever.



Of course, the internet is an important tool in our lives and most of us use a computer or other device several times a day. So, what can you do to try to lessen the negative impact of being so connected?



Be aware of how much time you spend online - If you are checking email, then remind yourself to put away the computer after you're done. Using a tool to accomplish a task is perfectly acceptable, just be careful when you find yourself spending hours and hours online and accomplishing nothing.



Choose face-to-face interactions - When you have the chance to actually talk to someone, do it. This means that instead of sending an email or text message to someone in the same room, the same house or even the same neighborhood, go and talk to them face to face when you can. Try to get more face time with actual people instead of their Facebook wall.



Model responsible technology use - As parents, we have to set a good example for our children. Don't check your email or use your smartphone at the table. Instead, use the time to reconnect with each other. Also, when you are caring for young children, limit your usage to specific times. Young children are learning about themselves and the world around them all the time and when they see their parent get tense or upset, they tend to think that they caused it. This is especially true when the cause is a text message or an email. Because they can't see it, they are more likely to internalize their parent's distress. Instead, spend the time being present in the moment with your children.



Do you think that you're addicted to the internet? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.