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Dr Sharmitha Krishnamurthy BDS, MPH, MBA, PGDCR, PGDMLE

Head, Public Health Division and Director, Augmenta Health (P) Ltd.

E:drsharmitha@augmentahealth.com

Internet Addiction

In this X - generation, Internet has become an important tool for education, entertainment,

communication and information sharing. Easy access, social networking are couple of the several

attributes of the Internet fostering addictive behavior. In tandem with the splurge in access to

internet globally, rise of smart phones, tablets and other new generation gadgets, risk of internet

addiction, is emerging as a significant behavioral addiction pandemic to be tackled worldwide.

The developing countries are not spared in any ways, due to extreme infiltration of technology

into the remote corners of the developing country. The population of India is around 1.2 billion

as on 2012, of which the number of internet users (both urban and rural) is around 205 million. It

is estimated to increase to 243 million by June 2014 and will be the second leading country after

China with highest internet base users of 300 million (Internet mobile association of India, I-

Cube survey 2013).

Internet addiction commonly refers to an individual's inability to control his or her use of the

Internet (including any online-related, compulsive behavior) which eventually causes one's

marked distress and functional impairment in daily life. The tipping point is its impact on the

day-to-day activities. Research studies in the Western and Asian contexts suggest that the risk of

Internet addiction among young people is increasing.

Research findings have highlighted that excessive use of Internet adversely affects one's physical

& mental health and social wellbeing. The direct negative consequence of Internet addiction on

one's physical health is persistence of sleep deprivation thereby harming immune system, thus

increasing one's vulnerability to various illnesses. Lack of exercise due to excessive use of

computer by maintaining a sitting posture may also risk suffering from back pain, and eyestrain.

Internet addicts also suffer from severe psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety,

compulsivity, loneliness and social isolation.Internet addiction in adolescence can have a

mailto:drsharmitha@augmentahealth.commailto:drsharmitha@augmentahealth.commailto:drsharmitha@augmentahealth.commailto:drsharmitha@augmentahealth.com

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