1. The Negative Effects of Excessive Internet Usage By: Kristofer Snyder

2. The Digital Immigrants vs. The Digital Natives What is IAD? What is the problem with Multitasking? Does Excessive Internet Use Lead to Depression? 3. Examine why symptoms of Internet Addiction and its side-effect of Multitasking are detrimental to the mindsets of the young populace. Results suggests that College Students and Adolescents cognitive abilities and overall mental health is at risk due to their assimilation with Internet and Digital Technology. 4. It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous computerized environment and the sheer volume of their interaction with it, todays students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors because different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures says Dr. Bruce D. Perry of Baylor College of Medicine. As we shall see in the next installment, it is very likely that our students brains have physically changed and are different from ours as a result of how they grew up. But whether or not this is literally true, we can say with certainty that their thinking patterns have changed (Prensky, 2001). 5. The Digital Natives are the people who have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age. College students (yes, you and me) and adolescents are likely to suffer the consequences of the Internet. 6. It is almost second nature to check my Facebook or email; it was very hard for my mind to tell my body not to go on the Internet. Texting and IMing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort. When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life. Although I go to a school with thousands of students, the fact that I was not able to communicate with anyone via technology was almost unbearable. With classes, location, and other commitments its hard to meet with friends and have a conversation. Instant messaging, SMS, and Facebook are all ways to make those connections with convenience, and even a heightened sense of openness. My short attention span prevented me from accomplishing much, so I stared at the wall for a little bit. After doing some push-ups, I just decided to take a few Dramamine and go to sleep to put me out of my misery. On a psychological note, my brain periodically went crazy because I found at times that I was so bored I didnt know what to do with myself. I clearly am addicted and the dependency is sickening. I feel like most people these days are in a similar situation, for between having a Blackberry, a laptop, a television, and an iPod, people have become unable to shed their media skin. http://britannica.com/blogs/2010/05/digital-screen-dependency-how-real-life-is-now-lived/ 7. ADDICTION Researchers have acknowledged the diagnosis of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), realized by Dr. Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1995. Mental health professionals recognize IAD as a serious disorder, and are treating it as a dependency equally as destructive as alcoholism and drug addiction (Sylvie, 2007). 8. Lets Do an Exercise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4 Dr. Clifford Nass (Stanford University) Experiment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2sHbeYoAgQ&fea ture=related 9. For Digital Natives, Multi-Tasking is attempting to balance their Internet and digital media use with their offline responsibilities. Symptoms Include: 1. Mental Fatigue and Exhaustion 2. Lack of Concentration due to short attention spans 3. Limited/Poor Memory PLUS, itll kill you! 10. Effects of Excessive Internet Consumption Effects of Multi- Tasking = Symptoms of DEPRESSION Loss of Social Interaction Lack of Concentration Low Self-Esteem Desire for Entertainment and Interaction (MMORPGs, MUDDS) Exhaustion and Mental Fatigue Poor Motivation/ Lack of Interest Need for Constant Connectivity (Facebook, Chat Rooms, SNS) Poor Memory/ Limited Mnemonic Capacity Anxiety/ Fear of Rejection and a Need of Approval 11. EXCESSIVE INTERNET USAGE CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION Increased levels of depression are associated with those who become addicted to the Internet Internet addiction and its side- effect of multitasking are the building blocks that construct symptoms of depression because both activities encourage low self-esteem, poor motivation, fear of rejection and the need for approval the foundation associated with depressives (Young, 1998). 12. The Digital Natives still-maturing brains are being shaped to process information rather than understand or remember it. This current Internet driven era encourages college students and adolescents to be poor thinkers and learners. Young people are more primarily concerned with their social, rather than their academic life, it is likely that students are better at remembering what their closest peer wrote on their Facebook wall instead of what was written by their professor on the chalk wall. Multitasking is analogous with extreme Internet consumption, making it difficult for college students and adolescents societys upcoming leaders to sustain keen mindsets while heading into the future. It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous environment and the sheer volume of their interaction with it, todays students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors because different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures. 13. True human freedom is classically defined as: The ability to think, act and choose with minimal interference by outside powers (Kirn, 2007). 14. N E ?s 15. References Carr, N. (2010, May 20). Digital Screen Dependency: How Real Life is Now Lived. Retrieved from http://britannica.com/blogs/2010/05/digital-screen-dependency-how-real -life-is-now-lived/ Kirn, W. (2007, November). The Autumn of the Multitaskers. Retrieved from http://www. Theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/11/the-autumn-of-the-multitaskers/6342/ Prensky, M. (2001, October 5). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved by http://www. Marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20 Sylvie, C. (2007, April 5). Internet Addiction Disorder. Retrieved from http://www.associated content.com/article/170098/inrenet_addiction_disorder_pg3.html?cat=5 Young, K. (1998). CyberPsychology & Behavior The Relationship Between Depression and Internet Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.liebertonline.com.ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu /doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.1998.1.25