Photo via Flickr commons by philcampbell

The iHIgh: Recognizing

the emerging

addiction our world

has to technology

By: Meghan Froebelius

One reason people use Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites regularly is

“because of an addiction to endorphins released in the body during the process of posting.”

Photo via Flickr commons by idovermani Source: Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users

Photo via Flickr commons by west.m

Every notification could mean

something exciting. This results in a hit

of dopamine. Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction

Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology

“Each ‘hit’ feeds our social media addiction.”  

Photo via Flickr commons by west.mSource: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology

The chemicals give us a feeling of

REWARD that rushes through

the brain and body with every

notification. This reward becomes

something we CRAVE.

Photo via Flickr commons by LawPrieR

Source: Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users

Repeatedly checking social media creates an addiction similar to using coke, meth, or other

abusive substances. This creates

the iHigh.

Photo via Flickr commons by Steve Snodgrass

Actually, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)

is now an accepted psychological diagnosis in China, Taiwan, and South

Korea.

Source: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, How is Facebook Addiction Affecting Our Minds? Photo via Flickr commons by perpetualplum

America will follow in 2013.

Photo via Flickr commons by Steve Snodgrass Source: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, How is Facebook Addiction Affecting Our Minds?

Someone with IAD will be constantly preoccupied with

the internet and will have an increasingly higher tolerance

against the ‘high’.

Photo via Flickr commons by kamshots Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?

Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?

They will also use the internet to boost their mood.

Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson

Some “argue that their dependence is

actually beneficial, since it lets them be more productive professionally.”

Being constantly connected lets you

respond quickly to things such as “work emails,

making you a more valuable employee than your non-addicted

colleague.”

Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder? Photo via Flickr commons by sean_hickin

But a chemical reaction isn’t the only reason for an online addiction.

Photo via Flickr commons by katerha

One reason for online indulgence is

because of the need for

VALIDATION in our lives.

Photo via Flickr commons by Denis Dervisevic

Photo via Flickr commons by owenwbrown

“The world of social media has allowed platforms like Facebook and Twitter to play on the HUMAN NEED for reinforcement and validation. It’s game mechanics for

“Likes” and “Comments” are those bits of validation.”-Hessie Jones

Source: Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary

“I like ... my voice being heard somewhere where people care, so I make it heard in an environment with users who will ... read what I have to say solely out of interest.

Doing so brings me ... joy, that people care or agree with the things I say, that I really

can’t get anywhere else.”-Anonymous Internet User

Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson Source: Jami Oetting, Smells Like Teen Spirit: Schooling Marketers on Tumblr

But, regardless of the reason for it, like any

addiction the iHigh will eventually have negative

repercussions.

Photo via Flickr commons from OSU Special Collections

“I get that kids need validation but this world of social has created an environment that eventually strings them

along a path to a point where the very information they created can be their greatest demise.”

-Hessie Jones

Photo via Flickr commons by Patrick Feller

Source: Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary

Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology

“Internet addicts

have 10-20% smaller

brain areas responsible for

speech, memory, motor control, emotion,

sensory, and other

information.”

Photo via Flickr commons by auxesis

The more connected we become with our virtual reality, the less connected we

become to our actual reality.

Photo via Flickr commons by Susan NYC

“The problem is that internet is too

much a part of business, society, and education to

quit cold turkey for most people.”

Photo via Flickr commons by Johan Larsson

Source: Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology

We need to start educating about the reality of this addiction and start preaching how just like most things,

TECHNOLOGY IS BEST USED IN MODERATION.

Photo via Flickr commons by betsyweber

“When it starts to intrude on your overall well-being,

or sanity, or it takes precedence over time

with your kids or spouse, then it

might be time to CUT BACK.”

Photo via Flickr by Giuseppe Bognanni Source: Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder?

-Alice G. Walton

Articles & Images Sourced(Slideshow made May 17, 2013)

Anthony Carpio, Social Networking Sites Creates High for Users http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/08/social-networking-sites-creates-high-for-users/

Alice G. Walton, Internet Addiction: The New Mental Disorder? http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/

Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/hessie-jones/teens-oversharing-internet_b_2923694.html

Jami Oetting, Smells Like Teen Spirit: Schooling Marketers on Tumblr http://www.agencypost.com/smells-like-teen-spirit-schooling-marketers-on-tumblr/

Facebook Psychology: Is Addiction Affecting Our Minds? (Infographic) presented by Best Masters in Psychology http://mashable.com/2012/11/03/facebook-addiction/

All images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons and have an Attributions license