In keeping sync with the topic of addiction that we have been discussing in our online course area, I read an article, Social Networking: An Internet Addiction?, that was written based off of worries that the social networking sites are becoming too popular, making them addictive. CBS News National Correspondent Hattie Kauffman interviewed college students and also, the co-founder of Myspace.com on their stance on the use of the social networking sites and possible addiction.
Students who were interviewed agreed that Facebook.com served as a distraction and is potentially addictive. The article states that some people fear that these Websites are causing students to avoid textbooks and instead, log on to a social networking site of preference. Many argue that sites such as Facebook.com and Myspace.com are outlets for expression and identity and people are obsessed with keeping up with their pages’ customization. Others feel that these sites are a “snapshot” of what is going on in others’ lives and are important to maintain relationships through time. Though these sides do pose positive reasons for becoming and remaining a member of an online community, there are negatives that can go along with this as well.
According to the article, people are beginning to use computers, not just the internet, obsessively; 30-40 hours a week dedicated to e-mail, online communities, playing computer games, etc. The co-founder of Myspace.com disagrees and feels that online communities are simply serving as a substitution, meaning more time on Myspace.com and less time watching television.
There is a solution to the possible online addiction that most people face. The Senior Editor of CNET.com Natali del Conte was featured in the article and advised that internet users set limits, turn off e-mail notifications, close out social networking sites (not to be available at all times), and discontinue networking through your phone (no more Facebook mobile!)
The solutions given by del Conte seem to be solutions that most can handle but as all of these forms of communication are available, how would it be possible to keep lowering the usage without over compensating in another area. For example, if I do turn of my e-mail notifications, wouldn’t that make me check my Facebook account more because I don’t know whether or not I have been contacted. I’m neutral on Facebook addiction, sometimes I think it’s all within our heads!
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I think this article was an excellent example of the types of online addiction we have been discussing in class. Because it brings in the usage of Facebook/Myspace networking we can see that beyond what we have discussed, there is even more thought and research going into this. Prior to this class I hadn't thought of Facebook as an addiction that anyone may have suffered from but the more articles people uncover and the more we discuss it in class, the more I can see the reality of it.
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